Growing Cool-Season Sod on Plastic in Mexico City
In May 2023, the research team traveled to Mexico City, Mexico. For this trip, the team visited the famed Estadio Azteca, the Mexican National Team training facilities, and established cool-season sod on plastic (Figure 3). Although the idea of cool-season turfgrass in Mexico City may come as a surprise to some, the climatic conditions are well-suited for cool- season growth due to the city’s elevation (roughly 7,200 feet [2, 194.56 meters] above sea level). We anticipate harvesting and installing this sod in areas of Azteca by December of this year.
Figure 3. Sod on plastic establishment in Mexico City. A. Sod being stripped from the Kikuyu grass site. B. Plastic laid over the area. C. 1.5 in. (3.81 cm) of 85:15 (sand:peat) spread for establishment. D. Gemination cloth draped over the seeded area, ready for irrigation.
A New Site for Establishment in East
Lansing, Michigan In the Fall of 2022, the Michigan State research team tested their luck and established sod on plastic in an asphalt parking lot on the south end of the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center. Although the establishment has fared well thus far, the site lacked several fundamental needs (e.g., a sound irrigation system and adequate grade). To solve this problem, we contracted HomeField Turf & Athletic (certified installers of DuraEdge PRO) to install a 10,000 sq. ft.(929.03 sq. m) area for establishment this summer. In June 2023, the new site will be home to our most recent round of North Carolina sod on plastic and another round of sod on plastic establishment (Figure 4.). We look forward to showcasing our new site during the optional tour, which is a feature of the TPI International Convention & Field Day, July 24 to 26, 2023, and continuing to provide updates on our latest research endeavors.
REFERENCES: FIFA. (2022). FIFA Natural-Pitch Rating System Natural Playing Surfaces Quality Programme (Vol. 1, Issue May). To view that document, go to the link that follows.
https://www.fifa.com/technical/football-technology/standards/ natural-playing-surfaces
TPI Turf News July/August 2023
Figure 4. New site for sod on plastic establishment in East Lansing, Michigan, consisting of 2 in. (5.08 cm) of DuraEdge PRO material.
Ryan Bearss, Jackie Guevara, and Jake Kilby are all graduate students at Michigan State University. Ryan and Evan Rogers also serve as the project research assistants for MSU. Rhys Fielder is the project research assistant for the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Heading the research team are Dr. Trey Rogers, a professor of turfgrass research in the Turfgrass Research Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences at MSU; and Dr. John Sorochan, a distinguished professor of Turfgrass Science and Management, and co-director for the UT Center for Athletic Field Safety at UT, Knoxville.
All photos courtesy of the project research team. 11
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