Fire and Ice: Athletic Field Management in the Transition Zone Gregg Munshaw Cale Bigelow
Contact Information Gregg Munshaw - University of Kentucky gcmunshaw@uky.edu Cale Bigelow Purdue University cbigelow@purdue.edu
Web-Resources Purdue: http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf Kentucky: http://www.uky.edu/ag/ukturf/
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3 Seminar Objectives Following this seminar you should be able to 1.Provide the highest quality fields with the fewest inputs/resources 2.Optimize agronomic and economic sustainability as it relates to sports turf 3.Understand the specifics of field safety and how species selection and management practices contribute to safety
What We Will Be Covering I. The Climate in the Region Challenges II. Adapted Species Strengths/Weaknesses Selection Exercises III. Cultural Management Programs I. Species/Cultivar Selection II. Primary considerations III. Sample programs: Cool-season, Warmseason, Overseeded Warm-season IV. Seminar Wrap-up
Sports Turf Manager s Goal 1. SAFETY FIRST!!! 2. Rationale: a smooth, firm, uniform sports turf is resilient and cushions athletes as they fall. 3. Turfgrass wear and soil compaction are two major challenges.
Athletics and Natural Turf, Why? Appearance Offers a cushioning effect, reducing injuries and strains A surface hardness study: One dozen raw eggs dropped from a height of 11 feet none broke on a 2 tall healthy (dense) turf Thin low density turf = 2/3 broke All weather track all broke @ a mere 18 inches It is no wonder 90 % of NFL players prefer to play on natural turf.
Player Safety
Climactic Zones In very general terms: The United States can be grouped into major Climactic Zones characterized by: Temperature: Cool (A distinct winter period) Warm (A sustained summer period) Precipitation: Humid (Rainfall > Evaporation) Arid (Rainfall < Evaporation)
The Transition Zone
What is it? The Transition Zone Some people describe it as Fire and Ice Annually challenges the skills of even the most experienced turf managers Summers can be HOT and (dry) causing damage to cool-season turfgrasses Winters can be severe and damage warmseason turfgrasses
inter Comes to the Transition Zone but How Long/Severe varies each year
Severe Summer Stress Can Have Consequences for Intense Fall Use
Warm Season Turfgrass Zones (Based on low temperature exposure) NEW ZONE? SECONDARY ZONE PRIMARY ZONE
Noaa 1-month outlook
The EPA predicts Average summer temperatures will increase by 3 o F over the next few decades and could increase by over 10 o F by the end of the century.
The old usda hardiness map
The new usda hardiness map
Temperature (of) Weather Data West Lafayette 2012 110 105 100 95 90 85 80 75 High Low Avg High Avg Low Weather data 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 >85 74 >90 50 >95 14 >100 8 How frequently were temps above average 0 22-Mar 6-Apr 21-Apr 6-May 21-May 5-Jun 20-Jun 5-Jul 20-Jul 4-Aug 19-Aug 3-Sep 18-Sep 3-Oct 18-Oct
Desirable Species Characteristics Vigorous growth Mowing quality Wear tolerance Recovery (spreading habit?) Environmental stress tolerance Adapted to a wide range of environments (heat, cold, humidity, etc.) Color?
Growth Habits
Spreading Grasses
Which Grass Species??? Traditional cool-season KBG P. Rye Mixes (KBG/P.Rye, KBG/TTTF, etc.) TTTF? Warm-season Bermudagrass (common vs. improved) Non-traditional species? Rhizomatous bunch grasses P.Rye, TTTF, etc., HT Blue, Supina Blue?
Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Diversity
One Strength is How Cleanly it Mows
Striping Too KBG Field-Summer
Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Categories Common types Aggressive types Compact types Mid-Atlantic types BVMG Texas x Kentucky Hybrids (Thermal)
KBG Cultivar Variability Notice the difference in leaf elongation rates
Potential Consequence of Close (< 1.5 ) Mowing ABG encroachment
Long-term Annual bluegrass Encroachment
Summer Patch
The Luxury Car of Turfgrasses Generally to look it s best it requires regular fertilizer (higher?) and supplemental irrigation. Also more chronic pest prone
Perennial Ryegrass
Photo: Brad Park- Rutgers
The Reality of Inferior Seed, Species and a Spring Seeding, Mismanagement
Perennial Ryegrass Can Become Clumpy when Overused and Thins Photo: Ohio State Turf Science
Tall Fescues? Leaf Texture, Unacceptable?
KBG vs. Tall fescue after summer stress
Choose Turf-Types How Low can you Mow?
Brown Patch
A Durable Grass But it can also be mismanaged and not meet natural potential
Warm-season grasses Turfgrass Seasonal Growth Patterns Cool-season grasses
The EPA predicts Average summer temperatures will increase by 3 o F over the next few decades and could increase by over 10 o F by the end of the century.
Bermudagrass Tif-Sport Patriot Two weeks after divoting
Closely Mowed Surface
Close, regular mowing to facilitate a faster surface = better ball speed
Surface Stability/Reliability
Cultivars Vary in Winter-Survival/Kill
Spring Dead Spot
Major Turfgrass Species Suitable for Athletic Fields in Transition Zone Major Cool-Season Turfgrasses: Kentucky bluegrass (cultivar!) Turf-type tall fescue (cultivar!) Perennial Ryegrass (cultivar!) Species Mixtures Other species? Major Warm-Season Turfgrasses: Bermudagrass Zoysiagrass?
Select a Species Exercise
In Addition to Persistence/Adaptation Selection Needs to be Based on Expectations???
Period of Intense Use Should Drive Species Selection Which makes more sense to use? A grass that is at its weakest to start or one that is at its strongest?
Fall Use!
Select a Species Exercise Part 1
Select a Species Part 2 Multi-Sport Complexes
Multi-Sport/Species Complexes Sports Tourism Estimated at $6 bil yr!
Maryland SoccerPlex
Elizabethtown Sports Park
Grand Park (Westfield Indiana-2014)
Location of Sports Complexes
E-town Sports Park Facilities - 150 Acres 12 baseball/softball fields 9 full size soccer/multi-purpose fields 2 full size football/soccer Championship fields One synthetic field Paths, parks, picnic/play areas
What Grasses to Plant?
What grasses to plant?
What grasses to plant?
Elizabethtown, KY Sports Park
Part 2 Select a Species Exercise
Take home message: Select a Species Exercise! Take Home Message REMEMBER: There is NO PERFECT grass!
Managing That Grass! Pest management Problematic weeds Chronic diseases Insects? Other products Plant growth regulators Soil surfactants/wetting agents
Managing That Grass! Primary cultural practices Mowing, Fertilization program, Supplemental irrigation Secondary cultural practices OM Mgmt: Coring/vertical mowing, sand topdressing Overseeding Pest management/other product
Planner Cont.
Very important for: Cool-season Kentucky bluegrasses Tall fescues Warm-season Bermudagrasses Cultivar Discussions
Kentucky Bluegrass Cultivar Categories Common types Aggressive types Compact types Mid-Atlantic types BVMG Texas x Kentucky Hybrids (Thermal)
Latitude 36 Kentucky Bluegrass NorthBridge Common types Aggressive types Compact types Mid-Atlantic types Cultivar Categories Bermudagrass BVMG Texas x Kentucky Hybrids (Thermal) Tif-Sport Patriot
Remember Wear and Recovery are different! Matching Intense Use with Seasonal Turfgrass Growth Patterns? Traffic Management!!!
Mowing Practices Height/frequency/equipment ALWAYS think about how mowing will stress the turf Too high? Too low? (scalp) Clipping management Compaction effects
Reel-type mower for 1 Cutting Height
Aesthetics?
Supplemental Irrigation
Supplemental Irrigation
Turf Fertility and Fertilizer Products
General Fertilizer Timing Irrigated Turf
Sand-based Fertilizer Timing Irrigated Turf
Rules of Thumb
Soil Management..Cultivate!!!
Sand-topdressing still important
Weed Control
Crabgrass will be an issue regardless of desired species!!!
Annual Grassy Weed Management
ABG encroachment
Long-term Annual bluegrass Encroachment
Selective ABG Suppression Options?
PGRs and timing?
Bermudagrass Overseeding What species? Alternative/Non-traditional Species? Removal and Transition?
Covers
Management Program Scenarios Cool-season sports fields Stadium vs. general use Warm-season sports fields Overseeded warm-season sports field
Planner Cont.
Warm-Season Fields
The Transition Zone
Web-Tools
Questions/Follow-up Contact Information Gregg Munshaw - University of Kentucky gcmunshaw@uky.edu Cale Bigelow Purdue University cbigelow@purdue.edu