Sports Turf Markets for Compost

The sports turf markets include golf courses (public and private), athletic fields (football, baseball, and soccer) and other turf areas used for sports. These markets, in general, do not behave like the middleman markets described heretofore because the retail sector uses these recreational facilities for entertainment. The sports turf market is simply a direct purchase market. Direct purchases may come from any one of the four suppliers listed in the previous examples. There are currently about 13,000 golf courses in the U.S. which may average 25 acres each for fairways alone (Stueteville, 1994). Since people are the ones that demand to play golf, courses are usually located close to metropolitan areas where compost is available. This makes it convenient and cost effective for market development to occur.

Each year a tremendous amount of acreage is maintained as sports turf. New golf courses continue to be built as the popularity of the game increases. At the same time, the popularity of many other field played sports (like soccer, football and baseball) has forced the construction of new fields and has increased the frequency of compost use on existing fields. The use of compost in the maintenance and construction of sports turf has both a proven track record and bright future in this market (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

Using compost on golf courses continues to grow due to increasing availability and recognition of the many benefits associated with correct compost applications. The golf course industry has a great understanding of the importance of organic matter and for this reason, the use of many composted products has been common place for several specific uses. New uses for compost on golf courses are gaining momentum, but have not gained total acceptance by this conservative industry. The most popular of these uses are discussed below.

General guidelines for product quality apply to golf course construction mixes, but larger amounts of product are utilized quicker, especially in whole course construction. As many as 500 to 1,000 yards of a mix may be used for each green, requiring a large supply of compost for an 18-hole course. Additionally, greater amounts of compost can be utilized in flower bed preparation and landscaping of the grounds (refer to Landscape section).

Flower Beds

Combination plantings of colorful and fragrant flowers at golf courses is a recent movement to add color to an otherwise all green game. Dramatic annual and perennial flower gardens at the club house, snack bar, tees and greens has been warmly received and enthusiastically supported by members of private clubs. As one superintendent said, "They complained less this year about #9 green because they were so impressed with flowers on #9 tee!"

Popular locations for flower combinations are listed below. Remember a key factor achieving impact is to have an audience available long enough to appreciate the color. In other words, flowers along cartpaths may not be as noticeable to members as at the clubhouse (Trusty, 1994).

(Source: Adapted from Trusty, 1994)

Many superintendents have relied on annuals for color throughout the growing season. However, they are beginning to experiment with annual/perennial combinations due to their popularity. Positive responses from members can be cultured to increase their desire to obtain similar results on a smaller scale at home, thereby increasing the potential compost market.

A total of 97.8% of superintendents have some kinds of colorful flowers somewhere in their landscapes, while 89.2% have flowers around the clubhouse and 60.2% have them around tees (Roche, 1994).

Topdressing

Utilizing compost in topdressing mixes is a growing interest in the sports turf market. All USGA specifications require high sand content greens that are very demanding. In the past, only high quality peats have been used to supply the organic portion of the blends. More recently, the USGA revised their recommendations, allowing high quality compost to be used in place of or in combination with peat. This promises to be a major breakthrough for market development (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

Topdressing sports turf is slightly different than in the landscape market. Golf courses historically have less margin for error with maintenance of turf due to intense management programs and a lower average mowing height. Therefore, the compost products used in topdressing mixes must be of high quality, free of inert materials, uniform in particle size, possess a high organic matter content, a low odor potential, and be low in heavy metals and soluble salts (Alexander and Tyler, 1992). Composts used in topdressing mixes may have a pH of six to eight and will need to be fully mature. Particle size of compost used for topdressing should be less than one quarter of an inch since most sand based mixes are screened at least to this size (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

Typical topdressing mixes for golf courses are comprised of 70% to 90% sand and 10% to 30% organic material. Peat moss has been the reliable standby for organic matter, but some research indicates compost may be an acceptable substitute (Nelson 1992). Fairways, although not currently topdressed as often as greens, may utilize the largest potential percentage of the total topdressing budget. Golf courses have used finely screened compost alone as a topdressing on fairways, or as a component in a mix. Road blocks in gaining acceptance of compost by USGA officials are starting to dwindle as more research and field studies are performed.

There is a reduced effect of organic additions from light materials like peat. This is because the final organic matter tests are performed on a % by weight basis. Since peat is so light, the actual contribution of organic matter it makes in a mix is lower than the accompanying soil (see table below).

Topdressing with compost is usually more successful when compost is first mixed with sand. The added bulk density from sand helps compost penetrate thatch better (Harlow, 1994). Regional differences in choosing topdressing materials can be vastly different due to grass type. For instance, bermudagrass in the south grows so much that topdressing is for thatch control as well as for increasing playability (Reicher, 1994). In northern areas, a winter "cover" or final topdressing may be used to help reduce winter dessication in windblown areas (Reicher, 1994). Finally, the maintenance and construction history of an area is very important. Golf courses with a long history of using similar topdressing materials should beware of abrupt changes in topdressing which could predispose the turf to drainage or other layering problems.

The future for compost utilization through topdressing mixes looks extremely promising. Early research indicates compost may have significant disease suppressive properties. Future topdressing programs may utilize funds from current disease control budgets and compost products offered to support these markets will have increased value.

Disease Suppression

Most turf managers do not currently use compost strictly for disease suppression. This benefit is only considered an extra bonus when the whole soil management program is considered. However, increasing evidence suggests that the benefit may become great enough to consider the use of composts in an integrated pest management program to help reduce pesticide applications.

Disease suppression has long been suspected to occur with compost utilization but documented cases for every crop or plant species is very limited. Research around the country is currently beginning to uncover the likelihood of replacing some of the pesticides and fumigants with compost applications (Logsdon, 1993). The benefit of disease control may be as high as $1,000 per acre when compared to fumigation alternatives.

Dr. Harry Hoitink at The Ohio State University first began working with disease suppression about 20 years ago. He is still involved actively in projects, studying suppression probability in crops from turf to peppers. Further work by Eric B. Nelson at Cornell University has produced the results tabulated below. Many unofficial claims from the field users of compost for topdressing have reported some type of disease control or reduction. However, this area is still very hard to predict with a reliable amount of repeatability. The most current research is investigating inoculation of compost products to guarantee that the proper organisms responsible for suppression are present when the product is applied.

(a) Applied at the rate of 10 lbs/1000 sq. ft.
(b) Applied at the rate of 200 lbs /1,000 sq. ft.
(c) Incorporated into sand at the rate of 20 percent compost, 80 percent sand (v, v)
(d) Prepared using a mixture of 1 to 5 compost:water and soaked from three to 14 days
(Source: Wilkenson, 1994)

More research is needed to make the topdressing with composts on golf courses an accepted practice. Many golf course superintendents are not going to risk their jobs at private clubs to try these new control methods unless product vendors offer guarantees. Even then, the risks may be larger than the rewards and disease suppressive composts may not get used. It will be imperative for success stories to be heavily promoted during the early marketing phases of suppressive composts and that some sort of measurement of suppressability is listed with quality control information on the package. Suppressive qualities, associated with composts vary according to climate, disease pressure and soil type (Stueteville, 1994).

Topdressing offers the turf manager a method of soil alteration over time that is only possible by otherwise tilling the soil and incorporating organic matter. This practice should only be done after proper aeration. Due to the nature of most sports activities and the need to have turf available for play much of the time, aeration and topdressing may be hard to schedule. Without some program for soil improvement, however, soil organic matter will eventually decrease over time, making the manager's job even harder (Wilkenson, 1994).

Wilkenson points out some contributing causes of low organic matter soils in sports turf applications and the difficulty in increasing the total organic content of these soils:

1. It is expensive to modify poor soils by adding organic matter before seeding or sodding
2. In contrast to Agriculture, where crops are replanted each year, it is difficult for turf managers to incorporate organic matter after establishment.
3. Turf clippings often are removed, robbing the soil of a significant amount of beneficial organic matter.
4. The natural organic fertilizer used years ago (ie., animal manures) added significant amounts of organic matter while providing nutrition.
5. Pesticide use may reduce the microorganism activity that is responsible for organic matter decay. Thus, much organic matter is tied up in undecomposed thatch, which is of little value to soil.
6. Often greens are built principally out of sand, with little or no organic matter. Unfortunately, the lack of organic matter provides little buffer against turf stresses and diseases.

(Source: Wilkenson, 1994).

It is well known that compost helps increase drainage in clay soils and offers water retention in sandy soils. Sandy soils without adequate organic matter will have to be fertilized more than those with higher organic matter due to the ability of the organic matter to slow down the water in the profile and increase nutrient absorbtion (Wilkenson, 1994). Topdressing helps keep organic matter losses in check.

Compaction Relief

Compaction is a leading problem in sports turf due to the amount of traffic, especially during wet weather. Compaction can also be a serious problem in urban soils. Although compacted soils are easy to recognize, they are influenced by:

1. Soil texture (coarse texture = less compaction)
2. Severity of pressure (lighter traffic = less compaction)
3. Frequency of pressure (less traffic = less compaction)
4. Amount of vegetation (more vegetation = less compaction)
5. Soil water content (dry soil = less compaction)

(Source: Roche, 1994)

Aeration, which is the process of removing cores of soil uniformly, is normally performed prior to topdressing in an effort to help alleviate compaction of soil on golf courses. When the traffic at a course is constant, compaction increases, especially in wet weather.

"Compaction is simply the process of squeezing out pore spaces through which air, water, nutrients and roots move. Once compacted, turf roots have a hard time pushing through the soil and eventually the turf thins out. The number one cure for compaction is an aggressive program of aeration (and topdressing)" (Harlow, 1994).

Compaction is heavily influenced by compost additions or soil mixes with compost as an ingredient. Turf growing in less compacted areas may use 25-50% less water than in non-compacted conditions (Roche, 1993). This is extremely important for all courses interested in better water management or conservation. Adding composts to turf after aeration allows for seasonal adjustments to keep high traffic areas, which are susceptible to compaction, in check. The charts below itemize compaction problems and how to deal with them.

Table 5: What compaction does

• Destroys soil structure; increases soil bulk density; increases small pore space, decreases large pore space.
• Contributes to lower air porosity, lack of soil aeration; increases carbon dioxide in soil; decreases oxygen diffusion.
• Contributes to reduced water infiltration and percolation; increases surface water runoff; increases water evaporative losses; decreases leaf water potential; decreases drought hardiness; increases need for irrigation.
• Causes greater soil temperature extremes; increases heat conductivity and canopy temperatures.
• Decreases nutrient and pesticide movement; decreases nitrogen use efficiency; decreases plants' stored food reserves; increases need for herbicides and fungicides; increases proneness to wilt and disease.

(Source: Roche, 1993)

Table 6: Alleviating compaction

• Use species/cultivars adapted to your area and cultural level.
• Control traffic through scheduling and design.
• Cultivate as often as necessary.
• Adjust other management programs: develop good drainage, irrigate as deeply and infrequently as possible; keep nitrogen levels adequate but not high.
• Modify the soil chemically (use gypsum for heavy, salt-affected soils).
• Modify the soil physically (add sand or organic matter to heavy clay soils).
• Install paver systems, as a last resort.

(Source: Roche, 1993, after Dr. R.N. Carrow)

Fiber

There is a new concept on the horizon which relates organic matter to fiber. Many golf courses have used various peats as the sole source of organic matter only to find that some of them, like black peat, clog soil pores, lowering infiltration and percolation (McCoy, 1993). As more research evolves, it is apparent that changes in previously preferred coarse textured peats over time produce soil profiles similar to newly constructed profiles using finer textured materials (McCoy, 1992).

(Source: McCoy, 1993)

Composts, depending upon their source, can be coarse like high quality peats but may decompose more rapidly causing eventual problems in infiltration. This has long been the fear of most superintendents. But Composts can be used even in this type of situation by following compost blended construction with routine aeration, core removal and topdressing with high quality coarse textured materials (McCoy, 1993). In other words, if the coarseness of the fiber is constantly monitored, the superintendent can maintain both permeability and water holding capacity. The table below shows relationships of organic matter and fiber (McCoy, 1993).

The future impact of this research may be that two products could feasibly be made to satisfy this fiber relationship. First, a product of medium-fine texture, like well aged compost, could be used for construction. Then, a coarse textured compost or peat could be used as the organic source for all topdressing needs (McCoy, 1994). This would satisfy biological soil health and structural issues as well. The coarse fiber would be annually renewed, allowing continued structure preservation over time.

Higher fiber contents do not necessarily mean more moisture availability. Organic sources with fiber contents in excess of about 45% may be excessively coarse and much of the retained moisture may be unavailable to the growing plant (McCoy, 1993).

Special Mixes

Golf courses constantly reseed tee areas due to divots taken by even the best of golfers. Many superintendents have begun using "divot mixes" which already have seed in a sand-organic mix which is applied to the divot area by the golfer before moving down the fairway. Small supply boxes are available at the back of each tee or on the carts for the golfer's convenience. Such a system allows the superintendent to ask questions back to a member complaining about the tees: "Well have you been using the divot mix as we have made available?"

Although volume potential in this market is small, the market is highly specialized. Compost can help speed up germination due to its water holding potential. As long as the divot mix and the tee mix used to build the tees are similar, complications from continued use over many years should not arise. Also, bright green or dark green spots formed due to the use of compost can be avoided if fertility is monitored carefully. Divot mixes are reported to have sold as high as $250 per ton, especially when the sand has been dyed green to match the grass, which is attractive for television coverage. Using compost in these mixes replaces peat moss that is generally used as the organic source.

Athletic Fields

The desire and need to create athletic fields which are more resilient, more attractive, and safer to play on has grown. Compost is an organic product which is inexpensive, versatile, and can be used in the maintenance, renovation and construction of athletic fields (Alexander and Tyler, 1992). It also helps markets like schools, parks and municipalities, which are strapped by shrinking budgets. The addition of compost to soils which are high in sand or clay content will improve the soils texture and friability, drainage in athletic field soils, and slows down the rate of compaction (Alexander and Tyler, 1992). The utilization of compost in the maintenance (topdressing), renovation (soil amendment) and construction (mix component) is explained in more detail in Table 1 (Alexander 1991).

The nature of athletic fields, with constant traffic in selected areas, predisposes them to extreme compaction. Heavy traffic in wet weather is the worst combination to increase compaction. Compaction prevents moisture and nutrients from getting to the turf roots and it eventually thins out (Roche, 1994). The only economical solution is to aerify and add organic matter on a seasonal basis. Heavily compacted soils could probably use a spring and fall treatment for the first year or two and adjust to a minimum of once per year thereafter.

The utilization of compost on athletic fields will continue to grow as long as the product stays price competitive and consistent in quality when compared to peat moss and commercially available topdressings. Compost used in athletic field maintenance (topdressing) must fit the specifications outlined earlier in the landscape section. Compost must be processed through a 1/8" to 1/4" screen in order to be easily backfilled into aerification holes and avoid smothering existing turf (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

The compost must be free from significant foreign matter, since traces of the material may be visible on the soil surface (Alexander and Tyler, 1992). For instance, compost with glass or metal would endanger knees of football players upon impact with the turf. Inerts on the surface of golf greens cause maintenance problems with the bedknives of mowing equipment.

For new construction of athletic fields, or most applications for that matter, a ratio of 30% sand, 40% soil and 30% organic matter by volume, or 5-10% organic matter by weight, is ideal (Hall, 1994). Since this is only possible for new construction, existing turf should be aerified and topdressed with various blends of sand and compost over a number of years until similar proportions are reached.

Compost used in the renovation or construction of athletic fields may be slightly coarser than material used in topdressing, and can be processed through a 3/8" to 1/2" screen. Compost used in the construction of athletic fields should be somewhat dry, allowing it to be easily mixed with other mix components like silica sands (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

Mix ratios and possible combinations of topdressing mixes are determined on a case by case basis, depending on native soil test data and the designers objectives. Material with a moisture content of 55% or over may be difficult to spread or mix efficiently and material less than 20% moisture may be too dusty. Since the majority of athletic fields are located at schools and universities, where students and parents frequent, the use of material which has objectionable odors or a significant amount of foreign material would not be recommended (Alexander and Tyler, 1992).

Table 8: Step by Step use of compost on athletic fields

Topdressing

1. Heavily core aerify entire athletic field, concentrating on most heavily compacted areas, like the middle of the field where most traffic occurs.
2. Apply about 1/2" of compost or compost/sand mixture with a manure spreader or topdressing unit. If these are not available, dump materials into small piles and rake out in a star shaped pattern until covered evenly.
3. Smooth the soil surface using a rake or weighted drag unit like chain link fence. The raking and dragging should break up the soil plugs and mix it with the compost, most of which will fall back into the holes.
4. Seed and water the topdressed area. It is important to incorporate the grass seed into the soil by dragging the area again, or applying a thin layer of final compost cover to protect the seed. If the turf is thick and healthy, seeding may not be needed.

Renovating

1. Mechanically rototil or disk the entire field, turning the soil and destroying existing vegetation. For some areas, it may be necessary to use a non-selective herbicide to achieve a complete vegetative kill, especially for tough weed species.
2. Apply 1-2" of compost over the field evenly, with a higher concentration of material being distributed to the center, where compaction is greatest.
3. Incorporate compost using a disk, rake, rototiller or other device capable of mixing the compost to a depth of at least five inches. The soil should be clump free when completed.
4. Shape and smooth the field using a rake and light roller. The desired crown should be established in the center, enabling water to drain appropriately.
5. Seed and water the entire area. It is important to incorporate the grass seed into the soil by dragging the area again, or applying a thin layer of final compost cover to protect the seed.

New Construction

1. Using front end loaders or other bulk handling equipment, blend the specified mix, ensuring uniformity and proper proportions. Material is well mixed when it is not possible to determine where ingredients are in the mix (ie., no marbling effects).
2. Rough grade the athletic field area, loosening soil to a 5" depth. If the new construction mix is more than two soil classifications away from the native site soil, an intermediate layer should be made by incorporating 1-2" of construction mix with native soil prior to placing final construction mix. This will ensure a gradual transition of soil types over the entire soil profile.
3. Place at least 4-6" of construction mix evenly on the site and grade accordingly. Roll the area to achieve a firm seedbed.
4. Seed and water the entire area. It is important to incorporate the grass seed into the soil by dragging the area again, or applying a thin layer of final compost cover to protect the seed.

(Source: Adapted from Alexander, 1991).

Rod Tyler is owner of Green Horizons in Medina, Ohio, and is a Certified Professional Agronomist. Part of the information contained in this article has been taken from his new book, "Winning the Organics Game-The Compost Marketers Handbook", (ASHS 1996).

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