Seeded couch and Hydromulch establishment for sportsgroundsPhillip Ford

PGG Wrightson Turf

What was known:

1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly

2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough

What was known:

1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly

2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough

3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives

in Ballarat and Christchurch

What was known:

1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly

2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough

3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives

in Ballarat and Christchurch

4. Wood fibre hydromulch is an excellent germination matrix

and protects against wind and rain

What was known:

1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly

2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough

3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives in

Ballarat and Christchurch

4. Wood fibre hydromulch is an excellent germination matrix

5. This establishment process is reasonably common in the US

Potential benefits of seeding couch (compared to sprigging or line-planting)

1. Seed is certified

2. Seed can be stored safely until required

3. Seeding is cheaper, easier and faster to establish

4. Cost: 40kg/ha x $60kg = $2,400/ha

5. Seeding outcompetes weeds, sow later in summer 

6. No nematodes, fungal diseases, mites, weeds carried in

7. Seed is able to be applied via hydromulch

 

Potential benefits of hydromulching(compared to conventional seeding)

1. Modern wood-fibre mulches are much better than the old

paper or straw mulches

2. Elimination of wind and water erosion

3. Quick and efficient application

4. Quite cheap (Conwed2000 @ 2 t/ha = $2,400)

5. No wheel marks, minimal surface disturbance, corners

covered, and other benefits

6. Sprigging or line-planting jobs often go bad

Trial 1: Sand-based soccer

ground in Melbourne

25th NovemberPrincess77 @ 40kg/ha

Conwed2000 @ 2t/ha

Princess-77 at 14 days

AgriDark at 6 weeks

Santa Ana at 6 weeks

Princess-77 at 6 weeks

Santa Ana at 9 weeks

Princess-77 at 9 weeks

Princess-77 at 9 weeks

Santa Ana vs Princess-77 at 11 weeks

Princess-77 at 11 weeks

Santa Ana at 11 weeks

Princess-77 vs Santa Ana at 14 weeks

Rhizomes forming in Princess-77 at 14 weeks

Kikuyu in Santa Ana

Princess-77 vs Santa Ana at 16 weeks

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 180

20

40

60

80

100

120

Santa Ana Princess AgriDark

Weeks after sowing

Gro

undc

over

%

Second trial: Seaside Park, Auckland

Ten things we learned or confirmed:

1. A sowing rate of 40kg/ha is adequate

2. Princess-77 germinates well in the hydromulch

3. Treat it as if it was bentgrass for the first 2 weeks

4. Princess should be ready for first cut in 6-7 weeks

5. Princess will outcompete the majority of weeds

6. Hydromulching keeps wheels off a lasered surface

7. Hydromulch protects sand from wind or water erosion

8. Use a hydromulcher with wood-fibre mulch capability

9. Poor design or management will show up badly

10. Don’t blame Princess-77 for poor design or management

The next phase is perennial ryegrass oversowing for winter.

The concept is a three way package using Princess-77, Conwed2000

hydromulch, then ongoing ryegrass oversowing for winter.

Should you oversow a couch field in its first year?