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Daniel Sandor

Collegiate Assistant Professor Turfgrass Science
daniel-sandor
411 Price Hall
Blacksburg VA 24061
dsandor@vt.edu
540-231-7338

Overview

I have a 9-mo. 100% teaching appointment in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences. The foundation of my program is to provide our students with the best educational opportunities and experiential-learning platforms so they can be extraordinarily prepared as highly-competitive, sought-after turfgrass professionals on a global scale. I also take great pride in my responsibilities toward recruiting prospective turfgrass science students and additional outreach efforts to high school turfgrass science programs. I am passionate about helping young people prepare for college and succeed during their time in higher education and beyond.

Expertise

  • Turfgrass Science

Education

  • Ph.D. Plant Science, University of Arkansas, 2018
  • M.S. Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, 2013
  • B.S. Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, 2011

My research interests are centered on BMPs for lawns including turfgrass establishment, cultivar selection, water conservation strategies and irrigation technologies, and other cultural practices.

I also have an interest in studying consumer behaviors, beliefs, and preferences towards lawns and turfgrasses in general, and further exploring the sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors that go into community greenspaces and identifying barriers to adoption of turfgrass management BMPs.

  • CSES 2564: Turfgrass Management
  • CSES 3564: Golf and Sports Turf Management
  • CSES 4864: Turfgrass Capstone

Collegiate Assistant Professor | December 2019 – Present
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA

Postdoctoral Associate | June 2018 – November 2019
Department of Horticultural Science
University of Minnesota Twin Cities, St. Paul, MN

PhD Graduate Research Assistant | August 2013 – May 2018
Department of Horticulture
University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR

  • Crop Science Society of America Future Leaders in Science, 2018,
  • Univ. of Arkansas Div. of Student Affairs Golden Tusk, 2017
  • Univ. of Arkansas Dept. of Horticulture Outstanding Horticulture PhD Student, 2016-2017,
  • Univ. of Arkansas Dept. of Horticulture Outstanding Horticulture PhD Student, 2015-2016
  • Western Kentucky Univ. Dept. of Agriculture Elmer Gray Outstanding Graduate Student, 2012-2013

Refereed

  1. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, M.D. Richardson, D. Hignight, and K. Hignight. 2019. Kentucky bluegrass performance under chronic drought stress. Crop Forage Turfgrass Manage. doi:10.2134/cftm2018.10.0089.

Professional and Trade

  1. Sandor, D. and C. Straw. 2018. Using technology to enhance irrigation efficiency. MTFG Clippings. Fall/Winter 26 (2):18.
  2. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher., and M.D. Richardson. March 2017. Irrigation sensors for lawns. Golf Course Management 85:79.
  3. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher., and M.D. Richardson February 2015. Cultivar and irrigation frequency affect cool-season turf germination. Golf Course Management 83:141.
  4. Sandor, D. and P.B. Woosley May 2013. Bermudagrass suppression in tall fescue. Golf Course Management 81:106.
  5. Sandor, D. and P.B. Woosley. 2012. Lawn invaders: Identification and control of common lawn weeds in Kentucky. Kentucky Gardener 10:15-18.

Abstracts

  1. Sandor, D., B. Horgan, and B. Davis. 2019. Environmental impacts of smart irrigation and mowing height in Kentucky bluegrass lawns. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX. 10-13 Nov.
  2. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, and M.D. Richardson. 2017. Irrigation requirements for establishing tall fescue. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. 22-25 Oct.
  3. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, and M.D. Richardson. 2017. Tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass cultivars subjected to deficit irrigation in the field. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. 22-25 Oct.
  4. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, and M.D. Richardson. 2016. Evaluation of irrigation sensors for lawn turf and potential water savings. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. 6-9 Nov.
  5. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, and M.D. Richardson. 2015. Evaluation of irrigation sensors for lawn turf and potential water savings. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. 15-18 Nov.
  6. Sandor, D., D.E. Karcher, and M.D. Richardson. 2015. Germination and establishment of cool-season turfgrasses as influenced by irrigation frequency. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN 15-18 Nov.
  7. Sandor, D. and D.E. Karcher. 2014. Germination of cool-season turfgrasses as influenced by irrigation frequency. ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA. 2-5 Nov.
  8. Sandor, D. and P.B. Woosley. 2013. Cultivar, mowing height and herbicide effects on Cynodon dactylon (L.) suppression in Festuca arundinacea (L.). ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL. 3-6 Nov.
  9. Sandor, D. and P.B. Woosley. 2012. Cultivar, mowing height and herbicide effects on Cynodon dactylon (L.) suppression in Festuca arundinacea (L.). ASA, CSSA and SSSA International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH. 21-24 Oct.