To advertise in this section contact Classifieds
Peter Britton on 01952 898516 email:
peter@pitchcare.com
TYRES
Biomass Sugars
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE IN TURFCARE
No hassle… No wasted time… No repairs.
Fit Puncture Proof Tyres and you’ll never have another puncture again - guaranteed.
www.tiredofpunctures.com Buy online or call 0844 800 6493
WASTE WATER MANAGEMENT WEED CONTROL
John Handley, Technical Marketing Executive for Maxwell Amenity, visits Queen’s University in Belfast where Dr Colin Fleming explains how their current independent test on BioMass Sugars will produce facts rather than fiction
USED MACHINERY
was a whistle stop tour of the facilities at Queen’s University in Belfast. Dr. Colin Fleming and Maggie McDowell were kind enough to give up their time to allow me to look into the case study they are currently undertaking on behalf of BioMass Sugar.
I
UPSONS RECONDITIONED MACHINERY ROLLERS • MOWERS • TRACTORS • SCARIFIERS 100’s of mowers in stock, trade prices, warranty
recently undertook a fact-finding mission in Ireland. No, nothing to do with the ‘black stuff’; it
Tel: 01621 892907 Email:
upsonmowers@tiscali.co.uk
Northamptonshire Derbyshire Buckinghamshire 01536 510515
Used Turfcare Machinery 01283 704664 01895 834411
Email:
enquiries@boughton.co.uk www.boughton.co.uk
Advertising in the classified section of Pitchcare costs as little as £200 a year. Telephone: 01952 898516 for further details
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There is a growing awareness of the importance of micro- organisms found within a healthy soil. Maintaining microbial activity in the soil has become one of the mechanisms used by turf managers for producing a healthy plant. Many species of turf grass plants export up to 25% of their photosynthates through the roots, to feed the soil microbes that are the primary decomposers of organic matter and liberate minerals needed for plant growth. When a plant is under stress, it is unable to produce enough proteins and sugars to meet its own needs. The importance of carbohydrate reserves to management practices can be seen when considering cutting heights, and the ability of the grass to make its own sugars or to withstand stress from shading and drought. At this point in the year, one may consider the impact of renovation operations such as intense scarifying and coring upon the plants reserves. Turf managers face increasing pressures to produce better surfaces with diminishing resources; diminishing in terms of budgets and also in terms of products being removed from the
list of approved chemicals. Over the past few years we have seen a number of products, that were once in every turf manager’s chemical store, disappearing and, in certain cases, not being replaced. Turf managers have been resigned to looking at the alternatives of either reducing the quality of the surface or investigating alternative management practices and products.
route appears to be opening up new possibilities. Controversially, sometimes, we have to question the way that we do things, e.g. what’s the best way to control disease? What species do I want to be dominant on my greens? These aren’t new questions but, importantly, one resource that has massively increased is information. Many turf managers now have internet access in their office. This vast resource is an important tool that requires management, but offers considerable benefit to the organisation. The best reps in the industry will be able to provide independent data substantiating the claims made by manufacturers. New suppliers are also establishing themselves within the market, the very best of them legitimately, by providing an evidence base for their product. Dr Colin Fleming agrees that there should be evidence for products, and that this should be statistically based. Pretty graphs are all well and good within marketing material, but turf managers are becoming increasingly savvy as to
In some situations the latter
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