Balanced Management

With the continuing trend to a more environmental approach to management there is a natural interest in examining how green the management of playing field surfaces can be. In short, can a 100% organic programme deliver the necessary results in terms of growth and wear resistance, bearing in mind the number of games played during the season?

The problem is that organic fertilisers that are indeed 100% organic do not have enough nitrogen to produce the necessary growth. Most organic fertilisers are in fact semi-organic and are boosted with synthetic nitrogen to provide the necessary analysis. Sportsturf is subject to extreme wear, especially when heavily used and low analysis nitrogen simply does not do the job.

The demand for organic is based firstly on the desire to be organic and secondly the fear of nitrates leaching into water supplies, rivers, lakes and ponds, etc. – this fear comes from intensive farming and is a well documented concern although modern farming practices are now addressing the problem.

Based on our experience over many years however, sportsturf is not agriculture and we believe the way forward is to operate a Balanced Management System, that is, to combine cultural methods, organics and synthetics into a balanced programme.

Too little attention is given to cultural management with, in particular, the resultant compaction, leading to bare areas, poor root development and drainage problems. Too often drainage is cited as the problem when in fact the problem is compaction due to lack of maintenance. One of our customers cancelled a drainage scheme as with compaction overcome his drainage problem was resolved.

Many pitches have minimal budget as the money is simply not available and this is the first hurdle to be overcome, but, assuming budget, and this needs to be realistic, a more positive approach needs to be taken in integrating cultural management into the equation.

This is particularly true of renovation at the end of the season which needs to be carried out properly with quality seed, fertiliser, dressings and service. With hotter summers the ability to apply water is of critical importance and we have installed low cost, but effective, schemes with our customers and this year has certainly shown the benefits.

A proper aeration programme backed up by organics will ensure that the soil systems are able to work and will allow soil bacteria to turn applied fertilisers into plant available food. At the same time drainage will be improved and roots will be able to develop – remember that roots develop not in the soil but in the air spaces.

To get growth nitrogen is required and I would suggest that it does not matter too much whether 100% synthetic fertiliser or a semi-organic fertiliser is used providing that it is not over-applied and that the rest of the programme ensures it does not leach through. Again, our experience is that a healthy soil does not require as much nitrogen to get results and this will also reduce any possible leaching.

We have been providing organic solutions for many years with our Farmura Liquid Organic range and more recently with the production of Alginure Seaweed Soilbuilder. The benefits of organics are well known and include increasing bacterial populations, improving poor soils, releasing locked-up nutrient and providing both micronutrients and trace elements.

The solution therefore, in our view, lies in a balanced environmental approach rather than just attempting 100% organic credentials. Good turf is like a jigsaw puzzle – all the pieces need to be in place for a successful result. From a practical point of view the programme is easy to follow, it works and does not cost the earth!

Jonathan Harmer
Managing Director
Farmura Ltd

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