Alec Kowalewski

Associate Professor, Turf Specialist (Giustina Endowed)
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Office: 541-737-5449
Fax: 541-737-3479

The primary goal of my extension and outreach program, which is funded by the Giustina Turf Endowment, is improving the environmental and economic sustainability of turfgrass management.  Topics of interest related to this include, utilization of sustainable turfgrass varieties and cultivars, improving fertility and irrigation efficiency, and the use of pesticide alternatives.  I will be involved with the development and implementation of integrated pest management programs designed to reduce pesticide use.

Giustina Turf Endowment Report (2020)

Recent Publications 

  • Soldat, D.J. J.T. Brosnan, A. Chandra, R.E. Gaussoin, A. Kowalewski, B. Leinauer, F.S Rossi, J.C. Stier and J.B. Unruh. 2020. Estimating Economic Minimums of Mowing, Fertilizing and Irrigating Turfgrass. Agricultural & Environmental Letters. DOI: 10.1002/ael2.20032
  • Brosnan, J.T, A. Chandra, R.E. Gaussoin, A. Kowalewski, B. Leinauer, F.S. Rossi, D.J. Soldat, J.C. Stier and J.B. Unruh. 2020. Justification for Continued Management of Turfgrass During Economic Contraction. Agricultural & Environmental Letters. DOI: 10.1002/ael2.20033
  • McDonald, B., E. Braithwaite, C. Schmid, and A. Kowalewski. 2020. Evaluation of fungicides and fertilizers for control of Colletotrichum cereale on annual bluegrass in western Oregon, 2019. Plant Disease Management Report. 14:T024.
  • Braithwaite, E., B. McDonald, C. Schmid, and A. Kowalewski. 2020. Evaluation of selected fungicides for control of Microdochium nivale on annual bluegrass in western Oregon, 2019-2020. 12:T022.
  • McDonald, B., E. Braithwaite, C. Schmid, and A. Kowalewski. 2020. Evaluation of selected fungicides for control of Colletotrichum cereale on annual bluegrass in western Oregon, 2019. Plant Disease Management Report. 14:T023.
  • Braun, R.C., A.J. Patton, E.T. Braithwaite, and A.R. Kowalewski. 2020. Establishment of Low-Input Turfgrass from Seed Using Patch and Repair Mixtures: Mulch and Starter Fertilizer Effects. Crop Science. 2020:1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20266

  • Barnes, M.R., K.C. Nelson, A.R. Kowalewski, A.J. Patton, and E. Watkins. 2020. Public land manager discourses on barriers and opportunities for a transition to low-input turfgrass in urban areas. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. In Press, Journal Pre-Proof. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126745

  • Reicher, Z.J., M.D. Sousek, A.J. Patton, A. Van Dyke, W.C. Kreuser, J.C. Inguagiato, K.M. Miele, J. Brewer, S. D. Askew, A. Hathaway, T.A. Nikolai, A. Kowalewski, and B. McDonald. 2020. Adding a Late Fall Application of Proxy (Ethephon) Before Two Traditional Spring Applications Improves Seedhead Control of Annual Bluegrass. Crop Forage and Turfgrass Management. 2020:1-18. DOI:10.1002/cft2.20031.

  • Blankenship, T., J. Lambrinos, L. Brilman, A. Kowalewski, R. Golembiewski, B. McDonald, C. Mattox and M. Dumelle. 2020. Water Requirements Influenced by Turfgrass Species and Mowing Height in Western Oregon. Crop Forage and Turfgrass Management. 2020:1-9. 2020:DOI:10.1002/cft2.20020

  • Mattox, C., A. Kowalewski and B. McDonald. 2020. Frequent soil surfactant applications influence anthracnose on an annual bluegrass research green. Agronomy Journal. 2020: 2020:1-27. DOI:10.1002/agj2.20222

  • Mattox, C., A. Kowalewski and B. McDonald. 2020. Combinations of rolling, mineral oil, sulfur, and phosphorous acid affect Microdochium patch severity. Agronomy Journal. 2020:1-13. DOI:10.1002/agj2.20191

  • Mattox, C., A. Kowalewski and B. McDonald. 2020. The effects of iron sulfate heptahydrate water carrier volumes on Microdochium patch suppression and turfgrass quality. Agronomy Journal. 2020:1-8. DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20133

  • Mattox, C., A. Kowalewski and B. McDonald. 2019. The Influence of Iron Sulfate Application Interval on the Suppression of Microdochium Patch on an Annual Bluegrass Research Green in Western Oregon. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management. 5:0041. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.05.0041

  • Olsen, C., A. Cain, M. Gould, C. Mattox and A. Kowalewski. 2019. Optimizing Irrigation Rates and Frequency for Perennial Ryegrass in Western Oregon. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management. 5:180094. doi:10.2134/cftm2018.11.0094.

  • Braithwaite, E.T., B.W. McDonald, and A.R. Kowalewski. 2019. Evaluation of fungicides, phosphites, and nutrients for the control of Anthracnose on annual bluegrass in western Oregon, 2018. Plant Disease Management Report. 13:T018.

  • Braithwaite, E.T., B.W. McDonald, and A.R. Kowalewski. 2019. Evaluation of fungicide programs for the control of Anthracnose on annual bluegrass in western Oregon, 2018. Plant Disease Management Report. 13:T019.

  • Stock, T. and A. Kowalewski. 2019. Advancing Use of Key Integrated Pest Management Practices in Schools. Journal of Extension. 57(1):1-6.

  • Mattox, C., A. Kowalewski, and B. McDonald. 2018. Rolling and Biological Control Products Affect Microdochium Patch Severity on an Annual Bluegrass Putting Green. Agronomy Journal. 110(6): 2189-2197.

  • McDonald, B., C. Mattox, M. Gould, and A. Kowalewski. 2018. Effects of Sulfur and Calcium Source on pH, Anthracnose Severity, and Microdochium Patch Management on Annual Bluegrass in Western Oregon. Crop, Forage and Turfgrass Management. 4:180018. doi:10.2134/cftm2018.03.0018.

  • Schwartz, B.M., W.W. Hanna, L.L. Baxter, P.L. Raymer, F.C. Waltz, A.R. Kowalewski, A. Chandra, A.D. Genovesi, B.G. Wherley, G.L. Miller, S.R. Milla-Lewis, C.C. Reynolds, Y. Wu, D.L. Martin, J.Q. Moss, M.P. Kenna, J.B. Unruh, K.E. Kenworthy, J. Zhang and P. Munoz. 2018. ‘DT-1’, a Drought-Tolerant Triploid Turf Bermudagrass. HortScience 53(11):1711-1714. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI13083-18

  • McDonald, B.W. and A. Kowalewski. 2017. Effect of fungicides applied at reduced rates on Microdochium patch in western Oregon, 2017. Plant Disease Management Report. 11:T033.

  • McDonald, B.W. and A. Kowalewski. 2017. Effects of Fungicides on Leaf Spot in Western Oregon, 2016. Plant Disease Management Report. 11:T034.

  • Daviscourt, B.L., A.R. Kowalewski, and J.G. Lambrinos. 2017. A Life-Cycle Cost Analysis of Synthetic Infill and Natural Grass Systems. International Turfgrass Research Journal. 13(1):373-379.

  • Olsen, C., A. Kowalewski, M. Gould, and J. Lambrinos. 2017. Evaluating Two Rainwater Harvesting Systems in an Urban Setting in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Journal of Green Building. 12:1-10.

  • Zhang, J., D. Sullivan, A. Kowalewski, J. Peake, W. Anderson, C. Waltz, and B. Schwartz. 2017. Evaluating Hybrid Bermudagrass Using Spectral Reflectance under Different Mowing Heights and Trinexapac-ethyl Applications. HortTechnology. 27:45-53.

  • McDonald, B.W. and A.R. Kowalewski. 2017. Effects of Fungicides on Microdochium Patch in Western Oregon, 2016. Plant Disease Management Report. 11:T009.

  • McDonald, B.W. and A.R. Kowalewski. 2017. Effects of Fungicides on Gray Snow Mold in Central Oregon, 2016. Plant Disease Management Report. 11:T008. 

Current Grants

Curriculum Vitae: 
File ciriculum_vitae_kowalewski_july_2019.docx

Profile Field Tabs

At OSU
Affiliated with: 
Horticulture
Career Links: 
Department of Horticulture
BeaverTurf
Do you accept grad students?: 
I accept graduate students for Horticulture
Student(s): 
Clint Mattox
Alyssa Cain
Courses Taught: 

I am also responsible for teaching and advising the Turfgrass Management undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Horticulture.  I am also the advisor for the OSU undergraduate Turf Club.  This club is a very active group that regularly meets with industry members,  participates in student competition on a national level, and frequently represents the OSU turf program as exhibitors at various industry related meetings and shows.

Turf Management Curriculum

On Campus

Online

 

New Professional Education and Continuing Education (PACE) Courses  

Introduction to Turfgrass Mangement

Introduction to Golf Course Management 

Pesticide Applicator Education and Safety

Headquarters: 
OSU Main Campus