Pakar Rumput by Normas Yakin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Some of the skills learned on a turf management training program may include:
Leave the grass enough time to root and settle before playing on it! As far as possible, sow as long as possible before play and avoid conditions likely to stress the grasses (unfavorable weather, presence of diseases or insects), and remember that well-sown grasses resist fungi better. To limit natural meadow grass, fertilize, if necessary, a week after sowing rather than a week before.
The soil should neither be too wet nor too compact. To optimize grass growth, you can use FCSM (fertilizers and crop support materials) approved wetting agents.
If you are re-sowing an existing pitch, it is better to sow small quantities several times (3 x 12-15 gr. for example) than a bigger quantity once!
Did you know that 95% of natural sports grounds are overwatered in summer? Many public authorities make the error of calculating water volume as watering time and not in milligrams - the surest to catch diseases! Since grasses in good health require less plant health care chemicals, the way you water must depend on the playing field’s properties.
You will need to carry out a soil analysis and determine the AWC – Available Water Capacity — of your sports field. The term availability involves two notions: (a) the ability of a plant root to absorb and use the water with which it is in contact and (b) the readiness or velocity with which the soil water moves in to replace that which has been used by the plant.
To limit moisture, several solutions are possible and can be combined according to your needs:
To maximize air circulation in your sports turf, defelting, sanding and soil restructuring bacteria will be precious allies. Techniques enhanced by standard farming tools like spades, pickaxes and hoes!
Add enough nitrogen over time, either in several dressings or using fertilizer with a very slow release rate. If you add too much, your grass can overeat: obesity softens the cell walls which makes them much more prone to disease!
There are two “must” ingredients:
Urea, the only form of nitrogen which can penetrate leaves, also generates a temporary increase in soil conductivity and pH. This can lead to burns and block trace elements which need a lower pH to be assimilated.
Sulfur and phosphorus should not be used to excess as you run the risk of “over concentrating” the soil, leading to a slow-down of ground-plant osmosis, preventing the grasses from getting sufficient essential nutrients!
This rule is even more important if your substrates have a low CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity).
Adding amino-acids and peptides (instead of letting the grasses produce them themselves from nutrients) gives plants more energy without excessive growth.
Trace element complexes enhance grass density. The best method is to apply them one week before a major ventilation campaign or when preparing the sports field with a dressing rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (aka “NPK”).
Called the rhizosphere, the first few centimeters of soil houses 90% of its biological activity. These micro-organisms nourish the grasses and it is essential to conserve this source by including it in the sports field maintenance program!
Either use FCSM products, which help nourish and/or strengthen the plants, or phytopharmacological products which protect the grasses from diseases. Other products beneficial to the soil include inert yeasts and vegetable and animal organic materials.
Last but not least, it is vital to contain felting on playing fields. Failure to do so may encourage growth-hindering fungi and/or prevent the grasses from taking root!
Philippines
