INNOVATIONS
Sun Queen bermudagrass
Pure Seed and Atlas Turf International announced the introduction of Sun Queen , their newest seeded bermudagrass for the golf , sports field and landscape markets . This new release from the breeding program of Pure-Seed Testing , Inc ., delivers the total package in elite seeded bermudagrass , with reliable growth , maximum protection , and advanced playability and appearance . “ Pure-Seed Testing developed Sun Queen using germplasm obtained from Mississippi State University ,” said Dr . Melodee Fraser , director of Pure-Seed Testing , Inc . East . “ It has demonstrated wide adaptability by exhibiting excellent turf performance in multiple trial locations over a range of environments and management conditions . Sun Queen is well adapted for sports turf , golf courses , parks , lawns and amenity turf areas .”
Consistently ranked as a top-establishing bermudagrass in NTEP trials , Sun Queen provides rapid grow-in . From there , the durability of Sun Queen takes over with extreme wear tolerance , demonstrated through leading results in trials for performance under traffic stress at the University of Tennessee . And when injury does occur , Sun Queen ’ s aggressive growth delivers quick recovery .
As its name implies , Sun Queen withstands extreme heat without sacrificing performance . Adding further sustainability , it offers dependable drought tolerance . The powerful protection of Sun Queen continues with proven disease resistance .
The total package would not be complete without advances in aesthetics and playability . Sun Queen features a beautiful dark green color , refined leaf texture and early spring green-up . Combine these attributes with excellent turf quality and density , and Sun Queen produces a better and more beautiful playing surface .
For added assurance during the grow-in stage , Sun Queen is protected by PureCoat + water absorbent seed coating . PureCoat + guards the seed against environmental pressures and provides faster germination , quicker establishment and improved water efficiency for stronger , healthier plants .
Toro Groundsmaster e3200
Toro announced that its out-front rotary mower , the Groundsmaster 3200 two-wheel drive unit , will be available as a battery-powered option in 2023 . Building on a 50-year history from the introduction of the Groundsmaster 72 back in 1973 , the batterypowered Groundsmaster e3200 features the same rugged chassis , commercial-grade mowing deck and intuitive operator controls as the current diesel-powered platform .
“ We are very excited to offer Toro ’ s proven Groundsmaster mower platform with a battery-powered option for turf maintenance crews ,” said Tony Ferguson , senior product manager for Toro . “ We understand that customers who want to eliminate engine exhaust emissions and reduce operational noise by transitioning to electricpowered equipment will not sacrifice power , functionality or performance in any way — and the new Groundsmaster e3200 achieves that goal .”
The mower is powered by Toro ’ s HyperCell battery technology , which must pass extensive environment and third-party certification testing . The distributed Battery Management System ( BMS ) optimizes battery performance to enhance reliability and longevity . Because the BMS is integrated , HyperCell lithium-ion batteries communicate with each other to optimize efficiency and extend the life cycle , well beyond the 5,000-hour design life of the traction unit . HyperCell batteries provide diagnostic information to simplify and streamline any service needs . A third-party recycling program is available for batteries that reach end of life .
The all-new Groundsmaster e3200 comes standard with 11 HyperCell batteries , but can be configured with up to 17 HyperCell batteries for heavy users in more demanding applications to achieve all-day runtime . Equipped with a 3.3 kW on-board charger , the Groundsmaster e3200 makes recharging overnight easy .
Smart controls optimize power consumption by providing continuous and efficient power without bogging down the mower . Additionally , the customizable reserve power setting allows the supervisor to establish a minimum discharge level , notifying the operator of low battery charge status and ensuring plenty of power to safely return the mower to the charging location .
The mower comes with Toro ’ s InfoCenter display with battery charge status , hours , alerts , customizable settings and more . It features the same rugged 60-inch side or rear discharge mowing deck options built with
36 SportsField Management | February 2023 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com