Many of our research ideas come from inventive grounds managers in the turfgrass industry. This project is a good example. Vince Patterozzi, Head Grounds Manager Baltimore Ravens, noticed that there was a difference in turf appearance when he used different color rain tarps. After two years of hearing this comment, Vince put it to me like this, "There is something going on with tarp color, you figure it out". He arranged with M Putterman & Company Inc. (800-621-0146) to send us several different samples of tarp colors. The study below is what developed from a very astute observation. Thanks Vince.
Objective: To determine if tarp color has any effect on turf growth and color.
Method:
The Putterman Rain Buster Athletic Field tarps used in this study were designed to keep rain or snow off of the field. The tarps are made from 6-ounce polyethylene or 10-ounce vinyl. These tarps are generally placed on the field temporarily and then removed when the rain event ends. Fields are generally covered for only a few hours, but in some cases a tarp may be left on the field for three days or longer. Three different studies have been conducted since the spring of 1998 on a mature stand of 'Midnight' Kentucky bluegrass. Five-foot by five-foot tarps of each tarp color were pinned to the ground in a randomized block design with 3 replications. Tarps were placed on April 9 and removed on April 24 in study A. Tarps were placed on 3 November 1998 and removed on 23 March 1999 in study B. Tarps were placed on 23 March and removed 20 April 1999 in study C. Turf color was rated on a scale of 1-10, 10 = darkest green and 1 = no green color, white/brown, and 6 = lowest acceptable color. Turf growth was rated on a scale of 1&emdash;10, 10 = most growth and 1 = no growth.
Results:
The data has not been statistically analyzed but the magnitude of the differences and consistency among replications has been compelling. Studies A and C were similar because they were covered just during spring green-up. Study B was covered during the entire winter and then uncovered just before any green-up or growth occurred. In all studies, tarp color had a dramatic effect on turf color. Yellow, orange, red, and white tarps produced the best turf color with ratings ranging between 6.5 and 10. When compared to the control, turf color was generally enhanced by tarp colors yellow, orange, red, and white. Tarp colors light blue, blue, and purple produced some yellowing that made them inferior to yellow, orange, red, and white. Tarp colors gray, light-green, dark-green, and black produce the most decrease in turf color and they were considered unacceptable. A Covermaster grow tarp and Enkamat were also included in the study even though they are not moisture prevention tarps. Both Covermaster and Enkamat improved turf color compared to the non-covered control plots.
It is clear that tarp color has an affect on turf performance. More investigation will be needed to evaluate duration of tarp cover, season of tarp cover, heat load under tarps, and potential for diseases, and light penetration.
Table 1. Turf color and growth as affected by tarp color.
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
November to March |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
color |
color |
|
color |
|
color |
|
|
Orange |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Red |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Yellow |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Light blue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Blue |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purple |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gray |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Light green |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dark green |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black/white |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
White/black |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Covermaster |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enkamat |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Control no tarp |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
ISU Horticulture:Publications:1999 Turfgrass Report | College of Agriculture |