Ken Diesburg, Ph.D.
Emeritus Assistant Professor, Plant Soil and Agricultural Systems
Office Phone: 618 | 453-1787
E-mail: diesburg@siu.edu
Building Location: Agriculture Building, Room 161-G
Special Interests:
Research, Management, and Teaching perennial grasses since 1975; at SIU since 1989. Cultivar evaluation of all but tropical turfgrass species through the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program; especially for shade tolerance. Major focus is turfgrass breeding, especially of Zoysia grass, for low-input recreational and utility turf, soil building and stabilization, and reduction of carbon imprint through reduction of pesticides, fertilizer, mowing, and irrigation. Historical work with growth regulators for the same purpose.
Education:
- Ph.D. 1987 Iowa State University
- Horticulture; M.S. 1980 Iowa State University
- Plant Breeding; B.S. 1974 Iowa State University, Botany
Recent Publications and Awards:
- Textbook: Turf Management in the Transition Zone, Dunn & Diesburg, Wiley Press, 2004
- Patent and Plant Variety Protection: one Redtop, one Tall Fescue, six Zoysias
- Director of the largest undergraduate professional turf management training program in Illinois
- Advisor to the 12th Charter Member Turf Club to the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA)
Other
You can learn additional information about Dr. Diesburg's teaching and research at:
- "SIUC Weighs Best Ground Cover for Campus" [The Saluki Times, 10/31/2006]
- "27th Annual Turfgrass Field Day Set" [The Saluki Times, 10/05/2007]
- "Expert Suggests Zoysia as a Green "Supergrass" [The Saluki Times, 11/23/2010]