was gleaned from conversations with ITS board members. We areall familiar with the project which involved moving turfgrass tothe Pontiac Silverdome for World Cup 1994 which was headedup by Trey Rogers of Michigan State University. There were alsoprojects undertaken for World Cup 1994 which involved puttingin temporary sod over artificial turf in stadiums such as Meadow-lands Stadium in New Jersey and Giants Stadium in New York.These techniques involves placing plywood on top of the artificialturf followed by up to three layers of polyethy lene and geotextiles.The agronomists had to guarantee that at the end of the soccergames that the artificial turf would be as good as new. Thegeotextiles were topped with a layer of sand anywhere from 3-10inches and then large rolls of bermudagrass sod were laid on top.Bermudagrass is not normally grown in the Northeast but it wasfelt that they would withstand the wear and the temperatures betterthat cool season turf species. This all took place from a month to3 weeks before the soccer games. At the end of the games theorganizers had as little as 24 hours in some cases to bring the fieldsback to artificial turf. Since the World Cup of soccer there havebeen several exhibition soccer games which have taken place inthe U.S. featuring European teams. At these events artificial turfhas been covered and thin layers of sand (as little as 3 inches havebeen brought in) and thick cut sod (1.5 inches) has been placed ontop. Dr. Jim Watson of Toro International will be talking aboutsome of these projects in his keynote speech at the upcoming 1996Ontario Turfgrass Symposium.

Dr. Jim Watson also reported on work being done at MichiganState University on use of crumb rubber (recycled tires which havebeen ground up) as a topdressing for heavy wear areas in sportsfields. A one time application on 1/4 inch provides good protectionof turfgrass crowns from wear. This also has been useful for hightraffic areas in passive parks and golf courses where cart traffic isheavy. This technique could easily be adopted by Ontario sportsturf managers.

Researchers from New Zealand are conducting trials on a newtype of turf which consists of natural grass grown into a syntheticmatting on a sand base. The result is a surface with the playabilityof natural grass with the wear resistance and durability of syntheticturf. This type of turf is compatible with a Prescription AthleticTurf system or any other field construction, provided there is gooddrainage. Maintenance practices are very similar to a natural turffield, however the field could not be aerated but could be verticutto control thatch. Water use may be less because the mat providesa barrier which slows down evapotranspiration. Optimum mow-ing height for this type of system is 1 1/2 inches which is similarto a natural turf field. There are two fields in the United Stateswhich have this system - Rice Stadium at the University of Utahand University of California at Los Angeles practice field. Thissystem also shows promise for golf tees and walk-off areas neargreens. (see following article)

New Zealand has also developed protocols for measuring thequality of sports turf surfaces. The idea behind this is to have aminimum standard for sports field surfaces. If a field falls belowthe minimum the teams are not obligated to use the field. Themotivation is to provide a high quality, safe playing surface for allathletes.

The ITS board member from Japan reported on the currenteconomic recession in Japan. Although golf course constructionis down by 20% there is an increase in interest in sports fieldconstruction. This has partly been triggered by the fact that Japanwill be hosting the World Cup Soccer tournament in the year 2002.

As you can see there are many new products and techniquesbeing investigated around the world to make your job as turfmanagers easier, or more challenging. By the time 2001 arrivesthere will be many more innovations. I hope many of you willmark your calendars for the 9th International Turfgrass ResearchConference to be held in Toronto in July 2001. Again, I want tothank the Sports Turf Association for making this trip possible.

Proponents from both the artificial andnatural turf will be thrilled with the

latest ally in athletic turf surfaces: Sport-Grass.

The invention of sport field expert JerryBergevin, president of Turf Systems Inter-national, SportGrass consists of naturalgrass growing into a synthetic matting.Grass grows down through the syntheticbacking and in between fibrulated syn-thetic strands, which protect the crownand roots of the plant.

The results is a surface with playabilityof natural grass and the wear resistanceand durability characteristics of syntheticturf. The natural turf cushions the impactof sports activity, and the artificial turf andmatting below act as an anchor to reduce- if not eliminate - divots.

SportsGrass is available as sod, or it canbe established on site, as it was this pastsummer at the University of Utah's RiceStadium, the first major SportsGrass in-stallation in the U.S.

Brian Nelson, director of buildings andgrounds at the university, says the fieldhas held up "extremely well" after prac-tices and two full games. A pregerminatedryegrass mix was used to fill in minimalwear areas - which the company saysshould be expected - but Nelson reportsthere were "no divots whatsoever."

SportsGrass needs five to six weeks toestablish, after which the grass has grownabove the height of the plastic blades, andthe roots have formed a mass of intercon-necting fibres in the soil.SYNTHETIC SECRET - The key to fieldstability seems to lie in the type of syn-thetic material used. SportsGrass usesDesso DLW synthetic turf, manufacturedby Desso DLW Sports Systems, Int.,headquartered in Germany.

"SportsGrass is basically the same ma-terial as a sand-filled synthetic turf. "Allwe've done is modify the material." saysBergevin. The artificial turf is made out ofpolyethylene, which is softer than

The Best ofTuroWorlds?Terry MciverEditor, Landscape Management

Natural and Synthetic TurfJoined for Divot-free 7'Playing Surface. /

polypropylene or nylon, and has a moregrass-like feel.

"The fibre is thicker," says Bergiven,"and I don't allow them to use the secon-dary latex backing because that makes itimpervious (to air and water and gas ex-change)."

"SportGrass is stabilized horizontallyand vertically, which is very important,"says Gundolf Becker, U.S. marketingmanager for Desso DL W. "SportGrass isstabilized horizontally by the backing,"explains Becker, "to distribute the load.Vertically, it's stabilized by the fibres."

Bergevin says SportGrass are compat-ible with a Prescription Athletic Turf sys-tem or any other viable field construction,provided there is good drainage.

SHORT GROWING SEASON - Bergevinrealizes that playing on a newly estab-lished field is not always the best treatmentfor tender young seedlings. "Generally,"he admits, "you like to have a full growingseason. But it will survive fine as long asthey don't play on it too much. The secondseason it will be great."

"We're still doing lot of testing," saysSportGrass Marketing Manager DonnyJones, who adds that he's had inquires on

J. Robert Dippel

how SportGrass can be used at golf drivingranges and in tee boxes. "it's working wellin high traffic, walk-off areas on test golfareas," says Jones. "We're almostthere fortees, but the main focus is ball fields."

SODDED VARIETY - Three thousandsquare feet of SportGrass sod were re-cently installed at a UCLA practice field.Dave Ashman, facilities director, is mostimpressed with SportGrass's "instantplayability."

"The sodded material gave us such anadvantage because you didn't have to waitto get on it," says Ashman. "It gives theteam a competitive advantage and givesthem a safe environment. It may not be thefinal answer, but it's close."

Bergevin cautions against thinking ofSportGrass as a "perfect" turf, but he saysit still is subject to the pests which plaquenormal turf, but without the problem ofroot-feeding insects.

"It's still 100 percent natural turf," re-minds Bergevin, but he adds that he doubtspest problems will appear in the samedegree of severity as they can on a fieldthat does not have the artificial underbelly.

AIR CONDITIONED - An added feature

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of Rice Stadium field is the SubAir cool-ing system. Developed by AugustaNational superintendent Marsh Benson,SubAir picks up cooler air from the tun-nels below the stands and blows it throughthe subsurface drainage system to oxygen-ate and cool the turf.

Eric Chapman specializes in nutrientmovement through sand-based profiles.He's consulted with Bergevin during theUtah SportsGrass establishment phase,and gives the field high marks.

"There would never be a need to aerifyif you maintain an aggressive verticuttingand thatch control program via nutrition,catching clippings and irrigation," saysChapman. Verticutting is advised at therate of four to six times a year.

"There may be some managementchanges in water use because the mat ac-tually provides a barrier against evapora-tion," suggests Chapman. "It may be thatthis field uses less water in the long runbecause of the barrier to evaporation."

~'JE31DISTRIBUTION

EARLY FERTILITY PROGRAM -Chapman explains that during estab-lishment a granular fertilizer was used,

continued on page 10

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The Best of Two Worldscontinued from page 9

one that contained a bit moresoluble nitrogen rather than afull-blown slow-release prod-uct.

"It's young field," remindsChapman, "and as in sand-based situations, the microbio-logical activity needed forbreakdown of slow-releasematerials isn't there yet. Sowe're using more of quick-re-lease fertilizer for now.They'll be able to use a blendof nitrogen that has more slow-release as the field ages.

Optimum playing height forSportsGrass is one-and-one-half inches.

[Reproduced from LandscapeManagement, October, 1995, pp8G&G]

Reel Grinding for Turf Health, Beautyby Don LindenfelserJohn Deere Ltd., Golf & Turf Division

Reel mowers are precision machines that need dailymaintenance to retain the turfgrass's well-groomedappearance. The scissor-like shearing action of areel mower is only possible if the reel and bedknifeare sharp and the proper reel-to-bedknife clearanceis maintained.

Cutting action begins as the bedknife positions thegrass to be cut at the cutting edge. The reel thenpulls the grass toward the bedknife where it issheared by the cutting edges as they pass oneanother.

For the grass to be cut at the proper height, it mustcontact a bed knife with the proper angle at thecutting edge, so you should grind a 5 percent reliefangle on the front face of the bedknife. Without arelief angle, the blade of grass will contact the loweredge of the bedknife and bend over at too much ofan angle prior to being cut. When mowing greens,where very small cuts are being taken, an improp-erly aligned bedknife may not capture the grass atall, and no grass will be cut.

Close examination of the reel-to-bedknife relation-ship reveals two square edges passing one anotherwith approximately .002 of an inch clearance. Thisclearance is necessary because:• If the reel contacts the bedknife, the square

(sharp) edge of the reel and bedknife will rollover, becoming dull.

• Contact between the reel and bedknife gener-

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ates heat which can distort the shape of the bed-knife, and cause the bedknife to draw closer tothe reel, resulting in the cutting surfaces rollingover more, and more heat being generated inthe bed knife.

• Drag produced by an improperly adjusted cut-ting unit may result in an unacceptable clip ra-tio, undue strain on drive mechanism andpremature wear of the cutting unit.

Reel and bedknife grinding - Reel and bedknifegrinding are used to:• restore the cylindrical shape of a reel that has

become cone-shaped due to improper adjust-ment of the reel-to-bedknife clearance or due toworn reel bearings;

• restore the edge when the grass is not beingcut across the entire length of the bedknife dueto nicked blades;

• restore the edge when the lack of frequent back-lapping allowed the edge to be rounded beyondthe capability of the backlapping procedure torestore the edge; and

• restore the edge when the reel-to-bedknifeclearance has been improperly adjusted allow-ing the reel to contact the bed knife.

Relief grinding - Relief grinding restores the factoryrelief angle to prolong cutting unit life and promotefast between grind sharpening (lapping). To grind acutting unit without relief is doing half the job, andmaintenance costs will increase due to the constantmetal-to-metal contact of the ''flat'' ground reelblade.

---~~llrr~~~rmSOD

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