Module 4:

Materials

4.4 How much is needed?

4.4.6 Top-dressing

The end of season renovation for a 7,000m² pitch is to include the application of 70 tonnes (70,000kg) of sandy top-dressing.

How many kilograms of top-dressing will be applied for each square metre of pitch if it is applied evenly?

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

There are 1,000 kilograms (kg) in 1 tonne.

If the application rate was just 1 kg for every square metre of pitch then the requirement would be 7,000 kg (that is 7 tonnes) of top-dressing for a full sized pitch of 7,000m².

The question is saying that a total of 70,000 kg (70 tonnes) is to be applied.

Hopefully this helps you do the remainder of the calculation.

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

If you haven't already done so you need to divide the total quantity (70,000 kg) by the total area (of 7,000m²) to arrive at the correct application rate.

Can you now work out the final quantity that is required?

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

So, we have 70,000 kg ÷ 7,000 m².

The answer is therefore 10 kg applied every square metre.

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

1 The end of season renovation, typically in May, is the time when the bulk of a top-dressing is usually applied. A guide application rate is 10 tonnes per 1,000m² of pitch, so an adult sized pitch will require some 60-70 tonnes. Where this is to be applied to a renovated sward, not one that has been planed off, then it might be more appropriate to apply the total amount in half loads about 2 to 4 weeks apart to allow the material to be more easily incorporated into the sward without it being smothered.

2 When funds are tight or very limited then it might be a case of a small amount for renovation and also some sand that can be used for helping to dry out localised wet or muddy areas during the playing season. An 8 - 10 tonne lorry load would probably be the minimum viable quantity, but ideally more would be available.

A small amount of top-dressing can also be kept aside for use as a divot mix for in the playing season.

Module progress: 79%

4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.6