Industry The benefits of overseeding
Augmented Reality Simon Gumbrill Campey Turfcare
Overseeding! Is it merely a means by which to restore vegetative cover of sportsturf surfaces, or should it be an integral and fundamental part of modern sportsturf management? Not so many years ago, overseeding was seen as the primary method for the annual reinstatement of summer and winter sportsturf, apart from cricket wickets and golf tee renovations, not as a means by which to manipulate, maintain, and manage the sporting stage!
Today, with the advent of global televised sporting events, as Brazil 2014 will shortly testify, the expectations and demands placed upon sportsturf managers requires a more pro-active and invasive approach to sportsturf management. Admittedly, at stadium level, the pitches, resources and operational windows more readily exist to facilitate such works but, without them, the true benefits of overseeding will elude even the most conscientious and proficient grounds manager.
Augmented Reality Gary Mumby Blec Global
The accompanying main feature article clearly illustrates the range and type of overseeders available in today’s market but, as turfgrass managers, the aspects that most concern us are seeding depth, density, and distribution. Naturally, according to sportsturf type, distinctions must be made between initial seeding, overseeding and the species of grass being sown. These will also determine a single, multiple or staged seeding strategy, whereas slower germinating and developing species are sown as mono species, and then oversown with target companion species on maturity.
Charterhouse Turf Machinery
Augmented Reality Nick Darkin
Augmented Reality Harvey Doughty Ransomes Jacobsen
So, what are the benefits of a pro-active overseeding programme in sportsturf management? Well, let’s start by briefly referring to the works of J. P. Grime 2001, and H. Bechelet and R. Windows 2007. The former clearly outlines and describes the natural processes of plant strategies, vegetation processes, and ecosystem properties. In essence, there are three key factors that drive ecological succession, i.e. competition, stress and ruderals. The latter, of a more specific nature to sportsturf management, explains how these environmental pressures and conditions affect the growth and development of finer grasses in sportsturf. Therein, you will also find guidance on the culture and maintenance of such swards so as to discourage the ingress of Poa annua. Read together, these publications demonstrate, to me, the need for a more pro-
active, sustained and controlled approach to overseeding. Sportsturf does not grow in a vacuum but an ecosystem that varies from a playing field to national stadium.
These environmental and ecological pressures, in my opinion, can be adapted, utilised, and controlled within sportsturf management in order to improve the quality and performance of professional sportsturf. For example, the timely nature, extent and frequency of overseeding has a profound effect on the density and integrity of the sward, thereby providing positive population pressure against the ingress of weed species. As you know, Poa annua is renown for exploiting situations of low competition and high disturbance and, yet, in so doing it reduces the quality, performance and aesthetics of our stage!
Moreover, sward density, or the lack of it, can have an effect on soil temperature, soil moisture availability, soil compaction, microbial activity and reduced sward vigour. Exposed soils are not only more prone to these conditions, but they provide the ideal opportunity and environment required to trigger germination of any dormant Poa annua seed, thereby further compromising sward integrity, wear tolerance and, more importantly, recovery from play. In particular, on winter games pitches, this can have a significant impact on turf quality, playability and visual aesthetics. In this instance, the judicious and timely use of a winter overseeding mix, pre and in-season, can help to condition, strengthen and maintain the integrity and quality of winter sportsturf, to the satisfaction of all concerned.
In conclusion, I cannot emphasise strongly enough the imperative to monitor, maintain and manage the composition and balance of your sportsturf so as to produce, promote and present a stage on which to play the world’s greatest sport. If you wish to sow the seeds of success, then l can think of no better time or reason to embody the concept of pro- active turfgrass overseeding.
Bob Scott, Southern Area Technical Sales Manager DLF Johnsons
Augmented Reality Derek Smith DLF Johnsons
Augmented Reality Joe Weston Amazone
16 I PC JUNE/JULY 2014
Augmented Reality John Proffitt
The Grass Group
Augmented Reality Jason Briggs Sisis Equipment
Augmented Reality James Mead and Bob Stretton
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