BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Deep tine aeration . Photo by Ben Polimer Core aeration . Photo by Ben Polimer .
the use of lightweight rollers used first thing in the morning , whereby the roller is helping to remove dew / guttation water from the leaf tissue .
As with all cultural practices , rolling should be done under the appropriate field conditions in order to reduce stress . Adequate soil moisture ( but not saturation ) reduces the potential for compaction . For more information , see Rolling Athletic Fields on The Ohio State University ’ s Sports Turf Management website .
PGRs
Plant growth regulators ( PGRs ) are frequently used to reduce clipping yield , improve stress tolerance , and improve turfgrass quality and performance , including lateral shear strength of the turfgrass canopy , a factor in footing and traction by the athlete . PGRs can also be added to paint mixtures to extend the life of field markings on practice or low-input fields . An additional benefit of using PGRs can be the possible reduction in the use of other inputs , such as irrigation and decreased mowing .
PGRs require frequent reapplication during the growing season to maintain consistent growth suppression , but excessive PGR use in either rate or frequency can result in undesirable side effects . These side effects might include mild discoloration , stressed turfgrass , and segregation of grasses . These effects can be confused with disease and can intensify damage from pests and traffic . Some turfgrasses may also experience a rebound effect when the growth regulation wears off , resulting in a temporary flush of top growth .
Warm- and cool-season grasses ( and even some cultivars within species ) often vary in response to PGRs . Label recommendations should be very carefully followed , in conjunction with site-specific experimentation to evaluate the levels and frequency that best meet site-specific needs .
The best approach to planning PGR applications is to use growing degree day ( GDD ) thresholds instead of a calendar-based schedule . Free tools are available online
for assistance in using GDD information to schedule PGR applications .
Wetting agents
Wetting agents can be used for a number of reasons , such as :
• Preventing dry spot development .
• Treating dry spots .
• Moving water into and through the soil .
• Improving irrigation efficiency .
• Serving as a spray adjuvant when applying pesticides or PGRs .
Wetting agents are especially helpful when applied to sandy soils that can become hydrophobic ( water repellent ). Turfgrass grown on sand-based rootzones can develop severe localized dry spots ( LDS ) especially when the turfgrass is irrigated deep and infrequently . Surfactants help promote water infiltration into these hydrophobic areas , which prevents and alleviates LDS .
Research shows preventative applications of wetting agents can increase soil water uniformity and sustain high visual turfgrass quality at very low levels of irrigation ( 30 % potential ET ). Preventive applications of wetting agents can also increase irrigation precision , potentially reducing water usage . SFM
On Tuesday , January 18 , from 11 a . m . – Noon , at the 2022 STMA Conference in Savannah , Ga ., Victoria Wallace , University of Connecticut ; Jason Bowers , CSFM , Parks System in Maryland ; and Ben Polimer , Town of Weston , Mass ., will present “ Understanding the Value of STMA ’ s Best Practices Document .” This presentation will introduce the “ Best Practices ” document and discuss how these best practices advance the protection of the environment , support the sports field manager , and elevate the professionalism of the industry . For more information about the 2022 STMA Conference and Exhibition , visit https :// www . stma . org / conference /.
22 SportsField Management | January 2022 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com