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Grass diseases have always been a challenge for stadiums and their groundsmen. Today many clubs, especially from the Bundesliga and LaLiga, use more sustainable technologies, which are often provided by SGL System. The switch to alternative and more sustainable treatment methods was partly caused by the introduction of the Green deal in 2020. The Deal supposedly called upon the adaptability and expertise of clubs, which were quick to adjust. Bundesliga and LaLiga clubs are seen as pioneers, because of their use of UV-C or Turf Cooling technology to replace chemicals. “The green revolution is well underway. So how do they manage their new way of working?”, SGL asks.
There are two relatively new technologies to prevent turfgrass diseases that have been widely used over the past years, of which one actively treats the grass an the other improves the growing growing environment. The first one, UV-C technology, disrupts the DNA of fungal cells with UV-C radiation, preveting them from replicating. The second, turf coolers, create air circulation and cool down the surface, to improve the growing climate. A combination of both technologies should heavily decrease disease pressure and minimize chances of outbreak, a method that is used by FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund, among others. Head Groundsman at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Georg Schmitz, is a loyal advocate of sustainable technology and believes that sports clubs and stadiums worldwide have a duty to control diseases in the most natural way possible. One year ago, Georg started with UV-C treatment with SGL’s UVC180 on his pitch and the use of fungicide in the BayArena has been reduced to a minimum ever since. A positive development, in Georg's opinion: "Many chemicals have been banned and herbicides will be completely be banned from 2023 onwards. There is a realistic chance that more chemicals will follow. But waiting was not an option for us. We just had to change our way of thinking. We opted for UV-C technology in combination with a strict nutrient programme. Since then, the plant is so well protected that we've only had to use pesticides once in the last two years."
Ultraviolet (UV) is a series of light frequencies, invisible to the human eye, which occurs naturally in solar radiation. There are three spectrums: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC has the shortest wavelengths and is completely absorbed into the atmosphere so it does not reach the surface of the earth.
Because of its short wavelength, and therefore high energy, UVC is able to penetrate the cell walls and disrupt the DNA or RNA of micro-organisms such as fungi, bacteria and viruses. UVC radiation can kill bacteria, viruses and fungi, and has been used for over 40 years to disinfect water, air, pharmaceutical products, and surfaces.
When biological organisms are exposed to UV-C radiation in the range of 200 nm to 300 nm, the light penetrates through the cell wall and disrupts the molecules. Disrupted DNA or RNA cannot replicate and therefore the fungus dies before it causes any damage to your grass.
In Spain, where summers are often hot and humid, there is a great risk of turfgrass diseases. Especially in enclosed stadiums. Maintenance Manager at Real Sociedad, Koldo Anza: "As a result of the reconstruction work on the Estadio de Anoeta, the pitch was lowered by 1.5 meter and the roof extended by 10 metres around its perimeter.
This caused a significant change in the conditions of the grass, which increased the incidence of plant stress and diseases." With six turf coolers and calculated cooling advice, it is now possible for Koldo to reduce the temperatures at grass level in summer by 4-5°C and to increase air circulation. The turf coolers heavily decrease the disease pressure in summer. "We are aware of the impact of chemical products on the planet. Thanks to SGL’s TC50 we managed to reduce the consumption of chemical products and our ecological footprint."
Turf coolers are turf fans with a special cooling mechanism to help to accelerate the drying of the plant with increased air flow, and to cool down the surface to prevent summer stress.
The cooling mechanism works according the adiabatic cooling process. A stream of fine mist is sprayed 50 meters across the surface by the fan, which withdraws the heat from the surface. The heat supposedly makes the mist evaporate before it descends on the grass, leaving behind a cooler surface without the grass getting wet.
Due to changes in humidity and temperature in North-Germany, football club Hamburger SV needed to take additional preventive measures. Greenkeeper Christoph Strachwitz from HSV praises the combination of data and technology in the club's maintenance plan.
"Fifty to seventy-five percent of the decisions we make are based on data collected by monitoring equipment and the advice we receive from SGL agronomists. We look at the disease forecast each day to monitor the disease pressure. Depending on the forecast, we decide when to treat the pitch with UV-C light in a preventive manner."
While UV-C technology is encouraged to be used as a preventive treatment, it can also be used as a cure. Christoph concludes: "You can clearly see that active fungus can be stagnated with the UVC180. Treat it two days in a row, first with a special broom to disinfect, and then again with UV-C technology and you will destroy 100% of the fungus." Sebastian Kowa, groundsman at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, agrees with this statement: "We've applied significant lower amounts of chemicals than before, as the UV-C technology works very effectively against Snow mold, Fusarium and Leaf spot."
SGL ellaborates: “These are great developments that put priority on sustainability in the industry. Sports clubs in Germany and Spain took the first important step. And it doesn't stop there, at least for SGL. “ The mission of the company is clear: a worldwide transition from chemicals to sustainable disease control methods. With a greener planet and fungus free sports’ playing surfaces as a result. (STADIAWORLD, 23.03.2021)
Homepage: SGL
