SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/701691
www.stma.org August 2016 | SportsTurf 29 Often colorant manufacturers sell cleaners designed remove staining from various surfaces, including spray equipment. Consult with product label(s) for complete cleaning instructions. DYES Water soluble and natural coloring agent designed as a spray pattern indicator. Dyes offer little in the way of long-lasting color and durability. FACTORS TO CONSIDER Colorant rates, uniformity, effective color, and longevity will be determined by the following primary factors: ■ Turfgrass species ■ Stage of turfgrass growth ■ Water carrier volume ■ Height of cut ■ Colorant formulation (inert ingredients) Turfgrass species. In general, warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass and zoysiagrass will require higher rates of the same colorant. (Note: Read label instructions carefully. Extent of pigment concentration has the biggest effect on bermudagrass, see the August 2014 issue of SportsTurf pages 20-22, "Green sports fields using turf colorants." Let's start with the basics, consider a practical guide to using colorants at your facility, and then review some of the current science pertaining to colorant use and benefits. FORMULATION DIFFERENCES Colorants come in three basic formulations: pigments, paints, and dyes. Sports turf managers can use colorants for a specific agronomic objective or simply paint actively growing, semi dormant, or dormant turf. Pigments, paints and dyes are similar chemically in that they all contain compounds that produce a specific and desired color; however they differ physically, thus the aforementioned classification. Inert ingredients, or what makes up the final physical formulation, determine its use. PIGMENTS Colorants designed for repeated and regular use and applied with tank mix partners such as plant growth regulators or crop protectants. Use pigments as part of a complete agronomic program. Pigmented products come in different color options and are generally fortified with additional compounds designed to improve plant health, such as those that block potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) light (see "Impact of colorants on plant health" section page 30).Features, benefits, and limitations include: ■ Low viscosity and metal load, lower weight ■ Designed for repeated use and to promote plant health ■ Increased reflectance of potentially damaging near infrared light (NIR) ■ Formulations/use rates/timings designed to filter more photosynthetic light for absorption and reflect potentially harmful light (see "Impact of colorants on plant health" section below for more information). PAINTS Specifically formulated colorants for sports turf surfaces, paints dry fast and provide a natural green, durable and long lasting color. Durability means paints stand up to traffic and do not rub off on uniforms (see dry time data below). Paints often require agitation, due to the viscosity produced by the binder, and are not as compatible with tank mix partners. Apply paints infrequently to semi-dormant or dormant turf. Features, benefits and limitations include: ■ High viscosity and metal load, higher weight ■ Adjuvants that promote 'stickiness' and durability for infrequent use (up to 75 days) ■ Corrosive risk to spray equipment and may cause pump seals to leak ■ Avoid overlap spray onto non-turf surfaces such as metal, concrete, asphalt, or brick/stone. The more porous the surface, the more susceptible it is to staining (see Figure 2).