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Seeded couch and Hydromulch establishment for sportsgroundsPhillip Ford
PGG Wrightson Turf
What was known:
1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly
2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough
What was known:
1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly
2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough
3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives
in Ballarat and Christchurch
What was known:
1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly
2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough
3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives
in Ballarat and Christchurch
4. Wood fibre hydromulch is an excellent germination matrix
and protects against wind and rain
What was known:
1. Seeded couch germinates and establishes very quickly
2. Sowing rate of 40kg/ha is enough
3. Princess-77 is a very good couch cultivar, even survives in
Ballarat and Christchurch
4. Wood fibre hydromulch is an excellent germination matrix
5. This establishment process is reasonably common in the US
Potential benefits of seeding couch (compared to sprigging or line-planting)
1. Seed is certified
2. Seed can be stored safely until required
3. Seeding is cheaper, easier and faster to establish
4. Cost: 40kg/ha x $60kg = $2,400/ha
5. Seeding outcompetes weeds, sow later in summer
6. No nematodes, fungal diseases, mites, weeds carried in
7. Seed is able to be applied via hydromulch
Potential benefits of hydromulching(compared to conventional seeding)
1. Modern wood-fibre mulches are much better than the old
paper or straw mulches
2. Elimination of wind and water erosion
3. Quick and efficient application
4. Quite cheap (Conwed2000 @ 2 t/ha = $2,400)
5. No wheel marks, minimal surface disturbance, corners
covered, and other benefits
6. Sprigging or line-planting jobs often go bad
Trial 1: Sand-based soccer
ground in Melbourne
25th NovemberPrincess77 @ 40kg/ha
Conwed2000 @ 2t/ha
Princess-77 at 14 days
AgriDark at 6 weeks
Santa Ana at 6 weeks
Princess-77 at 6 weeks
Santa Ana at 9 weeks
Princess-77 at 9 weeks
Princess-77 at 9 weeks
Santa Ana vs Princess-77 at 11 weeks
Princess-77 at 11 weeks
Santa Ana at 11 weeks
Princess-77 vs Santa Ana at 14 weeks
Rhizomes forming in Princess-77 at 14 weeks
Kikuyu in Santa Ana
Princess-77 vs Santa Ana at 16 weeks
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 180
20
40
60
80
100
120
Santa Ana Princess AgriDark
Weeks after sowing
Gro
undc
over
%
Second trial: Seaside Park, Auckland
Ten things we learned or confirmed:
1. A sowing rate of 40kg/ha is adequate
2. Princess-77 germinates well in the hydromulch
3. Treat it as if it was bentgrass for the first 2 weeks
4. Princess should be ready for first cut in 6-7 weeks
5. Princess will outcompete the majority of weeds
6. Hydromulching keeps wheels off a lasered surface
7. Hydromulch protects sand from wind or water erosion
8. Use a hydromulcher with wood-fibre mulch capability
9. Poor design or management will show up badly
10. Don’t blame Princess-77 for poor design or management
The next phase is perennial ryegrass oversowing for winter.
The concept is a three way package using Princess-77, Conwed2000
hydromulch, then ongoing ryegrass oversowing for winter.
Should you oversow a couch field in its first year?