Pitchcare 


The ‘culture’ of worms


With the ongoing depletion of worm control chemicals, coupled with the ever milder and wetter weather conditions experienced in recent years, these ‘pests’ appear to be on the rise


  


         Maybe surprisingly, only a small number of species actually produce the casts which are such    earthworm is nocturnal and forms a permanent  forages for food.





 in the soil. Their most important role is in the       Unfortunately, for those of us whose primary


concern is the playing quality of our sports turf, the disadvantages brought about by casts are  Casts are unsightly, but the main concern is the


 


playing surface is important in all ball games, but  a bowling green, golf green or cricket table, where   disadvantage. Unhappily, that is not the end of the story, as


there are further disadvantages to be aware of.  brought about by casts being smeared on the playing surface. This can cause smothering of    newly installed slit drains that can soon become  controlled.





dormant weed seeds to the surface, and the casts themselves provide a perfect seedbed for  they are rich in nutrients and have higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium than the surrounding soil. Furthermore, earthworms may encourage other pests, as they are a rich food source for creatures such as moles.





 minimised by cultural control methods, thus reducing the need for chemical control, especially as the range of available chemicals has slowly been eroded. Aim to control the level of sub-surface thatch


that provides a rich source of food to worms.  possible, as these provide a constant source of nutrient and could also increase thatch levels in  materials should also be avoided, and the use  reasons. 


prefer neutral or alkaline soils. This is most   fescue species. Therefore, always try and use 


“ 146 I PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016


 no no - worms just love it! Always ensure that the  fact that you should make your supplier aware of.   other materials. 


  the soil. 


 control. Sulphur and sulphur-based products    larger ones, increasing pore spaces and improving soil structure and drainage. The regular use of ammonium sulphate based


     instance, will also help control moss and harden the sward against disease. Of course, this process should not be taken too


far - if acidity levels were allowed to drop as low as   also be thin, weak and prone to moss invasion. For     perfect for the development of browntop bent grasses. With regard to cricket tables and tennis  component, care should be taken when amending  around neutral pH. On golf courses, a further technique that has been used successfully to reduce worm  as the sand irritates the worm’s skin. However, this again would not be possible on a cricket square 


The production of casts can bring dormant weed seeds to the surface, and the casts themselves provide a perfect seedbed for germination and establishment


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