grass is particularly useful during the spring season as it appears to start growth earlier than ryegrass. In the autumn the ryegrasses tend to be stronger. With the use of
supplementary lighting, which creates useful heat as well as light, ryegrasses are mostly used for repair due to rapid germination times.
Maintenance versus wear
It was quickly clear that the level of mechanical operations undertaken was causing significant pitch wear. In such low light environments the use of a ride-on mower or tractor caused wear and reduced pitch quality. This practice was immediately stopped and lightweight rotary and pedestrian mowers used to cut with resultant reduced wear. The turning areas at the ends still suffered but are out of play. Pitch repairs and aeration
were also undertaken by hand and with sarel rollers. It was difficult to deep spike as the pallets became damaged. When the pallets are removed, the rootzone is now ‘fluffed-up’ with small rotary cultivators. This relieves compaction and aerates the profile. The height of cut is maintained at a high level to reduce the impact of play and support the best possible grass cover. With firm surface characteristics the longer grass cover is generally not an issue. Fertiliser application is kept
to a minimum and orientates around autumn/winter formulations. Overuse of fertiliser gives lush, weak growth that rapidly declines. Typically, fertiliser is applied every six to eight weeks, iron products being used to give colour for major events rather than nitrogen. With the above strategy in place, the pitch is generally acceptable with one turfing for each playing period. However, the surface is susceptible to wear and, by the last game of the autumn period, can be very thin. There is, naturally, a desire to improve the quality of the surface, and the use of lighting rigs offers this possibility.
Supplementary lighting
A trial in January 2007 was undertaken with two lighting rigs. These were used in the darkest south end of the
To the left of the line the effect of lighting in the darkest area of the stadium and, to the right, without
Best surface able to be achieved after an autumn season of play
To advertise in this section contact Classifieds
Peter Britton on 01747 855335 email:
peter@pitchcare.com
TURF SUPPLIERS TYRES “For landscaping, for sports, for amenity ...”
Growers of natural & rootzone sports turf using the very best STRI cultivars
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WEED CONTROL
Lee Evans and the SGL lighting rigs
stadium on a 48-hour cycle (48 hours on and then 48 hours off) with occasional break periods. The net effect was significant. The speed of the turf rooting into the rootzone was increased by 10 days over the lightest part of the stadium. Grass cover was noted to be greatly improved with the sward recovering from damage much quicker. Indeed, the amount of cover was consistently higher than the sunny north end of the stadium. The use of lights is now becoming the norm in stadia and the benefit to the Millennium Stadium is such that a full pitch lighting system is now in place. The lights will also be used at the northern end to ensure the best possible growth and recovery from wear. The lighting rigs are probably
the final piece in the jigsaw to maximise sward health and performance, although it is likely that with lighting there will be further changes in maintenance practices. There will be ongoing reviews of most maintenance treatments, but particularly mowing heights, fertilising and irrigation.
Specialist growers of sportsturf with a wide range of grades, rootzones, thick and fibre reinforced turf
Tel: 01904 448675
sales@turf.co.uk
www.turf.co.uk
GROWERS OF QUALITY TURF Telephone:
www.qlawns.co.uk Email:
01842 828266 Website:
sales@qlawns.co.uk WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT 01264 388050
nomixenviro@frontierag.co.uk www.nomixenviro.co.uk
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133
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T: 01858 880898 E:
info@languard.co.uk Safeguarding the Environment
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