PITCH MANAGEMENT
BAR GT COMMERCIAL TRIALS GIVEN GREEN LIGHT
C
ommercial field trials of a Throughout the trials at the STRI, 4ER 3.0 litres per hectare.
Glyphosate tolerant perennial 2703 has shown its tolerance to Glyphosate. When sown in a mixture, a minimum of
ryegrass have been given the “We had an added bonus of seeing how 50 per cent 4ER 2703 appeared to be
green light by Barenbrug UK. resilient it is in sharp contrast to the effect required to maintain optimum recovery.
The move follows extensive the chemical had on Poa, when the 2005 This study suggested that the application
independent laboratory and field plot trials Lawns, Landscaping, Summer Sports turf rate of 1.5 litres per hectare should be the
at the STRI, together with glasshouse trials trial was sprayed off,” Jayne continues. upper limit to enable 4ER 2703 to maximise
undertaken by Barenbrug Research. All “The Poa was dead, but despite an its recovery.
trials have shown that 4ER 2703 application rate of five litres per hectare, The next field trial in August 2006 was
consistently maintains optimum recovery 4ER 2703 survived and showed excellent designed to test the implications for Poa
after applications of Glyphosate. recovery.” contamination and again the trial lasted two
4ER 2703 looking very healthy after the
Developed specifically for the Pot trials started in 2004 to determine months. 4ER 2703 was tested as a straight
Glyphosate application, during the
glasshouse trials conducted by
professional market, 4ER 2703 - to be the effect of increasing dose rates. 4ER and in a mixture with 30 per cent Barpearl
Barenbrug Research. The non-tolerant
marketed as BAR GT - is a fine leaved 2703 was compared with other cultivars of slender creeping red fescue and a non-
perennial ryegrasses in comparison
perennial ryegrass with the same breeding perennial ryegrass as a straight and in a tolerant perennial ryegrass. The trial
exhibited considerable phytotoxic effects.
as Bargold. Importantly, it has the mixture with Barpearl slender creeping red produced two major statistical outcomes -
appearance of a traditional fine English fescue. Treatments were applied when all the higher the application rate the more comparison the non-tolerant perennial
ryegrass, but with the added bonus of grasses had reached growth stage 13 and damage was observed and there was a grass ryegrass exhibited 50 per cent loss of cover
excellent wear tolerance. 4ER 2703's assessments made at seven, 14, 22, 28 and species effect with the non-tolerant when Glyphosate had been applied at 1.0
breeding followed contemporary and not 56 days. The phytotoxic effects of a 3.0 perennial ryegrass showing the highest level and 1.5 litres per hectare.
GMO breeding disciplines. litres per hectare application rate were less of damage. Jayne concludes: “These early results are
Commenting on the start of the trials, severe both as a straight and in a mixture for In this trial application rates ranged from extremely encouraging and we await the outcome
Barenbrug's research and development 4ER 2703, and recovery started at 28 days. 0.5 to 1.5 litres per hectare. After two of the commercial trials with bated breath. We
manager, Jayne Leyland, said: “This is an Field plot trials started in May 2005 with months, no plot exhibited phytotoxic hope that the first quantities of commercial seed
important step forward in being able to assessments lasting two months. Differing effects, however bare patches remained. will be available in 2010.” FSA
produce turf free from Poa annua application rates of 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 litres This trial continued after the two-month
contamination, especially when you per hectare of Glyphosate were used. Again period to assess live ground cover and 4ER Barenbrug UK
consider the continuing removal of active phytotoxic effects were significantly less 2703 did not have any loss 59 days after Telephone 01359 272000
ingredients and the threat of even more severe with 4ER 2703 both as a straight and treatment, regardless of the application rate. email
info@baruk.co.uk
stringent regulations to come.” in a mixture when treated at both 1.5 and This indicates that all plants recovered. By
www.barenbrug.co.uk
TORO SYSTEM SAVES TIME AND WATER AT WALSALL
W
alsall Football Club's training
LELY LEADS THE WAY
grounds manager, Paul
Mason, is something of a 'one
man band', working unaided to maintain
the League One club's two training pitches
W
ith the turf maintenance
machinery industry under
increasing pressure to
and free-training area at its practice ground
implement a nationally recognised
in Essington, Wolverhampton.
operator's qualification, Lely UK is
However, the installation of a new Toro
leading the way by introducing an in-
Irrigation system means irrigation is now
Walsall FC's training grounds manager
company training initiative.
simpler and speedier for Paul, who has been
Paul Mason says that the newly installed Pre-empting the possible future
Toro TDC irrigation system has made
preparing the new training facility for its
introduction of a forklift truck-style
his job “much easier”.
summer 2008 opening for the past three
operator's licence, Lely UK personnel now
years. This new challenge enticed Paul back explains. “One of the main benefits of this
need a City & Guilds NPTC Level 2
to the League One club after working at its system is that I can now water at night -
Certificate of Competence in the Safe Use
main stadium in Bescot earlier in his career, something we were unable to do even at the
of Mowers in order to operate Toro
having joined as groundsman in the early main stadium until a few years ago. Watering
mowers.
1990s and gone on to become its grounds in the day is a waste as it just gets evaporated
Lely's Toro training manager, Ian
manager of three years. by the sun, but doing it at night gives the
Sumpter, is a qualified assessor in the
A total of 57 Toro 855S Series sprinklers plant the chance to soak up the water.”
certificate and is leading the initiative
were installed on the site, with 20 sprinklers Paul is also impressed with the system's
alongside senior product specialist for the
on each of the football pitches and 17 flexibility: “I can get it going if the manager
UK, Clive Pinnock. After a full day's training
sprinklers across the additional free-training wants it on before a game or to soften the
with Clive, operators complete a two-hour Pictured from left are Lely's Julian
area, which is roughly the size of another two surface before the players start their training if
assessment with Ian.
Coping and Robert Rees, who have
pitches. The irrigation is operated via a Toro there's been a dry spell. I can also water at the
“We felt that, as a company, we could
become two of the first to complete the
Turf Decoder Controller (TDC) 100 control weekends without manning the system - again,
lead the way by going over and above the
company's mower operator training
initiative, led by colleagues Ian Sumpter
system. just a few years ago at the main stadium we
minimum requirements for mower
and Clive Pinnock.
“It's a big task working here on my own had to go in and turn the standpipes on and off.
operatives,” Ian explains. “At the moment,
and this system has made my job easier,” It's been great getting my weekends back!”
our workshop staff operate mowers every trained by the end of 2008. Those without the
says Paul. “There's no way I could be pulling Tim Griffiths, project director of LS
now and then, loading or demonstrating certificate will no longer be able to operate
pipes around such a big area, watering Systems, says of the installation: “Although
machines. Though they've had informal Toro mowers. FSA
different parts with mobile sprinklers. Now the system was installed last summer, the
training, we want to maximise health and
the water's where I want it at the touch of a grass was only sown in autumn as this was a
safety with the introduction of this formal Toro Commercial products are
button. The less time-consuming it is the newly constructed training facility, so the
training.” distributed throughout mainland UK
better as far as I'm concerned!” sprinklers have yet to prove their full worth.
Having completed the first phase of by Lely (UK) Limited, St Neots,
The automatic system, which was But I'm pleased to hear that Paul is saving so
training, 37 members of staff are now Cambridgeshire (tel 01480 226800),
installed by LS Systems Limited in summer much time and am sure he looks forward to
qualified, including the three highest and in all of Ireland by Lely Ireland
2007, has helped Paul make the most of his making full use of it.”
performing students, Robert Rees and Julian Limited, Kilboggin, Nurney, Co.
water resource. “I have a limited water Paul adds: “The grass is green, so it's
Coping (pictured) and Andrew Ireland. Ian Kildare
supply and have to manage it well,” he definitely doing its job! It's been a big help.”
hopes to have a total of 60 mower operatives (telephone 00 353 (0)45 526170).
September/October 2008 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | 47
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