The Sports Turf Research Institute
Research carried out at STRI includes work for the governing bodies of individual sports, the Sports Council (now renamed Sport England), amenity grass testing and commercial research for a range of companies in the sports turf and amenity sectors.
Current projects include:
Plasterboard and Slope Stabilisation
House demolition results in the production of large amounts of waste plasterboard which is normally disposed of to landfill waste sites. With the objective of reducing landfill disposal the national recycling organisation, WRAP, has commissioned a number of projects to find alternative uses for the waste material.
STRI is carrying out a field trial to investigate the possibility for crushed, waste plaster board to be used for soil stabilisation on sloped embankments and cuttings. The work is particularly relevant to railside and road cuttings where soil erosion is a potential problem, particularly during the period of vegetation establishment.
The trial will be completed by the end of December 2006.
Results of the trials work available in the publication section at www.wrap.org.uk 'Recycled Gypsum for Slope Stabilisation.'
For further information please contact David Lawson
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Soils and Sports Surface Science
- Earthworm control on golf courses
- Construction standards for UK golf greens
- The effect of golf shoe studs on wear of golf greens
- The playing characteristics of natural and new-generation artificial football surfaces
- Performance and injury potential of greyhound tracks
- First class construction methods for horse race tracks
- The effect of soil properties on the performance of cricket pitches
- Mechanical and chemical control of annual meadow-grass for professional football
- Best fertiliser nitrogen types
- Effects of phosphate and potassium
- Compost as a nutrient source
- Environmental impacts of turfgrass fertilisers
Putting Research into Practice:
Path Trials for English Heritage
English Heritage, who are the government’s advisor on the historic environment, contacted STRI to discuss concerns about wear and erosion on historic sites such as Hadrians Wall. The increased foot traffic at many sites was causing loss of grass cover with consequential erosion of underlying soil. In many places it would be visually inappropriate to construct gravel and stone paths; indeed such constructions would also have implications for any underlying archaeology in the vicinity of the path. Both organizations felt that the expertise of STRI is maintaining grass cover under high stress conditions on sports fields could be usefully carried across to the management of grass paths on historic sites.
Scientific Study
As a follow up to these discussions English Heritage commissioned STRI to carry out some research on turf protection/stabilisation systems that would be suitable for general use on their sites. This led, in the summer of 2004, to a fully replicated scientific trial at STRI’s trial ground in West Yorkshire using an established mixed grass turf growing on a sandy loam soil. The main categories of materials tested were
a) Surface loose topdressing material, e.g. sand. The aim of these was to protect the growing point of the grass from foot traffic.
b) Surface, plastic grid protection systems. These lift the abrasive effects of foot traffic off the turf surface itself.
c) Sub-surface installed soil stabilisation/turf protection systems. The grid/honeycomb structure of such systems prevent soil lateral movement as well as reducing abrasion of the grass by foot traffic.
d) Fertiliser – All of the physical amendments in (a), (b) and (c) were treated in a factorial manner with three rates of a controlled release fertiliser product.
The whole trial area was mown at 20 to 30 mm cutting height. In addition it was subjected to pedestrian – type wear using one of the STRI’s wear machines. The trial ran for a full year.
The results showed that, during the summer months, the application of the controlled release fertiliser had a dominant effect on wear tolerance of the turf. In essence the turf was being helped to ‘grow through’ any surface abrasion and compaction damage.
However, with the onset of autumn, cooler temperatures, shorter day lengths and wet soil conditions reduced the growth rate of the turf, even with fertilser application. It was at this point that the plastic surface protection systems came into their own. By keeping the surface traffic off the growth points of the turf they were able to prevent actual death of the grass plants. Moreover, there was some prevention of the surface soil compaction that would occur under the wet weather conditions.
The loose surface topdressing materials had little impact on wear tolerance of the turf. This is somewhat surprising as sandy topdressing materials applied to football pitches can have a major positive effect on the grass cover during the winter playing season.
The sub-surface products also had little impact on the ability of the turf to withstand wear. This may have been due to the fact that only a minimal depth of the grids protruded above the turf surface. Thus protection to the grass itself was insignificant.
On Site
The results of the trial at STRI are now being taken to a number of English Heritage sites around the country, from Hadrian’s Wall in the north to St. Augustine’s Abbey near Canterbury Cathedral in the south
The materials, which appeared to be most effective in maintaining grass cover, are being tested. These are being installed in plots within well-used paths on the EH sites; the numbers of visitors using the paths are being monitored.
These trials will continue until spring 2007 with, hopefully, the development of more exact guidance for the most appropriate system for any particular site.
The results of the trials are likley to be of interest to anyone involved with path & maintenance. In particular Countryside Access Offices of County Councils in England and Wales may find the results to be of particular relevance for their Rights of Way Improvement Plans (ROWIP)
If you would like any more information on the trials please contact David Lawson at STRI.
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Merseyside Uncorks Results of Recycled Glass Bottle Golf Bunker Trials
The results of the UK’s first operational recycled glass sand golf bunker trials run by the Clean Merseyside Centre (CMC) will be revealed on 27th September 2005 at Blundell's Hill Golf Club in St Helens, Merseyside, one of the participating courses in the trials.
The six-month trials, which have been running on three courses across Merseyside including Caldy Golf Club on the Wirral and Allerton Park Golf Club in Liverpool, have been monitored by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI).The trials are part of the Clean Merseyside Centre’s work on Merseyside and in North West England to develop alternative uses for recycled materials.
Claire Gloyne-Phillips, CMC Manager commented: “There is a real need to develop alternative markets for green glass, such as golf bunker sand, as the main demand in the UK is for clear glass from the container industry.”
The event on the 27th September will give course managers, green keepers and glass reprocessors the opportunity to learn about the results of the recent trials. The STRI will be giving a presentation on the results of the technical assessments they have carried out on the bunkers and the CMC will provide a summary of the feedback from the player surveys that have been conducted.
In addition the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) will provide information on other uses for glass sand in sports applications. Delegates will then have the opportunity to go on to the course and view the recycled glass sand bunker.
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Processed Sand Pitches for Success
The Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) has been awarded funding worth more than £25,000 by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to carry out two sets of trials assessing the use of processed sand on artificial and winter sports pitches.
Processed sand, which is manufactured from 100% recycled glass, will be trialled as a material for the construction and maintenance of second and third generation artificial sports surfaces.
Using a medium-fine grade of processed sand, the STRI will test the pitches for ball rebound, traction, hardness, fibre integrity, force reduction and energy restitution. In order to assess these factors under realistic conditions, STRI will apply accelerated heavy wear using a differential slip wear machine at a rate of 40 matches per week.
The second trial will assess the performance of processed sand as a top dressing for football pitches. The STRI has linked up with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to carry out the trial on four of its football pitches. As part of the trial, the pitches’ playing and turf quality will be monitored and pitch users will be asked their opinions on the use of processed sand to see if playability is improved.
Andrew Owen, Soil Scientist at the STRI, comments: “After our initial trials looking at the potential of using processed sand on the golf course, we were keen to expand this research to other sports applications. Artificial sports surfaces are an area where processed sand might offer both players and groundsmen enhanced performance.”
Bronnie Allen, WRAP’s Material Development Manager for Glass, comments: “We are delighted that funding has been awarded to the STRI, to further build on their invaluable research into processed sand’s viability in the sports turf sector. If similar results are found with artificial surfaces, the sports industry will have a high quality product which not only provides performance benefits but is a sustainable material which will provide the industry with a recycled alternative to quarried materials.”
Other operational trials will be carried out in looking at the performance of recycled glass in artificial sports turf, grit blasting, water filtration, brick fluxing, mortars, adhesives, cement repair products and cement blocks.
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Putting Recycled Glass Through it's Paces
The top names in golf will be striving for their best performance this week, but next month the St Andrews Links courses will be the location for a very different set of trials.
The prestigious Open Championship course will be working with WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) to test a novel use for recycled glass which literally turns bottles into bunker sand.
Processed sand, the product on test, is made from recycled green glass and it will be used in practice bunkers as part of a three month trial, during which players will be encouraged to provide feedback. If successful, the trials could be extended in the future to one of the club’s courses to assess its use in ‘real play’ situations.
The processed sand is also being trialled as a path material. Being a ‘links’ course, sand is used for many of the paths at St Andrews and performance benefits including better drainage mean that the processed sand is likely to provide firmer underfoot conditions.
“We are delighted to be working with WRAP on these trials to assess the performance of processed sand,” says Gordon Moir, Links Superintendent for the St Andrews Links Trust. “St Andrews is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment and using recycled materials clearly offers us the opportunity to reduce our environmental impact.”
The St Andrews trials are part of a much bigger programme of trials being carried out across Scotland, involving several Scottish Golf Environment Group courses. One of the highlights of this wider initiative will be at Elmwood Golf Course, the premier training centre for green keeping and golf course management, which will be home to the first ‘for play’ greens and tees to be constructed with processed sand used in the root zone mix.
The trials are a key element in WRAP’s work to develop high performance, high value markets for recycled glass. Research conducted over the past two years for WRAP by the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI), has shown that processed sand passes the necessary ‘fitness for use’ criteria required for its use in golf course construction and maintenance – and can offer a number of benefits. In bunkers, for example, it can outperform conventional sand by providing firmer underfoot conditions, less plugging of the ball on impact and ability to rest at a slightly steeper angle, due to its natural angularity. It is also capable of conforming to USGA (United States Golf Association) specifications for root zone construction.
“The interest shown in processed sand by St Andrews and other prestigious courses is very encouraging. It shows that the industry is proactively responding to golfers’ increasing awareness of environmental considerations,” says Bronnie Allen, WRAP’s Materials Development Manager (Glass).
Steve Isaac, Assistant Director of Golf Course Management at the R&A, has also welcomed the trials.
“The R&A Golf Course Committee recognises waste management as a major issue for golf facilities and the prospect of being able to use products made out of recycled materials is to be encouraged, provided they give acceptable performance and prove cost effective.”
Turfgrass Biology and Environment
- Evaluation of grasses for different sports and amenity use (golf greens and fairways, winter sports fields, lawns and general low maintenance areas)
- Environmentally friendly methods of controlling turfgrass pests and diseases
- Artificial inoculation of turfgrass with the major turfgrass pathogens
- Monitoring pest and disease severity and movement around the UK and Ireland
- Status of heather on golf courses
- Use of composted grass clippings on the golf course
- Shade mapping in modern stadia
- Evaluation of grasses for use in first class cricket squares
- Poa annua control for tennis
- Selection of grasses for tennis
- Specialization of take-all to turfgrass species
- To determine the current availability of plant protection products on golf courses in different EU states Pesticide Review
© 2007 The Sports Turf Research Institute
Registered in England No 3188329