Module 6:

6.2 Turf problems and controls

1   Adjusting for local needs

An example pitch might be maintained at quality Grade 3, but the management policy is to reduce, but not necessarily eliminate, the use of pesticides for pitch management. For this example, it is a soil-based pitch, and it is found that keeping weeds to the general parameter of no more than 10% is very challenging without the use of selective herbicide.

The management team have discussed this and decided that for their particular pitch this standard will be revised to be a maximum of 17.5% for the Grade 3 parameter.

When reporting on the pitch quality it would be important to indicate that this (as well as any other) standard has been amended to meet local conditions.

It would therefore not be helpful to use this standard as a comparative measure against other pitches that are still using the general standard parameters because there would not be a like for like comparison. The standard would still be reported, but in a separate section that details standards that have been amended. This will promote transparency of reporting and reduce any insinuations of cheating when quoting an overall pitch grade.

2   Clarifying standards with a time-based response

Another approach to local needs is that of aiming to achieve a pristine surface for a high-class Grade 5 pitch and aspiring to having a blemish disease free surface at all times.

Having a performance standard, for example, of 0% acceptability for a disease would mean that as soon as a disease attack occurs, then the grounds manager has technically failed in achieving this outcome, irrespective how well they have maintained the pitch or how large a budget they have.

A more realistic and manageable approach would be to have maybe a value of a maximum of say 1% of the surface area affected, but with the condition that this is present for no greater than a period of 7-days; or something similar.

This acknowledges the variable influence, and an element of uncontrollability by humans, of the natural environment on pitch management, but also adds a relatively tight timescale in which elite managers have, with typically high budgets, to correct the affected area/s. When reporting on pitch quality this type of clarified amendment would also be included within a separate section.