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  4. Module 4.4

Module 4:

Materials

4.4 How much is needed?

Don't forget: Before looking through the comments do try each question in each section first.

4.4.1 Fertilisers

You have decided that your football pitch is to have a mid-April fertiliser application with an analysis of 11:5:5. It is to be applied at a rate of 35 g/m2 and the total pitch area is 7000m2.

What is the total quantity of fertiliser that is needed for the pitch?

1. Do you need some initial help with the calculations?

The first thing to consider is that for this question the nutrient analysis doesn't have anything to do with what is required for your calculations. So, don't get confused with the analysis and forget about this. Focus on the other part of the question being asked.

2. Do you need some more help with the calculations?

There are 1000 grams in 1 kg.

If the application rate was just 1 gram for every square metre of pitch then the requirement would be 7000 grams of fertiliser. 7000 grams is also the same as 7kg.

Hopefully this helps you do the calculation to work out what would be required for the required amount of 35 grams for each square metre of pitch.

3. Do you need some other help with the final calculation?

We have shown that 1 gram spread over the entire pitch (of 7,000m2 would need 7kg.

The question has asked for 35 grams of fertiliser being required for each square metre of pitch.

If it was 10 grams per m2 needed then the total would be 70kg (that's out 7kg multiplied by 10), but it is 35 grams.

We need to muliply our initial calculation of 7kg by 35 to give us the correct amount. Therefore 7kg x 35 = 245 kg.

There can be several ways to arrive at a correct answer, but hopefully the above approach has been clear

1  

There is a large range of fertilisers available for a wide range of specific needs. There will also usually be a large range of options available for any particular pitch, so choice will also depend on availability and cost of the product, as well as the service provided by the supplier.

There are actually several hundred of products available, so enjoy picking what is best for you and your pitch. Shop around for the fertiliser giving you the best value for money.

It is a good idea to get advice from an expert in turfculture and grounds management, as well as advice from the suppliers about their specific products.

2  

A very general guide for fertilisers might be as follows, but as just indicated the permutations can be almost limitless.

Main feeds

  • April/May: 12:6:6 at 35 g/m2 [Organic TE Spring and Summer; 25kg]
  • End-August/September: 6:2:10 at 25 g/m2. [Enhance R Outfield A/W; 20kg]

3  

Supplementary feeds:  (all subject to rainfall conditions, irrigation availability, pitch quality required, etc.).

  • Summer liquid feed:
  • (a) 6-2-4 Organic Sports Grass Liquid Fertiliser (10 litre), which includes other macro nutrients and a wide range of trace elements being applied at 4-Litres of concentrate per hectare, being applied every 2 to 4 weeks. For a pitch of 7,000m2, this would then use 2.8 litre of concentrate per application. Three applications over the summer should be adequate.
  • (b) Greenmaster NK 10-0-10 Liquid Fertiliser (10 Litre) at a low rate (probably at one-half to one-quarter a suggested rate so as to just keep the turf ticking over during the drier summer months; therefore, to supply 1.25 to 2.5 g/m2 per month this would require 10-20 Litres of concentrate per hectare.
  • Autumn feed:
  • End-August/September: 6:2:10 at 25 g/m2. [Enhance R Outfield A/W; 20kg]
Module progress: 67%
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