UMN Turf Research
What do we recreational athletes want? Weed-free sports turf! By: Dr. Michael Barnes, UMN
Sports turf (e.g. golf courses, soccer fields) are an important part of cities, providing places for people of all ages and abilities to engage in sports. From golf scrambles to youth soccer tournaments, these specialized areas of turf offer significant recreational opportunities. Sports turf areas are also heavily maintained requiring special care for playability and aesthetics. Weeds can make sports turf appear uncared for and unsafe. Many pest and weed control methods are available, with herbicides being a common 40
choice for managing weeds. However, there are growing concerns about the effects of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers on health and the environment. While researchers have done a significant amount of work on understanding how people view herbicide use in parks and lawns and found that individuals are generally hesitant and resistant to the use of such products in such areas. Conversely, much less is known about sports turf users’ opinions about the use of weed control