sportsfield managers are investigating ways to improve the sustainability of their facilities. This article aims to introduce areas where improvements in the environmental sustainability of sportsfield and amenity turf areas can be made.
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Topics to consider include: • Fuel use/mowing requirements • Use of recycled materials/green waste • Pesticide use • Minimising water use • Reducing ‘product miles’ • Waste disposal Fuel use/mowing requirements
Fuel use is one of the primary sources of carbon emissions from the sportsfield industry. Mowing can also account for at least 60 percent of the maintenance cost of some sportsfields. Minimising fuel emissions and costs is a high priority for many councils. Factors to consider include:
• Mowing frequency • Machinery selection • Machinery maintenance
• Select slower-growing species to reduce mowing frequency
• Create managed grassland in amenity areas
• Use of growth regulator where appropriate (e.g. Primo Maxx)
• Reduce fertiliser applications to minimise mowing requirement
Mowing frequency
Mowing regimes can be specified either in terms of a fixed time interval or grass length. Mowing frequency needs to be closely related to growth patterns. Fixed interval mowing is easy to apply and plan for. It is often the better arrangement for high quality, close- mown turf (e.g. cut at fixed frequencies of say two or three times a week). The problem with managing sportsturf areas in this manner is that we often mow when the grass doesn’t need it.
Grass length mowing defines when to mow by the height to which grass is allowed to grow before it is cut, with the interval between cuts varying according to rate of growth. This method is much more likely to reduce carbon emissions, however it makes planning of works more difficult.
ith increasing pressure on local and national governments to be more environmentally responsible,
Machinery selection
Careful machinery selection can significantly reduce the fuel required to mow a set area. Electric mowers are becoming more common worldwide (mainly coming from the golf industry) and are likely to become more common in the UK. The introduction of the much-improved large electric zero-turn mowers to the US market in 2006 has resulted in a rapid uptake of the technology there. The batteries of the new units will last for fours hours (continuous use) with one charge.
Petrol and diesel engines are commonly available on ride-on mowers. Liquid- cooled, diesel engines tend to be longer-lived and require less maintenance than a standard air-cooled petrol engine. Diesel engines are also more fuel-efficient than 2 or 4-stroke petrol engines, although they do produce greater quantities of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates.
Liquid petroleum gas (LPG), a by- product of North-sea oil production, is one of the fastest growing commercial fuels in the UK. Its use within an engine gives no discernable difference in performance to traditional fuels and emits up to 99.8 percent less pollutants. Converting engines to LPG is becoming increasingly popular and is likely to become more common in the turf industry.
Wide area mowers (WAMs) can also reduce fuel emissions when mowing large, open areas such as sportsfields. When selecting a mower for an amenity area, consider the size and shape of the areas to be mown. Assess the spacing of trees, buildings, fences and other site features that will impact the mowing operations. Using a WAM or large deck mower will not always mean the job gets done faster or more efficiently. Newer, smaller mowers may actually produce a better-quality cut at a faster speed, making the entire job less time- consuming and fuel-efficient. Smaller mowers can be more versatile and easier to use around landscaping and trees, as well being easier to transport.
Tyre size is also an important factor with regard to energy use. A recent study indicates that the use of large tyres on tractors compared to small tyres can reduce fuel use by up to 10 percent.
Machinery maintenance
If the machinery that you are using is getting old, the chances are it is not as energy-efficient as the new technology. In some cases, newer machines can
reduce ground-level emissions by 70 percent.
It is important to keep machinery well maintained and regularly serviced. Most turf managers are aware that it is important to keep mower blades sharp in order to achieve a good quality of cut, however, it is also important to note that a properly sharpened and balanced mower blade will also reduce mower vibration, lengthen mower life, and reduce fuel consumption by as much as 22 percent.
Monitoring fuel use is an important tool in assessing the fuel-efficiency of both your machinery and management systems and should be recorded and assessed annually.
Grass selection
Many council-owned facilities were originally sown with agricultural cultivars which were designed for maximum grass production. When sowing new facilities, councils should consider slower-growing options such as dwarf type perennial ryegrass, fine fescues and browntop bentgrasses. The most appropriate grass species and cultivars can be determined from Turfgrass Seed, published by BSPB and STRI.
Creation of managed grassland
Urban parklands have been mown wall- to-wall for many years. However, many councils are now installing managed grasslands in urban parks to improve ecological diversity and to reduce mowing requirements. This may also involve the deliberate introduction of wildflower species to the grassland and, in some cases, may require ‘defertilisation’ of the underlying soil in order to reduce the growth rate of the grasses so that the wildflower species can compete. It is also important to keep the park or sportsfield user informed; otherwise it might be thought that the grass has been left uncut through accidental omission.
Growth regulators
Plant growth regulators can be a useful tool in reducing carbon emissions, with regular applications of the turf- registered Primo Maxx reducing mowing requirements by up to 30 percent. However, it has to be recognised that energy is required to produce and apply the growth regulator.
Synthetic fertiliser inputs
Reducing fertiliser inputs has a double benefit in that it reduces mowing requirements and reduces the energy
Careful machinery selection can significantly reduce the fuel required to mow a set area
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