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| Web URL(s): | https://stri.lib.msu.edu/vol70-1994/pdf/sptri94070142.pdf#page=6
Last checked: 08/30/2006
Requires: PDF Reader
Notes: Available to TGIF and STRI users
https://stri.lib.msu.edu/vol70-1994/sptri94070142.html
Last checked: 09/18/2006
Notes: Available to TGIF and STRI users |
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| Access Restriction: | Certain MSU-hosted archive URLs may be restricted to legacy database members. |
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| Publication Type:
| Report |
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| Content Type: | Q & A |
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| Corporate Author(s): | Sports Turf Research Institute |
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| Title: | Polo pitch cutting up |
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| Section: | Enquiries and replies
Other records with the "Enquiries and replies" Section
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| Source: | Journal of the Sports Turf Research Institute. Vol. 70, 1994, p. 147. |
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| Publishing Information: | Bingley, West Yorkshire, UK: The Sports Turf Research Institute |
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| # of Pages: | 1 |
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| Question: | "At the start of the polo season the track looks absolutely splendid, but as soon as we take the ponies on for a practice chukka the turf cuts up very quickly. This not only looks unsightly, but is dangerous for horse and rider as the ponies often have difficulty gripping the ground. We do replace the large divots after each chukka, but is there anything that will prevent this damage and help produce a pitch which not only looks well, but also provides a stable surface for a safe and fast flowing game?" |
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| Answer/Response: | "The grass cover on the pitch is dominated by Poa annua with Agrostis and Festuca species providing a minor sward component. P. annua is prone to kicking up as it is favoured by soil conditions which promote shallow rooting. Thatch, dead and decaying root and shoot tissue at the turf base, makes for a good surface to ride on, but is considered excessive in depth, holding moisture and nutrition at the surface and discouraging penetration of roots into the soil. Compaction is to blame for thatch development and is, in turn, a result of heavy traffic. If twenty-two men playing football can produce soil compaction, then it is plain to see that galloping horses running the length and breadth of the polo pitch will do the same. Kicking out of large divots is enhanced when playing polo by the shearing effect of the ponies turning and coming to a halt. A strong, deep root system is essential to reduce damage to the turf. Heavy rolling over the years has not helped, adding to compaction, thatch production and poor root development. There are two options as to the way forward, either promote a fine textured turf with some fibre or produce a dense perennial ryegrass turf. As the pitch is infrequently used and receives minimum maintenance, we suggest the former option which will require less mowing and lower fertiliser input. A copy of the most recent Turfgrass Seed booklet, produced by STRI, is enclosed which will assist in the selection of grass cultivars most suited to your conditions and playing qualities required. As for management, the immediate priority is to check compaction and the introduction of an intensive aeration regime should be backed with a dramatic decrease in rolling and scarification to reduce the depth of fibre." |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Compaction; Polo grounds; Recommendations; Root depth; Sports turf maintenance; Surface quality
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Sports Turf Research Institute. 1994. Polo pitch cutting up. J. Turfgrass Sports Surf. Sci. 70:p. 147. |
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| Web URL(s):
https://stri.lib.msu.edu/vol70-1994/pdf/sptri94070142.pdf#page=6
Last checked: 08/30/2006
Requires: PDF Reader
Notes: Available to TGIF and STRI users
https://stri.lib.msu.edu/vol70-1994/sptri94070142.html
Last checked: 09/18/2006
Notes: Available to TGIF and STRI users |
| 
MSU catalog number: SB 433 .A1 S63 |
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