profile, as organic and mineral materialsaccumulate above the synthetic stabilizer.We are interested in finding out if thisburying of the stabilizing materialsreduces their effectiveness. We also wantto know if current management practicescan be used to prevent accumulation ofthatch above the synthetic stabilizer.

Stabilizers also tend to reduce surfaceresilience and increase surface hardness(as measured by gmax), Two separate stud-ies established in fall 1996 seek to evaluatemat management above the surface of thestabilizers and to evaluate field hardness.

Study 1: This study seeks to evaluateconventional methods ofturfgrass manage-ment as they apply to SportGrass.Experiments are designed to determinehow grass management practices influencethe accumulation of organic matter withinand above the synthetically reinforcedzone.

Study 2: This study seeks to evaluatehow grass species, seeding rates, and trafficintensity influence the performance of thenatural grass/synthetic turf combination. Itrates the performance of a SportGrass sys-tem with respect to hardness and footing.

Preliminary results have been posted forboth studies. Research is continuing onboth.

Stabilizing sand-based athleticfields with Enkamat

This study seeks to determine theproper placement depth for Enkamat andto evaluate it as a stabilization materialfor sand-based systems. Demonstrationplots have shown that when Enkamat isexposed to the surface during field wear,there is a potential for tripping by fieldusers wearing cleated shoes. Theresearch asks how deep Enkamat needsto be placed to prevent exposure to thesurface, and looks for benefits of field sta-bilization with Enkamat.

We constructed a 50-ft. by 50-ft., 6-in.deep, sand-based pad in fall 1997, at theISU Horticulture Research Station. Weplaced the sand-based system over a 4-in.gravel blanket with a network of 4-in.drain pipes. Individual plots are 13 ft. by16 ft., allowing us to sub-divide eachtreatment plot for further study.

Plots include sand and Enkamat at0.75 in. and at 1.75 in. The experimentaldesign is a randomized, complete blockwith three replications of the three treat-ments.

Plots will be evaluated May throughAugust for turf appearance, surface hard-ness, and traction. From mid-August

through September, all treatments willreceive simulated traffic. The entire studyarea will receive both hollow- and solid-eoreaeration in 1998, to determine if Enkamatdisrupts this routine management practice.

We will evaluate the turf again duringa non-traffic recovery period betweenOctober 1 and mid-November.

For more detailed versions of these andother ISU research reports, visit theInternet Web Site: http://www.hort.ias-tate.edu/hortlFrames/pubs/pframe.html.For printed copiesof this research as postedon that Web page, contact STMAHeadquarters by phone: (800) 323-3975,fax: (712) 366-9119, or e-mail:Trusty'Iips@aol.com. 0

David D. Minner, Ph.D., is an asso-ciate professor with the Department ofHorticulture at Iowa State University. Heserves on STMifs Certification Committee.Contact Dave at: ISU, Hort. Dept., Ames,IA50011; or call: (515) 294-2751, fax: (515)294-0730, or e-mail: dminner@iastate.edu.

Circle 112 on Postage Free Card

AERA-vator®

"This past summer, our goal was to aerate allof our athletic fields on a regular basis allsummer (once every 3 weeks was the endresult). The Aera- Vater" proved to be a veryversatile and valuable addition to our turfprogram. We use it in hard compacted soilswhere core aeration would not penetrate. Wewere able to loosen up areas prior to gameswithout having a negative effect on play.Overall we are very pleased with the varity ofturf tasks we can use the Aera-Vator on. It isreliable and has become a very importantpiece of our Turf Maintenance Program."

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August 1998 21

"On our playingfields,we can't afford to haveanything but the bestgrass available."

AndreBruce, Head Groundskeeper,Kansas City Chiefsfadlities

That's why the KC Chiefs use Magnum Blend

featuring Omni and Penguin Perennial

Ryegrasses.Magnum withstands the stress of

heavy play;low mowing, and regenerates

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Groundskeepers and turf man-.. agers are constantly looking

for new varieties and speciesof seed that will improve the quality oftheir playing surfaces and toleratemore wear. Historically, seed researchhas produced a considerable amount ofvariety improvement in both cool-sea-son and warm-season grasses over thepast 20 years. With the current level ofplant breeding and the increasinglyprevalent use of genetic engineering,seed researchers hope to continue thistrend to meet the demands of athleticfields.

sportsTUI'

by Eugene Mayer and Doug Brede

TrendsResearchers agree that in terms of

the research being done in athleticturf seed development, there are nonew trends. Work continues to pursuethe same goals that it has for years.

The problems Sports TurfManagers find in their fields remainthe same. Facilities are often largerthan their budgets, so seed varietiesthat help ease maintenance duties arevery desirable. Turf must provideexcellent resistance to a number ofdiseases; tolerance to a wide range ofstresses, such as heat, drought, andshade; the vigor and durability towithstand traffic; and the ability torecover from damage that these fac-tors cause.

If there is a trend in athletic turfseed development, it's specialization.More and more, breeders are develop-ing specialized varieties to meet high-intensity traffic and other conditions

22 sports TURF• http://www.sportsturfonline.com

found on sports turf. No longer arevarieties being bred for the mass mar-ket.

Today, varieties are tailored to spe-cific applications. There are more turfbreeders and more breeding programsongoing than ever before. Competitionbetween breeders has opened the doorfor specialty varieties suited tospecific niches.

A successful variety maintains acareful balance between superior turfperformance and robust seed yield.Seed yield is something that manyathletic field managers take for grant-ed in a turf variety. But when it comesto long-term success, a top grass vari-ety will remain in production only if itsatisfies the user and the seed farmer.It's got to be tops at both.

High-maintenance turfWith a high-maintenance sports

field comes high visibility. These arefields that draw a large pool of specta-tors, and the size of their maintenancebudgets is proportional to the atten-tion they receive.

These fields have to produce a dis-play of color and texture that reallycatches the eye. They require carefulattention to every detail. Most impor-tantly, they've got to withstand thedemanding wear and tear of athleticcompetition.

Kentucky bluegrasses perform wellunder high-maintenance conditionsthat provide abundant fertilizationand irrigation. Their underground rhi-zomes help hold the turf together and

fill in worn spots quickly. Bluegrassesalso exhibit good tolerance to a widerange of diseases.

Bluegrasses perform best in turfwhen combined with perennialryegrasses. Ryegrasses provide ahigher level of wear tolerance thanother cool-season grasses. Theygerminate and establish quickly,and can provide a useable turfwithin three to four weeks. Thisgives the slower-establishing blue-grass seeds a bit of a cushion. Thebluegrass seeds return the favorby providing stability uponmaturity with the rhizomes thatryegrasses lack.

Warm-season bermudagrassesprovide another option for high-profile field seeding, particularlyin warm climate zones.Bermudagrass produces a stableplaying surface, especially onsand-based fields.

Brenda Dossey of Seeds Westexplains that while there aren'tmany disadvantages to using thespecies in high-maintenance situa-tions, "Bermudagrass, as a species,

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has two characteristics that some mayconsider drawbacks. First, it has rela-tively high nitrogen requirements.Second, it does go dormant in the winter."

Breeders continue to develop specialized seedvarieties to meet high-intensity traffic andother conditions found on sports turf.Courtesy: Jacklin Seed

Despite this second problem,bermudagrass use is becomingincreasingly common in high -profilefields in northern regions, where the

species has not adapted to the climate.This is creating new challenges togroundskeeper's cultural maintenancepractices.

Low-maintenance turfLow-maintenance fields are not

watered and fertilized as often astheir higher-maintenance counter-parts, and they may be constructedfrom compacted cla~Sustainability is the prime factorin choosing a grass seed.

Turf varieties for low-mainte-nance sites must have a proventrack record. A good showing in theNational Testing helps, but viablevarieties must prove successful insports turf applications over aperiod of time.

When choosing a good grass forlow-maintenance fields, one mis-take buyers often make is to seekout the lowest priced seed. This isthe wrong strategy. Paying just a

few pennies more per pound of seedwill save water, fertilizer, and pesti-cide costs over the life of the turf.

In the past, common varieties were

Call 1(800) 817-1889 use FastFax#1160898 and/or Circle 116 on Postage Free Card

August 1998 23

recommended for low-maintenanceturf. Unfortunately, these varietieslack performance features that allowturf to endure the wear particular tosports fields. They may perform wellin their first year, but they will fail tomeet the field's needs in the long term.

Cool-season tall fescues performwell on low-maintenance athleticfields. They have extensive root sys-tems that can grow deep into the soilprofile to gain access to water andnutrients. Tall fescues also exhibitgood disease tolerance, and they forma dense and finely textured turf that isdesirable for athletic applications.

For warm-season applications,there are several bermudagrass vari-eties that work well on low-mainte-nance turf. Several varieties providetolerance to drought and wear, whilestill maintaining the uniformity thatsports fields require.

Future

Certain industry trends are alreadyhaving an impact on sports turf seeddevelopment. The new BancOneretractable-dome stadium in Phoenixhas created a new and challengingenvironment for the facility's turf crew.The University of California developeda variety of Zoysiagrass to meet thestadium's particular needs.

Crystal Fricker of Turf Seed reportsthat combgrass is also offering promiseto covered facilities like the one inPhoenix. First introduced in Europe,the new species has tested well in coolclimates and in shaded areas. Thespecies' good winter color and growth,high density, and quick establishmentgive it lots of potential to be a futureplayer in the sports turf market.

Genetic engineering will also playabig role in the future of seed develop-ment. It's likely that the next big gains

in sports turf seed research willinvolve the isolation of single genes forsuch traits as herbicide resistance, dis-ease resistance, and insect resistance.

Engineered herbicide resistancewill allow us to use safer herbicideswithout risking damage to turf. Thiswill promote greater uniformity inturf, which will translate to safer andmore playable fields.

Increased disease and insect resis-tance will decrease our reliance onpesticides. Plants will be healthier,and better able to withstand the stressof heavy traffic. 0

Eugene Mayer is technical trainingand support manager for The ScottsCompany in Marysville, OH. DougBrede is research director for JacklinSeed, a division of J.R. SimplotCompany in Post Falls, [D.

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The Michigan Sports TurfManagers Association(MiSTMA) held its first meet-

ing as an official STMA affiliated chap-ter June 25, at West Ottawa publicSchools.

Sixty-eight attendees packed theroom for the kick-off of the educationalsessions. Meanwhile, several vendorattendees were on the field, wrappingup setup of displays for the trade showand outdoor demonstrations.

Chapter President Rick Jurries wel-comed attendees, outlined comingevents, and invited guests to takeadvantage of their final opportunity tosign up as charter members. He turnedthe program over to Chapter SecretaryKurt Brace, who served as MC for theday.

David Gilstrap of Michigan StateUniversity gave the first presentation.He addressed the topic: "SpeciesCultivar - Selection, Oversee ding andTiming for Irrigated, High-Maintenance Sites." He spoke aboutworking with Kentucky bluegrassesand perennial ryegrasses in athleticfield seeding and oversee ding situa-tions.

Gilstrap noted that most sports turfmanagers begin the seeding processwith 80-percent Kentucky bluegrasses(of at least three cultivars) and 20-per-cent perennial ryegrasses by weight.Because it takes 23 Kentucky blue-grass seeds to equal the weight of oneperennial ryegrass seed, that trans-lates to 95.7 -percent Kentucky blue-grass and 4.3-percent perennial rye-grass by seed count. Essentially, thefaster-germinating perennial ryegrass-es create a light shade that aids blue-grass establishment.

Dr. Paul Rieke of MSU spoke nexton the topic: "Timing is Everything."

His presentation included a list of pre-requisites for quality sports turf:appropriate choice of grass, acceptablesoil conditions, adapted maintenanceprograms, adequate budgets andequipment choices, reasonable sched-uling of the field, and training of thefield manager.

STMA Executive Director SteveTrusty welcomed the chapter, andspoke on the national organization and

Courtesy: Trusty & Assoc.

benefits of membership. He presentedPresident Jurries with the officialMiSTMA Chapter gavel.

Doug Coe, who retired after 30years as a coach and was inducted intothe Coaches Hall of Fame, took thefloor with his topic: "Relationshipswith Pride." He pointed out the simi-larities between coaching and sportsturf management. Both are in the pub-lic eye, both are evaluated every game,and both have no place to hide. Peoplein the stands think that both coachingand sports turf management are sim-ple - and they are if everything goesright. We all know that doesn't happen

28 sports TURF• http://www.sportsturfonline.com

often. As Coe said, ''You can't always doit right, but you must always attemptto do it right."

Networking was in high gear duringlunch and afternoon activities.Attendees moved outside for the tradeshow and outdoor demonstrations.Attendees were divided into groups forup-close viewing of techniques andquestion and answer exchanges. Asthey wrapped up the day checking outthe exhibits, it was obvious that thisfirst meeting as an official chapter hadbeen a great success.

WELCOME TO STMNS TWONEWEST AFFILIATED CHAPTERS:The Michigan Sports Turf ManagersAssociation (MiSTMA) and the GreatLakes Sports Turf ManagersAssociation (GLSTMA) have both com-pleted all requirements for affiliation.They were officially recognized as affil-iated chapters by the STMA Board atthe June 19-20, 1998, Board Meeting.

Chapter newsGreat Lakes Chapter: GLSTMA

closed charter membership enrollmentat the end of its July 10 workshop, thefirst meeting as an official affiliated 'chapter. As with all chapters, newmembers are always welcome and cansign up anytime.

GLSTMA is now accepting entriesfrom active members for the '98 SportsFacility Awards. Categories includeProfessional Facility; College Facility;and School, Municipal, or ParkFacility. All entries must be submittedby September 1.

The annual dinner and awardsbanquet will be held at 6:30 pm,November 5, at Baldwin-WallaceCollege. Executive board meetings are

STMA 10th AnnualConference & Exhibition

January 13-17, 1999 -- MESA, ARIZONA

S~rts~.... rfJIIIinIl

Managers Association1999 STMA

Conference &Exhibition

Mesa, ArizonaJanuary 13-17, 1999

Want to know more?Call (800) 323-3875 or (712) 366-2669 or Fax: (712) 366-9119

orwrite STMA, 1375 Rolling Hills Loop, Council Bluffs, IA 51503

ore-mail: TrustyTips@aol.com or check our web page: www.aip.comjSTMA

scheduled for August 25, September29, and October 27.

For information on these events, theawards program, or the Great LakesChapter, contact Joe Zelinko: (800)897-9714, or Boyd Montgomery: (419)885-1982.

Colorado Chapter: The ColoradoSports Turf Managers Association willhold its fall seminar September 17, atWestminster City Park, Westminster,CO. For more information on this

event, the Colorado Chapter, or upcom-ing activities, call the 24-hour chapterhotline/fax: (303) 438-9645.

MAFMO Chapter: The Mid-Atlantic Field Managers Organizationis planning a "Fall Field Day" October1, at the Baltimore Stadiums. For infor-mation on this event, the MAFMOChapter, or upcoming activities, contactthe chapter hotline: (410) 290-5652.

Iowa Chapter: ISTMA will

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participate in Iowa Turf Institute'sbenefit golf tournament September 14,at Glen Oaks Country Club in WestDes Moines. For information on thisevent, the Iowa Chapter, or upcomingactivities, contact Lori Westrum atThe Turf Office: (515) 232-8222, or fax:(515) 232-8228.

Mid-South Chapter: A Tour ofPringle Stadium in Jackson, TN, isbeing planned for early September.Those within the Mid-South Chapterarea with ideas for a regional meetingare asked to contact Chip or Jim at thenumbers listed.

For more information on the chap-ter, any of the regions, or pendingactivities, contact Chip Houmes: (901)377-5081, or Jim Calhoun: (901) 755-1305.

Michigan Chapter: MiSTMA haselected the following officers for 1998:

• Rick J urriesWest Ottawa Public SchoolsPresident• ChuckAmosWestern Michigan UniversityPresident-Elect• Kurt BraceJ. Mollema & Son, Inc.Secretary• Heather NaboznyWest Michigan WhitecapsTreasurer• Matt HeissTurf ServicesCommercial Vice President

MiSTMA is planing an August eventwith presentations on football field com-paction. For information on this event,the chapter, or pending activities, contactRick Jurries, West Ottawa PublicSchools: (616) 395-2364.

Minnesota Chapter: The MinnesotaChapter is planning a September work-shop. Details will be announced soon. Forinformation on the September event, theMinnesota Chapter, or pending activities,contact Connie Rudolph: (612) 646-1679.

KAFMO Chapter: The KeystoneAthletic Field Managers Organization isplanning a ''Fall Field Day." It's been ten-tatively set for October 6, at LehighUniversity.

For information on this event, theKAFMO Chapter, or upcoming activities,contact Dan Douglas, Reading PhilliesBaseball Club: (610) 375-8469 ext. 212.

Midwest Chapter: For informationon the Midwest Chapter or pending activ-ities, call the chapter hotline: (847) 622-3517.