Football Pitch Fertiliser application

A suitable fertiliser application should be applied to ensure a healthy and hard-wearing sward is produced.

A traditional 12:6:6 or even 20:10:10 will do little harm to most soil-based pitches and will be considerably cheaper than more advanced fertilisers.

The overall benefits of a more modern fertiliser might not be significantly greater than a traditional one, especially for lower tier pitches, so weigh up if it’s worth spending that bit extra – in some cases it will be whilst others it won’t.

The majority of football pitches will be soil-based, often being created from general grassland areas, rather than specially constructed pitches.

The majority of pitches will also have their clippings returned and not boxed off, so nutrients will be gradually recycled back into the soil.

The focus on a fertiliser programme will primarily be on nitrogen requirements and a typical programme for these types of pitches, where an intermediate level of quality is required (which would be suitable for the majority of amateur league clubs and pitches) might be:

• April / May = e.g. 15-2-12 @ 35g/m², giving 52.5kg/N/ha.

• August = e.g. 12-0-6 @ 35g/m², giving 42 kg/N/ha.

The actual P and K content would depend upon soil analysis and available nutrients and would be adjusted accordingly.

This annual input is within suggested inputs of 80-100 kg/N/ha applied in two or three applications, so is a useful base from which to design a more specific programme.

The actual inputs for a pitch will also vary depending on its geographic location, as well as the number of games anticipated over the playing season. An entry level pitch with low usage might suffice with an annual input of 40-60 kg/N/ha, whilst a higher standard might require an annual input of 120-140 kg/N/ha.

The main message from these variations is to monitor the sward and adapt the fertiliser programme to best suit your individual needs, as each situation will be slightly different.

Where pitches have been specially constructed or are of a much sandier nature and where the pitch quality if expected to be very high, then the nutrient inputs will typically be greater, especially where clippings are boxed off and removed from the pitch. In these situations, the annual nitrogen input might be between 150 - 250 kg/N/ha, being applied in 4 to up to 10 applications, using a range of formulations.

More careful monitoring of other nutrients, especially potassium and magnesium will be required as these can be more readily leached from sandier profiles.

Overapplication of nutrients, especially nitrogen will produce a softer and lusher sward which just requires more mowing, which is time and money which could best be spent elsewhere. In addition, this will create a more easily worn surface, reduce root depth and also increase susceptibility to disease.

(References:
• Lawson, D.M. (1996), ‘Fertilisers for Turf’, STRI.
• Adams, W.A. and Gibbs, R.J. (2000) 'Natural Turf for Sport and Amenity: Science and Practice', CAB International.
• Spring, C.A., Wheater, J.A. & Baker, S.W. (2007), ‘Fertiliser, sand dressing and aeration programmes for football pitches. I. Performance characteristics under simulated wear’. Journal of Turfgrass and Sports Surface Science, 40-55.
• Baker, S.W., Spring, C.A. & Wheater, J.A. (2007), ‘Fertiliser, sand dressing and aeration programmes for football pitches. II. Cost-effectiveness and management strategies’. Journal of Turfgrass and Sports Surface Science, 56-67.)