Turf Seed-Mat (Sure-Turf ®)

Investigator: Dr. Nick E. Christians, Professor of Iowa State University, Horticulture Dept.
(515)294-0036 nchris@iastate.edu

Dr. Young K. Joo, Associate Professor of Yonsei University / Affiliate Professor of Iowa State University
(515)294-6025 ykjoo@dragon.yonsei.ac.kr

Research Contents

TEST 1.

Effects of Perforated Types of Sure-Turf ® on Turf Coverage, Soil Temperature and Heat Damage
TEST 2.

Effects of Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture
TEST 3.

Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® on Slope Area
TEST 4.

Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® on Golf Course

Constructions Site with Sure-Turf ®
- Airport Construction
- Golf Courses
- Soccer Field

Lawn Establish Procedures with Sure-Turf ®

TEST 1. -- Effects of Perforated Types of Sure-Turf ® on Turf

Coverage, Soil Temperature and Heat Damage

Purpose:: To screen the effects of various types of perforated holes of poly-Ethylene(PE) film on turf coverage(%), soil temperature and leaf burning(0-9) that is attached with seed-mat of Sure-Turf ®

Materials and Methods: Duration: July 1998 — Sept. 1998
Design: Randomized Block with 4 replications
Seeding: Zoysiagrass at July 1, 1998 (3g/m² half rate of recommendation)
Plot size: 0.5m X 0.5m, 56ea

Results:

Treatment		Turf Coverage(%)	Soil temperature (— C)		Leaf burning (0:no burn)
Diam.(mm)	Interval(cm)	Turf Coverage(%)	1 inch depth	2 inch depth	Leaf burning (0:no burn)
Uncovered		38.3	37.9	35.1	0
No Holes		53.3	46.1	42.9	3.0
Ø 8 mm	3.0 cm	68.3	39.8	37.6	0.6
	3.5	61.7	42.1	39.0	1.3
	4.0	66.7	42.5	40.0	2.0
	4.5	61.7	42.4	40.0	1.3
	5.0	56.7	42.4	40.3	0
	6.0	55.0	43.3	41.1	1.0
Ø 9 mm	3.0 cm	58.3	40.2	38.2	1.0
	3.5	51.7	40.8	38.8	1.0
	4.0	55.0	39.9	38.0	1.3
	4.5	56.7	37.7	36.3	0
	5.0	51.7	42.3	40.7	0.3
	6.0	51.7	43.6	41.5	0.3
Ø 10 mm	3.0 cm	50.0	37.6	36.5	0
	3.5	51.7	38.4	37.2	0.3
	4.0	53.3	37.3	36.5	0.3
	4.5	56.7	39.0	37.3	1.3
	5.0	55.0	38.8	37.7	0.3
	6.0	58.3	39.6	38.3	1.3

Size and interval of holes affected turf coverage and soil temperature.
Interval of holes affected leaf burning with heat damage.
Turf coverage of Zoysiagrass showed most prominent at 8mm diameter with 3-4cm hole interval.

Test plots after 8 week from installation (Zoysiagrass)

Test plots after 8 week from installation (Aug. 1, ’98)

Test plots with ordinary seeding method (8 weeks after seeding)

Sure-Turf ® with holes of 8mm diameter and 3cm interval (Aug. 1, ’98)

TEST 2. -- Effects of Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture

Purpose:: To measure the effects of different types of Sure-Turf ® on turf coverage(%), soil temperature and moisture compare with normalseeding or P.E film with no holes.

Materials and Methods:: Duration: April 1999
Design: Randomized Block with 3 replications
Seeding: Perennial Ryegrass (PalmerII) at March 18, 1999 (15g/m² half rate of recommended)
Plot size: 1.5m X 1.5m, 18ea

Results:

Colored (8 mm, 3cm interval with 20% shaded) PE film showed prominent coverage of 93.3% after 6 weeks compared with other types of clear PE film cover during the test period seeded with Perennial Ryegrass.
Perforated holes of PE film secured proper soil temperature and moisture to early establishment.
Shaded PE film should help establishment of cool-season turfgrass during warm season.

1. Turf coverage after 6 weeks after seeding (May 2, 1999)

Type	Uncovered	4 mm	8 mm	Cross (+)	No holes	20%Shaded
Coverage%	36.7	88.3	86.7	80.0	26.7	93.3

2. Effects of different types of Sure-Turf ® on soil moisture content compare with normal seeding or P.E film with no holes.

3. Effects of different types of Sure-Turf ® on soil surface temperature compare with normal seeding or P.E film with no holes.

Test plots for Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture (Fall 1998 trial)

Test plots for Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture (Spring 1999 trial)

Test plots with ordinary seeding method (Spring trial)

Soil core samples were taken from the plot. Sure-Turf ® with holes of 8mm diameter and 3cm interval (Clear, Shaded PE)

TEST 3. -- Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas

Purpose:: To compare Sure-Turf ® with ordinal seeding methods on slope areas.

Materials and Methods:: Duration: September - November 1998
Design: Strip Block with 4 replications
Seeding: Tall Fescue (55%), Perennial Ryegrass (40%)
Wild grasses (5%) at Sep. 28, 1998
Plot size: Slope angle 23 degree, 100m², 5ea

Results:

Treatments	Germination rate(2 week)	Coverage (%)		Soil erosion rate
Treatments	Germination rate(2 week)	2 weeks	6 weeks	2 weeks	6 weeks
Hydroseeding	16.3	1.9	10.6	3.5	6.9
*Sure-Turf ®*	95.5	60.0	93.8	8.1	8.5
Coir-net	50.0	15.0	62.5	6.9	7.3
Straw mulching	50.0	8.8	57.5	5.1	5.9

Sure-Turf ® showed prominent effects on seed germination, ground coverage. It also had a proper soil erosion control on slope areas.

Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas (Sep. 28, ’98)

Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas after 4 week from installation (Oct. 24, ’98)

Germination and growth of Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas

4 weeks from installation (Oct. 24, ’98)

5 weeks from installation (Nov. 1, ’98)

Sure-Turf ® compared with ordinary hydroseeding (6 weeks after)

TEST 4. -- Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® with various turfgrass species seeded March 19, 1999

1. Bentgrass (Pennlink)

2. Kentucky Bluegrass (Newport)

3. Tall Fescue (Pixie)

4. Sure-Turf ® compared with ordinary seeding or seed mat

Constructions Site with Sure-Turf ®

New Airport Construction Site (South Korea)

Inchon Int’l Airport: 300,000 m² (June ‘99 — continue)

Kapyung Golf Course (South Korea)

18 Holes 100,000 m², Bentgrass(Penn A-4) and Zoysiagrass (June - July ’98)

Fujiea Soccer Field (Japan), Bermudagrass (’98)

Lawn Establish Procedures with Sure-Turf ®

STEP I. -- Site Preparation

Removing construction debris.
Grading after 6-8" cultivation. This helps alleviate compaction that occurs during construction.
Final grading after upper 2" tilling. Incorporate starter fertilizer with topsoil 10-15Lbs of 10-10-10 or 15-15-15. Be sure to prevent low areas where standing water may collect.

STEP II. -- Sure-Turf ® Installation

Lay Sure-Turf ® follows contour of the ground surface to remove air pocket.
Sure-Turf ® should be laid parallel to slope to secure water run off.
The edge should be overlapped and staked to prevent wind damage.

STEP III. -- Post-Installation Care

Watering after installation that keep air pocket away and good contact between Sure-Turf ® and soil.
During dry weather, apply enough water deeply and less frequently to encourage a deeper and healthy root system.
Remove PE cover just before leaf tip burn.
Mow grass less than 30-40% of the leaf tissue when the grass starts to grow high.
Follow a general maintenance program suggested for established lawns.

Turf Seed-Mat (Sure-Turf ®)

Research Contents

Test plots after 8 week from installation (Zoysiagrass)

Test plots after 8 week from installation (Aug. 1, ’98)

Test plots with ordinary seeding method (8 weeks after seeding)

Sure-Turf ® with holes of 8mm diameter and 3cm interval (Aug. 1, ’98)

1. Turf coverage after 6 weeks after seeding (May 2, 1999)

2. Effects of different types of Sure-Turf ® on soil moisture content compare with normal seeding or P.E film with no holes.

3. Effects of different types of Sure-Turf ® on soil surface temperature compare with normal seeding or P.E film with no holes.

Test plots for Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture (Fall 1998 trial)

Test plots for Sure-Turf ® on Soil Temperature and Moisture (Spring 1999 trial)

Test plots with ordinary seeding method (Spring trial)

Soil core samples were taken from the plot. Sure-Turf ® with holes of 8mm diameter and 3cm interval (Clear, Shaded PE)

Turf Establishment with Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas (Sep. 28, ’98)

Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas after 4 week from installation (Oct. 24, ’98)

Germination and growth of Sure-Turf ® on Slope Areas

4 weeks from installation (Oct. 24, ’98)

5 weeks from installation (Nov. 1, ’98)

Sure-Turf ® compared with ordinary hydroseeding (6 weeks after)

1. Bentgrass (Pennlink)

2. Kentucky Bluegrass (Newport)

3. Tall Fescue (Pixie)

4. Sure-Turf ® compared with ordinary seeding or seed mat

New Airport Construction Site (South Korea)

Inchon Int’l Airport: 300,000 m2 (June ‘99 — continue)

Kapyung Golf Course (South Korea)

18 Holes 100,000 m2, Bentgrass(Penn A-4) and Zoysiagrass (June - July ’98)

Fujiea Soccer Field (Japan), Bermudagrass (’98)

STEP I. -- Site Preparation

STEP II. -- Sure-Turf ® Installation

STEP III. -- Post-Installation Care

Inchon Int’l Airport: 300,000 m² (June ‘99 — continue)

18 Holes 100,000 m², Bentgrass(Penn A-4) and Zoysiagrass (June - July ’98)