Quality on sports fields

without the use af pesticides

– how is this possible?

Asbjørn Nyholt

Turfgrass agronomist, Asbjørn Nyholt ApS

Mobil: +45 4020 9613 • www.nyholt.dk

Asbjørn Nyholt Aps

Agronomic support:

> Maintenance

> Renovation

> Construction

> Municipality

> Stadiums

> Golf Courses

> Other advisors

> Organizations

Soccer pitches

Low / normal level

Owner:

99% municipality

Season:

1th April - 1th Nov.

Pesticides

Nothing since 1998

High /league level

Owner:

90% municipality

Season:

20th July – 5th Dec.

20th Febr. – 20th Mai

Pesticides

– Nothing since 1998

Some dispensations

– Privately owned

Use with restrictions

Low /normal level

>Rootzone

– Native topsoil or sand modified

– 15-25 % clay

– Pipe drained

– No Irrigation

>Seed mixture:

– Pp, Lp, Fr and incoming Pa

Challenges

> Pink snow mold

1-3 out of 10 years

> Gray snow mold

0-1 out of 10 years

> June beetle

On sandy soils (Merit)

> Weeds

Modified acceptance

Please the turf

Weeds tolerate less wear

Strengthens the ward

> 80-130 kg N/ha year

> Clippings returned

> Mowing height

30-35 mm

> Scarification 1-2 /year

> Top dressing ½-1/year

> Over seeding ½-2 /year

> Compaction/Aeration

in the growing season

Preventive actions

Help from the clubs

> Huge connected areas

> Change the lines 2-3 / year

Time to recovery

> Move the goals (wheels on)

> Respect the season (padlock)

High / league level

>Rootzone

– Sandbased rootzone

– 2-3 % clay

– Suspended water table

– Pop-up irrigation

– Under ground heating

>Sward

– Turfed: Pp, Lp and Pa

– Seeded: Lp

40 % water

25 %

Development - by testning!

After 3 harsh winters

The Danish League Project

Playing Quality

Shock Absorption

Deformation

Energy Restitution

Ball Rebound

Ball Roll

Traction

Evenness 3M Straight Edge

Construction

Infiltration

Hardness

Herbage

Total Ground Cover

Weed Grass

Sward Height

Root Depth

Thatch Depth

Appearance

Sward Colour

Disease

Insects Pets

Test Zones

Players Entrance

Stadium Location Map

Testing:

Aug 2013

Nov. 2013

March 2014

Aug. 2014

March 2015

March 2016

Mentor program

Experiences from the project

> Second opinion from abroad - inbreeding

> Fokus on firmness

> More Koro - sommerrenovation

> Sward density after summer holiday

> Irrigation distribution

> Use of moisture meter

> Lack of technical terms

Questions?