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/77829
our facilities. With that being said, let's look at what really con- stitutes a "safe playing field." Of course I don't know if there is one true definition for a safe playing field but turf quality is a good place to start the dis- cussion. If a field has a smooth, well-rooted and groomed sur- face it is more than likely to provide a safe playing surface for just about any sport. The key ingredients for quality sports turf are fertility, proper seeding, good cultural practices and responsi- ble pest management (IPM). In New Jersey, there is a new fertilizer law in place. Every state has different laws; it is always best to stay informed and up to date with current local laws. Our law restricts the amount of nitrogen applied per year, sets blackout dates for applications (12/1-2/28), prohibits potassium without a soil test, and sets standards for professionals and homeowners alike in regards to fertilizer applications. No matter where you are, don't use the law as an excuse to ignore fertility requirements on your fields. It takes some thought and close monitoring to comply with these types of laws but consistent fertility applications throughout the year are very important to maintain quality turf. Spring turf re- quirements call for moderate amounts of nitrogen (my choice is ammonium sulfate), while summer stress can be dealt with by introducing an organic or slow release product. Fall should be reserved for higher amounts of nitrogen to ensure your fields will survive the demands of the season and falling soil tempera- tures. This is a very important point that is often overlooked. Fall fertility serves two purposes. First, nitrogen (again, am- monium sulfate is my choice) availability is crucial to establish new seed and also for recovery from fall sports damage. Sec- ondly, it allows turf growth to extend into the end of the fall sports season. Too often fall fields are allowed to stop growing when temps drop but field use continues. Starting early in the spring and continuing all the way through the fall season will give you maximum results for your fertilizer dollar and provide a dense, consistent turf cover for the entire year. DEALING WITH CRABGRASS Dr. Dave Minner from Iowa State University and I talk often about how difficult it is to overcome the amount of seed heads produced by crabgrass. Having large amounts of seed introduced into the soil and then worked in by the athletes seems like a tough thing to deal with. Crabgrass technology can be used by the sports field manager in the same manner. From August through November we live by the motto, "If you see brown, throw it down." This means introducing perennial rye seed any time you see bare soil. Broadcasting seed during the fall sports season is the key to keeping turf coverage all year long. A common perception is that you are wasting money if you seed during field activity. I disagree. Due to unpredictable weather in the spring and hot/humid conditions in the summer, fall is the season of choice for overseeding. Unfortunately, this is when athletic fields ab- sorb the most abuse and wear. I take a nothing ventured, noth- ing gained approach. If you don't seed during the fall, you will www.stma.org SportsTurf 19