Artificial Surfaces
“The natural solution scores on all fronts; environmental, financial,
longevity and safety, plus players and spectators alike prefer it!”
European and global breeding, research and development programmes, together with advances in turf management techniques, today’s natural turf solutions improve year-on-year, providing outstanding wear-and shade-tolerance, excellent tensile strength, faster establishment and many more desirable characteristics besides. Here are just a few of the major breakthroughs in grass seed breeding and natural turf solutions made in recent years:
• According to figures from the Dutch recommended list, perennial ryegrass - the main grass variety used in sports and amenity applications - has improved its wear tolerance by one percent year-on-year. This means that a sports field yielding 330 hours play per year in 1975, would, in 2010, have benefitted from an additional 117 hours of extra play, bringing the total possible hours of play per year to an impressive figure of over 450. What’s more, some modern pitches use a special soil construction that can yield up to 750 hours of play and training.
• Breeding has also vastly extended the
growing season for natural grasses. Varieties are now available that achieve very early growth after the winter and long into the autumn, aiding repairs and renovations all year round, regardless of conditions. The result is a stronger performance right through winter as well as an improved winter colour.
• The recent development of a very fast- establishing turf-type annual ryegrass, capable of germinating in temperatures as low as 3.5ºC, means germination and growth can be achieved quickly and year-round - even in cooler autumn and winter months. Famously used on the training pitches at the 2010 South Africa World Cup, this unique annual ryegrass was praised by an independent sports turf expert working for FIFA as being “of an exceptionally high standard”.
• The strong-rooting characteristics of top quality grass varieties are also being enhanced by mixing artificial fibres into the topsoil. Or, alternatively, by combining real grass with artificial grass, woven together into a fibre
surface, as per the Desso system. These provide a very strong and stable surface, less prone to divots. As a result, they offer all the benefits of natural grass together with the peace of mind of artificial fibres in periods of stress.
• Last, but by no means least, the issue of shade - a real problem for some of our top stadia - has been solved, thanks to the introduction of shade- tolerant species and varieties, not to mention the use of lighting rigs.
As a result, whatever the sport or application - be it municipal/grassroots level, or professional - and regardless of usage requirements, local/climatic pressures or individual considerations, there is a natural turf solution to suit and succeed. The natural solution scores on all fronts; environmental, financial, longevity and safety, plus players and spectators alike prefer it!
42 PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
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