Penn State Academic Programs Turf News Synthetic Turf Turfgrass Management

Andrew S. McNitt
Associate Professor of Soil Science/Turfgrass

Contact Information

116 Ag.Science and Industries Bldg.
University Park, PA 16802

Office: 814-863-1368

Lab Phone: 814-364-2792

Fax: 1 814-863-7043

Email: asm4@psu.edu

 

Dr. McNitt has been with the Pennsylvania State University for 25 years. He presently is the Program Coordinator for the 4-year turfgrass science major at Penn State. Dr. McNitt teaches two courses in the curriculum, Turfgrass 100, Intro. to Turf Science and Turf 434, Turfgrass Soil Physical Properties and one course in the 2 year turfgrass certificate program, Turf 921a, introduction to soil physical properties. Dr. McNitt also teaches Turf 434 via the internet as part of Penn State's World Campus. He conducts research relating to athletic field surface characterization and golf green construction and maintenance.

Dr. McNitt has been honored nationally by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation, The Crop Science Society of America, The American Society of Agronomy, and the Sports Turf Managers Association.

He has consulted on numerous golf course construction and renovation projects and athletic fields construction and renovation at all levels of play from high school through professional sports complexes. Dr. McNitt is currently the technical advisor to the NFL Groundskeepers Association and is active with the Sports Turf Managers Association.

Educational Background

  • B.S. Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University, 1983
  • M.S. Agronomy, Pennsylvania State University, 1993
  • Ph.D. Soil Science, Pennsylvania State University, 2000

Professional Background

  • Associate County Agriculture agent - Philadelphia - 1984 - 1991
  • Research Support Associate - 1991 - 1993
  • Turfgrass Project Associate - 1993 - 1997
  • Faculty Instructor Turfgrass - 1998 - 1999
  • Assistant Professor Soil Science - Turfgrass - 2000 - 2006
  • Associate Professor of Soil Science - Turfgrass - 2006 -

Principal Areas of Research Activity

  • USGA Greens Construction Method
  • Testing Athletic Field Design
  • Sports Turf playing surface characterization