| |
- There is a lot of free, valuable information out there on the web for sports turf managers. Some of the information may seem aimed at golf, but much of it can be applied to sports turf.
- For information on current conditions regarding turfgrass pests, the UMass extension web site is valuable (http://www.umassturf.org/). As conditions change throughout the season, the “management updates” inform you on what pest pressures to expect and how to deal with them. This includes pest identification, cultural practices and pesticide selection and timing. A good way to stay up to date on what is currently happening is to register your email address with the website and you are notified when there is a new management update posted.
- At the United States Golf Association – Green Section website (http://www.usga.org/turf/index.html) there are periodic updates by northeast agronomists on many of the issues we all face. The Green Section Record always has articles on topics that sports turf managers can use, such as on top dressing, soil amendments, environmental issues, aeration, mowing, etc. All of the specifications for USGA sand are also on this site, with explanations of the criteria used in selecting the correct sand for new construction and top dressing.
- A benefit of being a member of the Sports Turf Managers Association is having access to the Turfgrass Information File (http://www.sportsturfmanager.org/). The TGIF collects information on turfgrass and has a search area. You can pick any topic related to turfgrass and it will give you a list of what has been written on that topic.
- A ½ inch tine has an area of .20 inches. A 5/8 inch tine has an area of .31 inches. By increasing tine diameter by just 1/8 inch, you get a 50 % increase in the amount of soil affected by the tine.
- Tines with specially heat treated tips do last much longer than standard tines and are worth the extra cost, but the holes they create are not as large or as clean as standard tines. The heat treated tines do not wear down so they have consistent depth, where the standard tines loose depth as they wear.
- Side eject tines keep aerators cleaner with less soil getting into the drive belts.
- Some states are banning the use of phosphorus as a fertilizer to protect the environment, while others are suggesting using phosphorus (phosphites) in place of fungicides to reduce pesticide use.???
- A new infill artificial turf field can cost $600,000 - $800,000, with a life span of 10-12 years. Simple math: $600,000 divided by 12 years equals $50,000 per year. If this amount was spent on one grass field every year, would it be a high quality field?
- Since players prefer natural grass, should artificial turf be used for practice fields and then the natural turf fields utilized for games?
- You apply different insecticides year after year to control a specific insect. You think you have wiped all of them out. You do not treat the turf one year and they are back. Where did they come from?
Many salespeople are suggesting an application of silicon to stand up turf and make it more wear tolerant. If silicon is beneficial, why is it not mentioned in any text books as a plant nutrient? Is not the sand the plant is growing in made of silica? I’m not sure, but I bought some to try anyway. |
|