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: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/356087
www.stma.org August 2014 | SportsTurf 21 will run from $30 to $75, with most distributors giving volume dis- counts. These are concentrated products that are then further diluted before application. A typical dilution rate is one part colorant to seven parts water, although some manufacturers suggest their products can be diluted one part colorant to 15 parts water. So, carefully read the label to get an idea of how much area one can cover with the product of choice. The cost of colorant needed for per acre of athletic field using the higher recommended application rates would range from $200 to $500 an application, depending on colorant brand. With seed prices currently a bit higher the past few years, using one of these products could save a field manager a bit of money when compared to overseeding. Overseeding also has added main- tenance costs. Considering that overseeding will require ground preparation, seeding, watering, fertilizing, mowing, pest control, spring transitioning, etc.; colorants may be a significant labor sav- ing alternative as well. The painting process can be boiled down to pick/purchase a colorant, add water plus colorant to your sprayer, and begin spray- ing. Any type of sprayer will work, although a boom-sprayer would be much more efficient to apply. If the color is not even or dark enough, you can make additional passes to accommodate aesthetic needs. There is some clean-up, but no season-long care like with overseeding. Speaking of clean-up, be very careful to not get this product on anything you do not want green. Fences, goal posts, benches, protective padding, etc. will all absorb the colorant and may be permanently stained. Be sure to wear "old clothes and shoes" and I would recommend rubber gloves. Always use good judgment and wear personal protection equipment when using sprayers. Depending on your field's use, there are a few other potential drawbacks to using a colorant. It does not provide a wearable playing surface like an overseeded grass. Once the dormant tissue is worn away, there is no regeneration until spring. So, the "wear factor" must be considered if you have a bunch of games or other events take place on your field during the winter. The research Over the past few years, we have conducted numerous studies at North Carolina State University to evaluate various colorant products. Our first detailed studies were applied to putting greens in fall 2008. Subsequent trials have included evaluations on ber- mudagrass and zoysiagrass at a great assortment of mowing heights. In total, we have evaluated more than 30 products. These products are from manufacturers/distributers such as BASF, Burnett Athletics, D. Ervasti Sales, Enviroseal, Geoponics, Harrell's, J.C. Whitlam Manufacturing, John Deere Landscapes, Milliken, Missouri Turf Colorant, Pioneer Athletics, Poulenger USA, Precision Laboratories, Solarfast, US Specialty Coatings, and World Class Athletic Surfaces. There has been a rapid increase in new products in the past 5 years in response to the growing interest in using colorants. In the earlier studies we applied colorant treatments to completely dormant turfgrass in late October to early November using a boom sprayer at rates ranging from 40 to 160 gallons per acre (gpa). Applied to bermudagrass, colorant increased turf color from 38 to 67 percent