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When considering Sports Fields and how to maintain them, many
similarities can concluded between the different sporting disciplines.
For example, when comparing a cricket outfield to a football pitch
to a rugby pitch there are not that many differences - each of
these playing surfaces have the same management requirements -
they all must have a strong healthy grass cover with a vigorous
root system, them all must be grown in a healthy soil, and they
all must be irrigated adequately. It is only the final stages
of preparation that the way the different Sports Field surfaces
are maintained differently i.e. a cricket field requires a low
cutting height when compared to Rugby and football pitches
There is no substitute for research and study in turf management.
The more is done by the Turf Manager, the more prepared he is
for either producing a top quality playing surface or to survive
a playing surface during harsh times either through climatic constraints
or over use of the Field. Weather that research be in relation
to the climate, grasses, soils, or products in use, it is all
important in putting together a maintenance plan to produce and
sustain an ideal playing surface.
Improvements to the playing surface are usually carried out during
the off season or any breaks that usually occur during the playing
season, and the remainder of the year when the Field is in use,
time is generally spent in maintaining and protecting the Surface,
generally ensuring that an even and consistent grass cover is
maintained while producing optimum playing conditions.
| When considering maintaining and improving
a Sports Field, there are normally two major factors that
are the supporting reasons behind achieving this - dealing
with the health of the soil, and developing a deep and vigorous
root system, which in turn involves improving grass coverage/quality
of the Surface When the maintaining a Sports Field surface
is required, aeration is of extreme importance. |
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Aeration
Under normal circumstances the compaction issues that face Turf
Managers are challenging and unfortunately more often soils are
heavily compacted as the playing surfaces are under heavy usage,
or in many cases their budgets are too restrictive. In many scenarios,
facilities are limited to one or maximum two aerifications per
green per year, and with the big compaction issues faced this
is not enough. In an ideal scenario, Sportdfields should be aerated
on a regular basis, where around 10% of the surface should be
removed each year through aeration, this allows not only the air
to get down in the profile, but assists in reducing the thatch,
allows nutrients to work into the profile, and of course keeps
the root system going down through the profile in its efforts
to 'chase water'.
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The addition of the vertidrain to the market
has provided turf managers with a tool that relieve compaction
at depth, and keep the surface of the filed open for much
longer than allowing air, water, and nutrients to get into
the soil profile with much more ease. |
Thatch management
A closely related issue to aeration is the management of thatch
on playing surfaces. Thatch is basically the decomposed and undecomposed
organic matter that lies in the turf surface. Thatch builds up
in a surface because the organic matter accumulates faster than
it can be decomposed by either decomposition or mechanical means.
The accumulation of thatch is a normal process, although us Turf
Managers often contribute to the accumulation through high water
and fertilizer inputs and not balancing the make up of our soils
well. Keeping in mind that the production of turf in a bowling
green situation is not natural and general speaking thatch is
not a problem in a natural grass land, and it only becomes a problem
once we start contributing large inputs into our turf.
Thatch has the potential to cause us many problems in our quest
to producing quality playing surfaces. The most noticeable, particularly
to the players is the soft surface, excessive thatch produces
a spongy, soft surface that produces a slow, heavy surface for
the users. Excessive thatch will result in the turf having shallow
roots, will reduce water infiltration, and generally provides
a good habitat for insects to live in and harbors many disease
issues.
As Turf Managers we then need to address how we are going prevent
and/or control our thatch problems. The easy and simple answer
to that is not to allow the thatch problems to occur in the first
place. To ensure this happens, irrigation and fertilizer applications
need to be monitored closely. The principal deep and infrequent
watering needs to be adhere to closely, the principal of 'little
and often' needs to apply when a fertilizer program is being considered.
Both of these principals have a large effect on the performance
of the root system, which will be discussed later. For one reason
or another, at some stage we will be faced with thatch problems,
which will require us to put in place a program to control the
thatch and preferably diffuse it. There are four main practices
that are used to control thatch, the first being mechanical dethatching,
the second involves hollow tine aeration, physically removing
a piece of thatch each and every time the green is aerated, the
third is frequent sand topdressing, involving regular light applications
of sand topdressing to dilute the thatch layer, and finally, increasing
microbial activity in the soil, in other words increasing the
activity of the good bacteria, fungi and worms. This is turn allows
the thatch to be decomposed at a faster rate, particularly as
soil temperatures rise.
In the event that the thatch layer on a Sports Field gets out
of control and the maintenance practices mention above are in
effective, the Turf Manager is left with no real option but to
take the top off the Field, and re-leveling and re-sowing or re-sodding
the surface. The key is to ensure the depth of the thatch does
not get out of control as all on the maintenance practice that
controls thatch generally deal with top 25mm - 50mm and in the
event that the thatch gets deeper than this, taking the top off
the green is the only real answer to controlling thatch.
Nutrition
It is imperative when managing Sports Fields efficiently it is
done with the inclusion of an adequate nutrition program. When
setting up a nutrition program for a Playing Field, two major
aspects should be looked at - what the plant requires, and secondly
what the soil requires to support good plant growth. In many cases
the requirements of the plant and soil are one in same and in
other cases there are different requirements, this of course depends
on the soil and grass types in use. For example some situations
the plant might be in need of nutrients such as trace elements,
but the soils might have adequate levels, in this situation foliar
applications of nutrients is required to allow the plant to take
up the nutrients, in other situations granular applications are
more effective.
Generally speaking the approach with nutrition should be little
and often, and only applying what is absolute necessary, where
applications of fertilizer should only be committed for plant
and soil health, and not color. Fertilizing our playing surfaces
to generate an aesthetic pleasing appearance is common, however,
can lead to many problems including thatch, disease, insect, and
wear problems.
In relation to setting up a nutrition program, soil and tissue
testing along with an evaluation on turf quality is always the
best place to start. Without the inclusion of these tests and
data, any fertilizer applications to the green will be predominately
guess work, which can be inaccurate and costly.
When implementing a nutrition program there are many nutrients
and soil amendments that are considered vital in balancing the
soil and plant growth in order to produce a healthy Field year
around, however, evidently contributions to a nutrition program
will be governed by a budget, and in many cases facilities don't
have a lot of extra funds to assign to a comprehensive nutrition
program.
It is common knowledge the three most important nutrients that
turf requires to function is Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium
and should be the base for the development of a nutrition program.
Fortunately there are many fertilizer blends on the market that
are made of balanced ratios of these nutrients which makes easy
application for the Turf Manager. The functions of each of these
nutrients are vital and at the same time are complex and this
paper will not be going through the in-depth functions of each.
Although phosphorous is important, it is required in smaller
amounts when compared to Nitrogen and Potassium. In most situations,
an even balance of Nitrogen and Potassium should be applied to
the green on a monthly basis as generally speaking the plant requires
both of these nutrients in approximately even quantities.
Nitrogen is generally considered the most important element in
plant nutrition, where it is generally used for controlling the
growth of the Field. However, many Turf Managers are inclined
to over apply Nitrogen resulting in the problems already outlined.
The application of potassium, like nitrogen is considered important
in maintaining quality turf on Sports Fields, generally speaking
potassium is used to harden and protect the plant against extreme
weather variations and heavy usage. Potassium is also responsible
for mobilizing other nutrients and maintaining healthy plant function.
| Like Potassium the application of nitrogen
should be applied monthly to your Fields to regulate the growth
and maintain plant resistance to wear and other stresses.
The general rule of thumb when drawing up a nutrition program
for the application of these two nutrients, they should be
applied at a rate of 0.25kg of actual elemental nutrient per
100m2 per month. There is a calculation that allows this to
be accurately calculated. These calculations are designed
to take the guess work out of applying fertilizer. |
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Other Nutrients & amendments
Outside of NPK nutrients, Calcium is viewed as being important
in that it has numerous important functions in supporting healthy
growth for the plant. It also has an import role in keeping the
soil profile open and when present in the soil in good quantities
it assists in balancing out other nutrients. Other nutrients that
should also be considered when forming a nutrition program are
as follows:
- Magnesium, Manganese, Iron and Zinc - when present aid the
resistance to disease, insect and wear
- Calcium - Magnesium ratios - when balanced provide a balanced
soil for growth
- Maintain high CEC - preferably above 5, assists in retaining
nutrients in the soil, without being leached
- Healthy humus levels - generally important in providing a
healthy soil
- Balance PH at around 6.5 - important in ensuring optimum growth
occurs
- Hormone products - can be important in manipulating plant
growth, along with root development
An important aspect in managing Sports Fields that is often overlooked
is the addition of Wetting Agents on a regular basis. Due to the
excessive wear and compaction issues that are present with Sports
Fields wetting agents can go a long way to assisting in reducing
some of the stresses the turf is placed under. The adding of wetting
agents to the maintenance program assists in the uniform movement
of water through the soil profile, and even distribution of moisture
and availability throughout profile. Wetting Agents increase the
resilience of the Turf, and generally assists in the Field being
healthier.
Irrigation management
Undoubtedly one of the most important factors in maintaining
quality Playing Surfaces is the correct management and scheduling
of irrigation. On Sports Fields, learning the skills of irrigation
management is more an art than a science. The major problem faced
is Turf Managers are required to restrict water use, but at the
same time keep the turf on the Field in a healthy condition.
The important factors in winning this battle is committing to
an irrigation program that involves;
- Deep & infrequent applications of water (watering to field
capacity)
- Minimize light frequent hand watering
- Syringing during times of stress (ensuring it's a very fine
spray)
- Know your irrigation system & how much it applies
- Avoid hydrophobic conditions
- Knowing your water quality, and having it analyzed
- Using wetting agents
Another debate relating to Sports Field irrigation is the use
of manual systems v's automatic systems. As time goes by more
and more facilities are going towards automatic systems due to
their time and labor saving, along with the precision that automatic
systems bring. However, they are more costly to install, and more
expensive to maintain. On the other hand manual irrigation systems
and still used by many facilities today as they are maintained
and operated for a minimum cost, they rarely break down, they
can be more flexible in relation to dealing with localized dry
spot, however can potentially use more water, are more labor intensive,
which generally doesn't allow watering at night therefore requires
the playing surface to be closed to carry out irrigation.
Developing and maintaining a root system
The last three topics mentioned - aeration, thatch, and irrigation
all combined together is the principal factors in maintaining
and developing a deep and vigorous root system. In any turf situation
the root system is the key in supporting the growth of healthy
turf, and for providing the turf with the potential to deal with
all the stresses that it comes in contact with on a day to day
basis. Based on this, a simple conclusion can be made;
"Any green that has a deep and vigorous root system will
have very little problems"
In order to develop a deep and vigorous root system, the following
rules need to be adhered to:
- Minimize thatch at all costs, roots like to live in thatch
as they are well accommodated there
- Ensure Fields are irrigated deep and infrequently - this will
ensure the roots will grow deep looking for the moisture for
the plant, so in turn it is rewarded with a 'feed' of plant
hormone Auxin
- Ensure the Field is on a regular aeration program - this will
reduce the compaction, provide a good amount of air into the
profile, reduce thatch, and provide a easy avenue for roots
to grow deep chasing water
- Impose a mild amount of moisture stress on the Field on a
regular basis - encouraging the roots to grow deep looking for
water
- Avoid excessive applications of Nitrogen ---- this leads to
carbohydrate exhaustion, and the plant redirecting the nutrients
from the root system to the leaf & stem of the plant
- Balance soil nutrients, particularly Phosphorus, Potassium,
and Auxin. Adding the plant hormone Auxin to the nutrition program
can assist in the development & maintenance of the root
system
- Avoid regular amounts of shallow watering
- Avoid stressing the turf with mechanical means (scalping,
unnecessary mowing, observe1/3 rule) - these practices all stress
the root system
- Consider using Primo maxx in the maintenance program - it
has the potential to redirect the plant nutrients into the root
system to aid development
Surface Preparation
The preparation of the surface of the Playing Surface is the
finishing of all the good maintenance and preparation work that
has been done previously with the soil profile and root system.
Mowing is the first thing that comes to mind when carrying out
the final preparations of the surface. Although mowing seems quite
straight forward, there are some important factors to consider
in ensuring a good mowing program compliments an already good
maintenance program.
It should be understood that each and every time the surface
is cut, a small amount of damage is inflicted on the playing surface,
with this, below are some points to keep in mind when setting
up a mowing program:
- Only cut when necessary, remember each & every cut is
damaging turf
- Cut a different direction each time, keeping the Field even
and consistent
- Always cut at optimal cutting height for the turf species
selected
- Always follow 1/3 rule, avoiding carbohydrate exhaustion
- Cut in morning, while the leaf is standing up, and during
the coolest part of the day
- Limit 'clean up' or 'ring' cuts to avoid extra stress on Field's
edges
- Always ensure the mower is 100% sharp to avoid damaged turf
and therefore providing avenues for disease and an unhealthy
surface in general
Grooming & verticuting
Grooming and verticutting is an important maintenance practice
that is applied to the surface of the Field to ensure that standard
of the surface meets the expectations of the Turf Manager, players,
and committee alike. Grooming & verticutting is the 'finishing
touches' to be carried out in the preparation of the surface for
play and to ensure maximam densities are reached.. In short, these
practices are aimed at:
- Controlling thatch & mat
- Improving surface speed
- Encouraging a deeper root system
- Ensuring smooth playability
- Providing better surface consistency
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Avoiding problems with wear & dealing with stresses turf
It is inevitable that at some point in time as a Sports Field
Turf Manager you will be required to deal with wear issues. Maintaining
the playing surface in good condition is only possible if the
pre-season work has been good and in particular the renovation
work. It is crucial that that the off season Field closure is
made the most of, along with the good growing conditions of the
spring is utilized well to ensure the green is in good condition
the day the season starts.
In order to keep the field in good condition for the duration
of the season, the following basics should be followed
- Rotate team trainings on a daily basis
- Rotate direction for play on a daily basis if possible
- Potassium silicate & Primo Maxx assists in hardening the
plant
- Syringe watering - to keep the plant function during times
of stress
- Machinery rotation - rotate access to the green & how
the machines are used
- Good maintenance program (aeration, irrigation, nutrition,
cutting, rolling)
In the event that turf on the Field either thins out is lost,
the following fundamentals should be observed:
- Raise cutting heights
- Avoid cutting stressed areas
- Additional aeration
- Additional fertilizer application, particularly Zinc &
Manganese
- Syringe watering
- Ensure wear areas remain flat
- Turf doctoring
- Reseeding
- Turf replacement
Record Keeping
The benefits involved with good record keeping are endless. Good
records allow Turf Managers to refer to their past work to see
what work for them previously, and to see what maintenance practices
were not so successful. Good quality record keeping shows that
a Turf Manager is well organized, particularly when it comes to
dealing with Committees. In the event that playing surface conditions
are not up to expectations, record keeping can show reasons for
this, with particular reference to weather, over use of the green,
or lack of material that was available to the Turf Manager. In
other words good record keeping can be used as a tool to protect
the Turf Manager's reputation in the event of criticism. Although
time is a factor, the more records that can be kept the better.
Listed below are some areas that record keeping is critical:
- Daily diary (record abnormal inputs , applications & observations)
- Daily records of rainfall, temperatures, sunlight, soil temperatures
& soil moisture levels
- Fertilizer application records
- Chemical application records
- Root depths - to be recorded on a monthly basis
- Soil testing - showing effectiveness of a nutrition program
- Tissue analyses - shows what plant is actually taking up from
the soil & foliar fertilizer applications
- Record monthly photos of the Field - allows comparisons to
be made from month to month or year to year
- Machine maintenance records - showing to Committee good maintenance
procedures and records, which can eventually assist in the approval
of new machine purchases
Summary
The management and preparation of Sports Fields is complex and
challenging at the best of times. It is essential to have clear
objectives, implement regular and systematic maintenance programs
where all inputs are kept even and consistent, always remembering
good programs produce good results.
It is important to have confidence in yourself and stick with
what works for you, always remember there is never one method
that works for everyone, with this in mind it is important to
keep an open mind, and keep communication lines open with colleagues
with the aim of sharing information and methodologies in the maintenance
and preparation of your greens. Like managing most things, communication
is the key, the more positive communication that goes on with
staff and committees, the more effective the results will be and
the easier it will be to achieve the optimum outcome.
Being observant is an import component of Sports Field management,
this used in conjunction with a generous amount of time spent
on research and keeping records will reflect the quality of surfaces
that is being produced. The better a Turf Manager knows his grasses,
soils and environment the better he is prepared to deal with any
problematic situation that may arise.
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