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
FieldScience cides aid in the battle against the attack of diseases during these stress times. Advancing science allows us to understand why these pathogens can adversely impact the plant. For simple examina- tion, we can use a human analogy: A human who has a balanced diet, hydrates, exercises regularly, and gets adequate rest has high energy levels and a strong immune system that can fend off infec- tions and diseases naturally Likewise, a healthy grass plant has some of the same natural Equipment companies are now producing hybrid mowers that require up to 40 percent less diesel fuel and are comparable in cost to conventional mowers. responses and energy reserves to fend off disease and conse- quently withstand more traffic. Balanced fertilization, proper water amounts and timing, continued soil aeration, and appro- priate mowing height; all are steps toward a healthy plant with strong cell walls, deep roots, and energy levels to withstand stresses and diseases. Insecticides. Advancements in insecticide technology are pro- viding some of the most dramatic environmental differences for managers of sports fields and parks. For example, a grub control product that has come to the market is from a new chemistry class that requires no signal word on the label. The chemistry is based on a naturally occurring substance found in the bark of Ryania, a tree and shrub species. This technology is not required by the EPA to include a safety signal word on the label after acute toxicology testing showed no harm to humans, birds, or fish. >> Water on SoccerPlex Stadium at night. Therefore, grubs, one of the most common and destructive in- sects on cool season turfgrass, can now by treated without any danger to the environment or patrons on the fields or in the parks. Other products and companies are involved in creating natu- ral occurring technologies as well. Even natural substances such as garlic oil and cedar oil can be used to reduce populations of nuisance insects such as gnats, ticks, and ants. Additionally, new turfgrass plant genetics creating stronger and healthier plants that can withstand more damage from dis- eases and insects. The stronger plants raise the threshold for treat- ment from pesticides completely. EQUIPMENT Environmental Impact: A fleet of maintenance equipment, mowers, utility vehicles, and tractors, among others, rely on pe- 10 SportsTurf | August 2012 www.sportsturfonline.com