JOHN NEYLAN JOHN NEYLAN
Optimising hours of
ground usage
Agronomic expert John Neylan looks at some of the first year results from an STA Victoria-funded sports field project and also reports on the recent Poa annua forum held at Avondale Golf Club.
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n April 2017 a research project funded by the Victorian branch of the Sports Turf Association (STA Victoria) was commissioned to study the effects of hours of use on sportsfields of different construction types and levels of maintenance. The project, undertaken by John Neylan and David Nickson (Grand Prix Turf), is being conducted over 18-24 months with seven detailed assessments, as well as collating the maintenance information, the hours of use and the level of sport (e.g.: junior vs senior). This information will then be compared to the turf quality parameters being measured. Over the research period the results are being provided as interim reports available on the STA Victoria website (www.vicsportsturf.asn.au) and presented at STA Victoria seminars. This article is the first of two to be presented in Australian Turfgrass Management Journal on the study being undertaken and presents the soils data collected over the first 12 months. Part two will examine the data collected on surface quality parameters including turf composition, wear, traction and turf health. ATM is grateful to STA Victoria for allowing publication of this research.
FIELDS AND SOIL TYPES The project is being undertaken on four local government sports fields in Melbourne’s south east suburbs that are in play and maintained by the respective council maintenance team or their service provider. The fields being used include sand profiles with a subsoil drainage system and fields constructed with a native soil profile. All fields have an irrigation system. 50
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 20.3
There are two Santa Ana couch sports fields of which one is oversown each autumn/winter with ryegrass and two kikuyu sports fields. The project has selected both elite sports fields and community fields so that a good comparison can be made in terms of budget, resources and playing surface quality. The description of the sports fields are: Sports Field No.1 l Soil type: Sand profile with subsoil drainage. l Turf type: Santa Ana couchgrass overseeded with ryegrass. l Cricket: Turf pitch. l Sports played: Senior football, junior football, Auskick, women’s football, cricket, Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) Premier C. Sports Field No.2 l Soil type: Fine sandy loam, no subsoil drainage. l Turf type: Kikuyu. l Cricket: Synthetic pitch. l Sports played: Junior football and cricket, Auskick. Sports Field No.3 l Soil type: Fine sandy loam, no subsoil drainage. l Turf type: Kikuyu. l Cricket: Nil. l Sports played:Senior soccer – State League 1 SE, Bayside, Bayside Women’s Premier League. Sports Field No.4 l Soil type: Sand profile with subsoil drainage. l Turf type: Santa Ana couchgrass. l Cricket: Turf pitch – Premier Cricket (2nd XI). l Sports played: Senior and junior football, Auskick, cricket. Peninsula Football Netball League - Peninsula Seniors.