RESEARCH FOCUS
- Water quality issues in the management of turfgrasses and the development of low input sustainable turfgrass systems
- Characterizing the sorption of pesticides to turfgrass thatch, and on the evaluation of solute transport models to predict pesticide movement in turf
- Development and validation of innovative approaches that will minimize nutrient fertilization of lawns and on quantifying nutrient and sediment runoff losses from residential developments
Biography
Biography:
Dr. Carroll is an Associate Professor within the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. His research focuses on water quality issues in the management of turfgrasses and the development of low input sustainable turfgrass systems. He examines the fate of pesticides and nutrients in turf systems and investigates the development of innovative approaches that will minimize nutrient fertilization of lawns. Dr. Carroll teaches Introductory to turfgrass science and management (PLSC205) and oversees the internship program within the Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. He is a popular conference speaker and a frequent organizer of workshops and symposia that address environmental issues in turfgrass management. Dr. Carroll received his B.S in Soil Science from Cal Poly State University, his M.S. in Soil Science from Michigan State University, and a Ph.D. in Turfgrass Science from Cornell University.
In his capacity as the ENSP Director Dr. Carroll teaches ENSP 400 - Capstone in Environmental Science and Policy, and a university general education Big Question course entitled Lawns in the Landscape: Environmental Hero or Villian (ENSP250). He oversees all administrative matters pertaining to the ENSP program.
Near daily smog alerts, viewing the Santa Barbara oil spill and hiking through the redwood forests of Northern California, (which he did many times), were early life experiences that molded Dr. Carroll’s appreciation of the environment and the need to manage it wisely. He enjoys hiking, fishing, gardening and following the Terps sports teams.. It is easiest to reach Dr Carroll via email at mcarroll@umd.edu, or to a lesser extent, by phone at 301-405-1339.
Education:
Ph.D., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Turfgrass Science
M.S., Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, Soil Science
B.S., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA, Soil Science
Awards and Honors:
University of Maryland College of Agriculture, Junior Faculty Award, 1994
Northeastern Branch American Society of Agronomy, Teaching Award, 1994
Merrill Presidential Faculty Mentor, 2009
Professional Work
Professional Positions Held:
| 2006 - Present | Associate Professor, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park |
| 1997 - 2006 | Associate Professor, Department of Natural Resource Sciences and Landscape Architecture, University of Maryland, College Park |
| 1995 - 1996 | Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy, University of Maryland, College Park |
| 1989 - 1995 | Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, University of Maryland, College Park |
| 1988 - 1989 | Research Technician, Department of Floric¬ulture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University |
| 1982 - 1988 | Research Assistant, Department of Floriculture and Ornamental Horticulture, Cornell University |
| 1979 - 1982 | Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University |
Professional Service:
Associate Editor, Applied Turfgrass Science
Associate Editor, International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Research
Areas of Interest:
- Turfgrass
- Water Quality
- Nutrients
- Pesticides
- Runoff
- Organic Lawn Care
Current Research:
|
Low input sustainable turfgrass systems Research in is area is focused on the development and validation of innovative approaches that will minimize nutrient fertilization of lawns. |
Selected Presentations:
Invited research presentations:
Turfgrass nutrient and stormwater management using compost with emphasis on environmental safety. Eastern Pennsylvania Turfgrass Conference. Jan. 2017, Valley Forge, PA
Use of compost and microclover to reduce runoff and lawn fertilizer use. Turning a New Leaf Conference. Nov. 2015, Towson, MD.
Fate and risk of pesticides applied to turfgrass systems. American Phytopathology Society Annual meeting, Aug. 2014 Minneapolis MN
Stormwater nutrient concentration data – considerations in turf applications of compost, Biocycle East Coast Conference, Baltimore MD, Oct. 2014
Exactly what is sustainable lawn care? Mid-Atlantic Horticulture Short Course. Newport News, VA. Feb. 2013.
Pesticide Degradation in Turfgrass Thatch. Keynote Presentation Bouyoucos Conference on the Advances in Research on Soil Biological, Chemical and Physical Properties for Sustainable Constructed Rootzones. Philadelphia, PA. May 2012.
Teaching
Courses Taught:
| PLSC205 INTRO TO TURF SCI & MGMT | Fall Semester |
|
ENSP/PLSC250 LAWNS IN THE LANDSCAPE: HERO OR VILLIAN |
Spring Semester |
| PLSC389 INTERNSHIP | Fall Semester |
|
LARC389 INTERNSHIP IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
|
Fall Semester |
Publications
Selected Publications:
Articles in Refereed Journals:
Waldo, B., Shahoveisi, F., and Carroll, M. J. 2024. Long-term fertilization and cultivation impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue turfgrass. Ecology & Evolution, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10905
Landschoot, P., M.J. Carroll, J.M. Goatley and T.R. Turner. 2017. Turfgrass nutrient management and regulatory issues in the chesapeake bay watershed. Intern. Turf Soc. Res. J. 13: 1-11. doi: 10:2134/Itsrj2016.05.0419
Landschoot, P., and M. Carroll. 2016. Tolerance of microclover to postemergence and preemergence herbicides. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management. 2. doi:10.2134/cftm2015.0226
Lilly P., J. Jenkins and M.J. Carroll. 2015. Management alters C allocation in turfgrass lawns. Landscape and Urban Planning. 134: 119-126.
Mu, Y. and M.J. Carroll 2013. Thatch and soil microbial activity in recently cultivated turfgrass. Intern. Turf Soc. Res. J.12:567-574.
Referred Proceedings:
Chen, S., M.J, Carroll and T.R. Turner. 2016. Fertilizer use restrictions and organic lawn care: Evaluation of compost tea, compost topdressing and cultivation on turf color, quality and weed encroachment. 5th European Turfgrass Society Conference, Albufeira Portugal, Book of Abstracts page 100-101.
Leshin, R., and M. Carroll. 2012. Sorption of organic pollutants to thatch as influenced by thatch chemical properties. p. 90-92. In A. Zuin and T.S. Aamlid (eds.) Proc. Eur. Turfgrass Soc. Conf., 3nd Kristiansand, Norway 24-26 June. Bioforsk, Fokus, 1432 As, Norway
