EFFECT OF SIMULATED TRAFFIC ON SOME TURF QUALITY PARAMETERS IN CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS OF SOCCER PITCHES

S. Macolino, M. Lucon, M. Scotton, A. Altissimo, U. Ziliotto
In order to define the optimum design for soccer pitches in North-Eastern Italy, a plot trial was carried out at the experimental farm of Padova University, in Legnaro. Three construction systems, (one Intergreen system with volcanic sand as the topsoil and two vertical drainage systems with volcanic and river sand as the topsoils, respectively); three mixtures of cool-season grasses (1. Lolium perenne + Poa pratensis; 2. Festuca arundinacea + P. pratensis; 3. P. pratensis); two nitrogen rates (200 and 400 kg N ha-1 y-1); and two levels of simulated soccer traffic (traffic and no traffic) were compared in a split-plot design. Four parameters of turf quality: general appearance, density, texture, and colour were estimated over 12 months using visual ratings. Results showed that the quality ratings of turf receiving 400 kg of N ha-1 were higher than those receiving 200 kg of N ha-1. The F. arundinacea + P. pratensis mixture provided the highest quality ratings, the only exception being leaf texture ratings. The P. pratensis monoculture provided lowest quality ratings. For the comparison of construction methods, turf quality on the Intergreen system was consistently better than on the vertical drainage system with river sand and occasionally better on the system with volcanic sand.
Macolino, S., Lucon, M., Scotton, M., Altissimo, A. and Ziliotto, U. (2004). EFFECT OF SIMULATED TRAFFIC ON SOME TURF QUALITY PARAMETERS IN CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS OF SOCCER PITCHES . Acta Hortic. 661, 53-57
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.4
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.4
turf quality, soccer, construction system, simulated traffic, cool-season grasses, Festuca arundinacea
English

Acta Horticulturae