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Turf wicket - case study

Feed the soil, so the turf can look after itself...

Cricket turf affected by fusarium

Background
Several turf wickets in the Sydney region failed to thrive in the summer of 2007-2008, in the heat and humidity of what was a high rainfall season. One of these wickets is Pratten Park in Ashfield, home of Western Suburbs grade cricket club.

Both newly installed washed turf and existing grass struggled to grow and recover from play, being unresponsive to everything thrown at it. This pattern of weak growth was evident all over the wicket table and in low areas around the table where soil runoff was evident. As a result, council engaged the Sydney University Turf Research Institute in March 2008 to examine the situation.

Fungal spores of Fusarium

Results
Investigations found an abundance of soil born fungal pathogens. Subsequent root assays revealed the primary pathogen to be a summer active fusarium. While incubation at 10 deg C produced little to no development, a 30 deg C incubation produced rapid growth and development of this unusual fusarium.

Soil sampled from the wickets contained an abundance of fungal spores, while fungicidal treatment appeared to fail because of the low permeability of the clay wicket soil.

Click here for a technical sheet and program description.

Recommendations

The practical solution proposed as a result of this investigation is to innoculate the soil with Trichoderma sp. fungi, a natural antagonist to Fusarium. The following program is designed to develop healthy soil so as to optimise the growth and development of the cricket turf.

	Trich-a-soil supplies beneficial microbes known to be antagonistic to fusarium and other turf disease. Soil borne diseases are difficult to control in cricket soils due to the low permeability of the clay. Applied monthly, trichoderma will penetrate and occupy soil to prevent harmful disease activity.
	Nutrisorb Ca9 is a source of chelated calcium (9%) with Nitrogen (6%), carbon and naturally derived plant substances. When rinsed into the soil Nutrisorb feeds soil microbes and simultaneously builds soil calcium levels that are depleted by constant removal of turf from mowing and wear.
	Vitalise enhances root development through a blend of naturally derived plant substances. Applied monthly during the growing season Vitalise acts to pre condition turf against stress and feed microbes during summer growth cycles.
	Sierraform GT supplies a solid nutritional package in a slow release form, with a very low salt index. A selection of analyses is available, all featuring slow release fused potassium silicate. Applied at 25kg per 1,000sqm, Sierraform GT provides 4 to 6 weeks growth response.