Fertiliser
Fertiliser is essential for grass to sustain colour, growth, and density. It will also help better resist disease, pests, and weeds. Grass can survive without added fertiliser, but it probably won’t stand up to the damage caused throughout a rugby league season.
Plants use the energy from the sunlight to join carbon dioxide and water to make sugar. The process is known as photosynthesis and takes place in all green plants. To make the process work, the plant requires several essential nutrients, most of which are obtained directly from the soil.
Plants require individual nutrients in different amounts. Most soils contain enough of the nutrients for healthy plant growth without additions being made. However, some nutrients are required in such large quantities that additional applications must be given if maximum growth is to be stimulated.
The main group of nutrients are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).
Fertiliser comes in granular, liquid or powder forms. Granular fertiliser generally comes in conventional release or slow release.
Conventional release fertiliser deposits their nutrient all in one go. They last up to six weeks and can result in a lot of top growth.
Slow-release fertilisers can last up to six months. The nutrients are released by a combination of water and temperature. They are coated and the fertiliser is drip fed into the soil over time.
The fertiliser is applied to the grass by either using a pedestrian spreader or by tractor mounted spreader. The fertiliser needs to be applied on a dry day and when rain is expected unless you have an irrigation system. Conventional release fertilisers can scorch the grass if not watered in sufficiently.
Benefits
• Improve turf health
• Improves Aesthetics of the pitch
• Can aid plant recovery from damage
Tweet