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Current Commodity Positioning Due to the pandemic and geopolitical conflict of Russia-Ukraine, the commodities for fertilizer production have been experiencing shortages and increase in their prices. The most relevant commodities that are discussed in the article are urea nitrogen, phosphate (DAP), muriate of potash (MOP) and natural gas. Urea Nitrogen Before 2020 "normal" price for […]

This week we will continue to learn more about Top Soil Selection. Soil structure is defined by the way individual particles of sand, silt, and clay are held together as clusters. Single particles when assembled appear as larger particles. These are called aggregates or clusters. Aggregation of soil particles can occur in different patterns, resulting in […]

This week we will continue to learn about Top Soil Selection. What’s the connection between sports and soil? Most of us don’t think much more about soil in connection to sports, other than that we need to wash “dirt” from our clothes. But soil is also important for many sports where the quality of the turf […]

This week we will skip the fourth segment of the seven segments of the structure to build a natural turf field, Maintenance which we have covered thoroughly in previous articles. Now we will take a look at segment five.    Segment Five is Top Soil Selection, the soil selected and managed for sports fields is […]

This week we will go over the next part of the seven segments of the structure to build a natural turf field. Segment Three is Grass Selection, every natural turf field is unique in its requirements and environmental factors. Therefore, we must be very selective in what turfgrass we use in order to provide the […]

PART 2 As mentioned in last weeks article, there is a structure that needs to be followed in order to start building a natural turf field. We will go over the first two of the seven segments in this week’s article. Firstly we need to know the Type of Sport that is to be played on the […]

In recent years there have been many sports fields that have been built using improper methods, followed by a poor maintenance structure, and now are seen to be in conditions that are unfit to be played on. In this article, we at The RS Group would like to highlight the proper steps to be taken […]

PART 2 Introduction Certainly one can water a portion of a field by hand, with lawn spinners, with a traveller, or even with a portable aluminium pipe system. However, seldom can you apply water often enough with these methods and it is impossible to supply the water uniformly. IRRIGATION METHOD Many new fields are now […]

PART 1 Introduction Nowadays, irrigation is an important and integral part of the turf grass management industry, especially as the demand for better quality playing surfaces has increased. This demand has been largely due to extensive televised coverage of major sporting events. Seeing immaculate aesthetically presented golf courses, football, rugby pitches and horse racing courses […]

PART 2 ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THATCH IN SPORTS TURF Numerous research projects have found that thatch can become a problem when it’s thickness exceeds 12mm. But for most sports, a thin, uniform thatch layer can improve turf quality. Advantages of thatch maintained at a 12mm or less: Increased resiliency. Increased wear tolerance. Increased impact […]

PART 1 Introduction Thatch is the undecomposed or partially decomposed layer of living and dead grass stems, roots, rhizomes, stolons, and other organic matter that is found between the soil surface and grass blades. Under some circumstances thatch can play a positive role in sports turf management, and this positive role has been given very […]

PART 2 Top Dressing-Recycle Dresser Introduction Soil recycling for heavy duty turf renovation. It aerates the underlying soil both horizontally and vertically providing an oxygen rich environment for sustained root growth while eliminating soil compaction. The underlying soil is removed from the root-zone and re-distributed to the playing surface; recycling the soil for use on […]

PART 1 Introduction There are two types of top dressing suitable for application to sports surfaces: either 'origin based' (the same as the soil on the site), or sand based. Each of these dressings is applied for a different purpose. The origin/organic-based top dressing is applied to improve soil nutrients that have been removed during […]

AERATIONPART 2. Aeration methods and machines. A number of aeration methods and machines have been developed over the years, each type with its own strengths and weakness. Hollow Tine (core) Aeration. Coring is a form of aeration involving the use of a hollow tine or spoon to remove soil cores that leaves a hole or […]

PART 1-AERATION Introduction Like all plants, turfgrass requires air and water to grow and function efficiently. If the plant is unable to obtain these two elements in correct proportions the turfgrass will suffer. Turfgrass roots and beneficial micro and macro organisms require oxygen for respiration and the maintenance of life processes. Thus, the soil air […]

Surface restoration is an important process to keep the turfgrass surface in good condition. After every event the surface is compacted, divot marks can be seen, and sand or topsoil is pushed upwards to the turfgrass surface. This gives an uneven and rough surface which could cause injuries to players and doesn’t look good aesthetically. […]

PART 6 – FERTILIZER APPLICATION Fertilizer can be applied in a solid, dry form or in a water carrier. A fertilizer spreader is essential for the uniform distribution of solid fertilizers. Factors to consider in selecting a fertilizer spreader include; a.Uniformity of distributionb.Application widthc.Range in rates and ease of adjustmentd.Hopper capacitye.Hopper agitatorf.Ease of emptying and […]

PART 5 – FERTILIZER PRACTICES Few soils possess sufficient inherent fertility to maintain the desired turf grass quality and recuperative potential throughout the growing season. The primary objective in applying a fertilizer is to supply plant nutrients that are deficient in the soil. In addition to supplying essential nutrients, fertilizers influence other soil properties including […]

PART 4 – ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS CALCIUM Calcium is a micronutrient found in relatively large quantities in turf grass tissues, ranking third after nitrogen and potassium. Calcium functions as a a.Vital constituent of cell wallsb.Specific nutrient requirement for meristem growth by cell divisionc.Neutralizing factor for potentially toxic substance within the cell The influence of calcium on […]

PART 3 – ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS PHOSPHORUS Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient contained in every living cell. It is involved in a number of physiological functions within the plant including: a.Energy transformations within the plant in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)b.A constituent of the genetic material in the cell nucleusc.Carbohydrate transformation such as the conversion […]

PART 2 – ESSENTIAL NUTRIENTS INTRODUCTION The essential elements have a minimal physiological effect in themselves but are active when combined in certain organic compounds or as ions in solution. Essential nutrients have a number of vital functions in plant growth and development such as  a.Constituents of living tissues.b.Catalysts in certain biochemical reactions.c.Influencing the cell […]

PART 1 – Fertilizing Requirement and Uptake INTRODUCTION Turfgrass constantly renews itself through the normal growth process. New roots, buds, rhizomes, tiller and leaves replace the old, diseased and worn. Fertilizers are designed to give the turfgrass the right balance of nutrients which promotes this renewal for healthier growth, improve root development and replace nutrient […]

PART 5 MOWING EQUIPMENT Introduction MOWING EQUIPMENT Mowing can be accomplished by either a reel or rotary mower. The quality of turf resulting from the mowing operation varies depending on the basic type of cutting action utilized. On a rotary mower, the blade simply slashes through the grass leaving the end ragged and liable to […]

PART 4 - GRASS CLIPPINGS Introduction Grass clippings are a by-product of the mowing operation. It is the cut grasses that are left behind or captured in a grass catcher by the mower when cut your lawn. Grass clipping are short when you mow your lawn following the “one-third” rule (never mow more than one-third […]

PART 3-FREQUENCY OF MOWING Introduction FREQUENCY The mowing frequency can be as important as the cutting height in the overall physiological and development conditions of the turf grass plant. Longer intervals between mowing improves the overall turfgrass vigour and quality, assuming that the one-third rule is strictly followed. The mowing frequency is determined by the: […]

PART 2- CUTTING HEIGHT Introduction CUTTING HEIGHT There is no single “ideal” cutting height for turfgrass. The choice of cutting height is influenced by the type of grass, the climate of the area and the game that is going to be played. Cutting height is defined as the distance above the soil surface at which […]

PART 1-RULES OF MOWING Introduction Mowing is the most fundamental and universal practice utilized in turfgrass culture and is one of the most important turf management processes. It provides a uniform surface for sports and recreational activities. Mowing is the process of cutting turfgrass parallel to the soil surface so that upward extension of the […]

UGA’s TifSport and TifGrand, tough and durable bermudagrasses, were decades in the making. The Summer Olympics may be in Japan this year, but Team USA was on home turf when they took the field for Friday’s opening ceremony.The Japan National Stadium’s field was sodded with TifSport Bermudagrass, developed in South Georgia. One of many grass […]

A soil profile is a vertical section of soil like the picture below. It allows you to examine the structure of the soil. Established sports fields can reveal many of their secrets by analysing the soil profile. An undisturbed soil profile will reveal its origin and give clues as to whether it is of natural […]

Bermudagrass is valued for its exceptional heat and drought tolerance and a capacity to withstand heavy use and recuperate quickly. This combination of qualities leads many sports facility owners in the Tropics to rely on Bermudagrass for its toughness and resilience. Bermuda grass flourishes in sites with full, direct sun and good drainage. It has […]

The RS Group is a collection of companies that specialises in the creation of sports surfaces and facilities from conception to construction, maintenance and aftercare. After 35 years in business, the founding members of our organization are preparing to retire while the second generation is being trained and prepared for a natural succession. In recent […]