Turf nutrition and management

Understanding that a turf surface is made up of millions of tiny plants is easily forgotten but collectively the turf they form has needs. In this class, the objective is to look at turf nutrition and the reasons this is vitally important to the production of good quality, healthy turf surfaces. The class will start with an overview of the role of nutrients within the grass plant and the role of the main macro, meso and micronutrients in the plant. There will also be a discussion about what happens when nutrients are too available or not available enough for the plant which will cover common ailments and disease impacts. We will also look at the role of nutrition in the management of stress. The class will then move on to how nutrient moves through the modified ecosystem we engineer as greenkeepers and the inputs and losses the system experiences in normal growing and maintenance regimes. There will be an exploration of when and where sampling to test nutrient supply and availability is appropriate to ensure the system remains optimal. Finally, we will consider what nutrients are available and from what sources and look at the pros and cons of the different nutrient supply ingredients found in common fertilisers. This will include the key principals of how to schedule fertiliser programmes in the year plan for the different areas of the course.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the role and behaviour of different nutrients in the plant and soil environment
• Appreciate the outcomes of over or under nutrition for the plant and playing surfaces
• Understand how and when to assess for plant and soil nutrition in different situations and locations
• Evaluate the sources and forms of supplemental nutrition we have available to support turf health and nutritional inputs
• Consider how we use fertiliser responsibly and effectively to meet the needs of our turf surfaces

Presented by:

Noel MacKenzie B.Sc.(Hons), MBPR, RIPTA, MRSB, MCIHORT, C.Biol

Director and Principal Consultant

Noel has worked in the sports turf and amenity industry since 1993 holding both Head Groundsman/Greenkeeper roles and working for the leading consultancies in sports turf management. He has undertaken in excess of 4000 advisory visits and presented at numerous seminars for BIGGA at both national and regional events as well as the IOG, AELT&CC, etc, and industry liaison events for suppliers and manufacturers. Noel has also taught to Masters degree level in this topic and other management related sciences.

Noel has experience overseeing complicated projects and their management including the £6M Olympic Park/Hackney Marsh conversion and reinstatement, numerous drainage system installations and site developments.