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Managing Sports Fields. By James McAfee, Ph.D. Extension Turfgrass Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Dallas, Texas J-mcafee@tamu.edu. Sports Field Management. ▪ Turfgrass selection ▪ Cultural practices • fertilization • mowing • irrigation
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Managing Sports Fields By James McAfee, Ph.D. Extension Turfgrass Specialist Texas AgriLife Extension Service Dallas, Texas J-mcafee@tamu.edu
Sports Field Management ▪ Turfgrass selection ▪ Cultural practices • fertilization • mowing • irrigation •aerification & topdressign ▪ Field use management
Turfgrass Selection ▪ Bermudagrass ▪Zoysiagrass ▪ Seashore paspalum
Bermudagrasses ▪ Tifway 419 ▪ TifSport ▪ GN-1 ▪ Princess-77 ▪ Riveria ▪ Sultan ▪ Celebration ▪ Arizona common
Developing a Fertility Program Factors to consider: ------------------------- ▪ Type of turfgrass ▪ Intensity of use ▪ Soil test report ▪ Quality of field desired ▪ Available budget
Fertilizer Timing ▪ Bermudagrass turf • late March-early April • late May –early June • early August • mid-September • mid to late October
Nitrogen Rates Turfgrass N/M/Yr. ____________________________________ Common bermudagrass 6 lbs. Hybrid bermudagrass 6 to 8 lbs. Zoysiagrass 2 to3 lbs. Seashore paspalum 2 to 3 lbs.
Nitrogen Sources ▪ soluble ▪ slow release ▪ organic
Organic Nitrogen ▪ sewage sludge (biosolids) ▪ animal by-products ▪ plant by-products
Organic Fertilizers(concerns) ▪ Composted sewage sludges • not always fully composted • nutrient content not consistent • some contain high rates of P • can contain debris (rocks) ▪ Constructed organic fertilizers • more uniform in analysis • higher costs
Fertilizer Ratios(recommendations changing) ▪ 4-1-2 or 3-1-2 ▪ 2-0-1 ▪ 1-0-0 ▪ 1-1-1
Benefits of Mowing ▪ Increased tillering of plants ▪ Removal of culums from plant
Mowing Frequency Influences ▪ photosynthesis ▪ turfgrass density ▪ root growth ▪ carbohydrate reserves
Mowing Frequency Influenced by: • height of cut • growth rate • time of year • climatic conditions
Mowing Frequency Height of Cut Mowing Frequency (inches) (days) ___________________________________________ 1.5 4 – 5 1.0 3 – 4 0.75 2 – 3 0.5 1 – 2
Mowers ▪ reel mower ▪ rotary mower ▪ fine blade flail mower
Sports Field Irrigation Most athletic fields are overwatered. Regulating soil moisture is the most difficult cultural practice on sports fields.
Soil Compaction ▪ Decreased root growth ▪ Decreased oxygen levels ▪ Increased level of toxic gases ▪ Reduced water movement rates ▪ Less mobility and uptake of nutrients ▪ Increased root rot and other diseases
Aerification - Equipment ▪ hollow/solid tine ▪ slicers ▪ drill and fill
Aerification – How Often DEPENDS !!!!!! ▪ degree of compaction ▪ number of events ▪ type of players ▪ budget
Aerification-Timing ▪ warm season grasses • spring through fall • spring and early summer best ▪ cool season grasses • fall to early winter • early spring
Weed Control Strategy for Sports Fields ▪ Using best management practices for : • mowing • irrigation • fertilization • aerification & topdressing ▪ Use management ▪ Overseeded vs. Non-overseeded fields
Herbicide Selection For Sports Fields • Turfgrass species ▪ Type of weed • grasses • broadleaf • sedges ▪ life cycle of weeds • annuals (summer vs. winter) • perennials
Preemergent Weed Control Program for Sports Fields ▪ summer vs. fall ▪ grassy vs. broadleaf weeds ▪ overseeded vs. non-overseeded
Herbicides for Broadleaf Weeds ▪ Hormone herbicides (combinations) • Trimec • TriPower • Speedzone, Powerzone • Escalade ▪ Sulfonylurea herbicides • monument • manor/blade • certainty ▪ Other • confront • turflon • spotlight
Herbicides for Grassy Weeds ▪ MSMS/DSMA • Bueno 6 • ProKoZ Turf Max • MSMA 6 Plus ▪ Sencor (metribuzin) ▪ Drive (quinclorac) ▪ Acclaim Extra (fenoxoprop)* * perennial ryegrass, zoysiagrass
Herbicides for Sedges ▪ Image (imazaquin) ▪ Sedgehammer (halosulfuron) ▪ Certainty (sulfosulfuron) ▪ Monument (trifloxysulfuron-sodium) ▪ Basagran (bentazon)