Utah State University faculty members conduct research in various areas of sustainable horticulture and landscapes at the Utah Botanical Center.  This research provides the landscaping industry and the public with results, methods, and information to conserve resources in their home or landscape.  Some of the ongoing research projects are shown below, but if you'd like to visit our facilities and learn more, please click on the link to the right.

Water Quality at the Utah Botanical Center Ponds
Dr. Michael Dietz, Dept. of Environment and Society

The ponds at the Utah Botanical Center are fed by the stormwater system from Kaysville and Fruit Heights. Monitoring equipment was installed at the inlet and outlet of the ponds to measure the amount of water entering and leaving the ponds. Water quality testing is also being performed to determine how much nitrogen and phosphorus are entering the ponds. A survey has also been conducted to assess what residents in the watershed are doing to help protect water quality.

 

Drought Resistant Turfgrass Trials
Dr. Paul Johnson, Dept. of Plants, Soils, and Climate

Grass species were collected from very dry and harsh environments in Asia and are now being evaluated for potential as a turfgrass and use in a breeding program.  In the coming years, we will evaluate these and additional grasses for color, establishment rate, stress tolerance, insect resistance, and other traits.  The goal is a low maintenance, low irrigation requiring turf that will provide good conditions to a wide range of applications in the West.

 
Full-Scale Landscape Comparison Study
Dr. Kelly L. Kopp, Dept. of Plants, Soils, and Climate

This project makes direct comparisons between water use, nutrient use, quality, and hydrology of full-scale mixed ornamental and turfgrass landscapes in a controlled setting.  These comparisons will allow us to determine the actual water and/or nutrient savings that can be achieved in different landscapes.