Precision nutrition for cricket wicket preparation
Precision application of liquid fertiliser on individual cricket wickets in recovery after use, but avoiding spread onto tracks in preparation for play, is key to producing the consistently high-quality surfaces of Barrow Town Cricket Club in Leicestershire.
Head groundsman at the Premiership Club, John Upton, cites the convenience and reliability of the club’s Techneat Acuspray pedestrian sprayer has been instrumental in enabling him to carefully micro-manage levels of nutrition across the 800m2 main cricket square through the playing season.
“The aim is to feed and encourage rapid recovery in the used wickets as quickly as possible that will promote plant health, while avoiding stimulating growth on any adjacent wickets in preparation that could compromise performance,” he reports.
“Using liquid fertiliser is so much more responsive, compared to granular products. And with the Acuspray we can apply them accurately when and where we want them.” During the playing season he uses a 14:0:12 NPK liquid fertiliser, with the frequency of application tailored to growing conditions and the state of the wicket.
At the end of the season renovation, he switches to a high potash 5:0:26 to encourage stronger rooting of seeds, without promoting excessive leaf growth more susceptible to disease. No fertiliser is applied across the outfield through the season, with all clippings returned to retain and recycle the nutrients. Soil testing has shown ample phosphate, with no need to supplement more.
“There’s no doubt that the introduction of harder wearing dwarf ryegrass species is far hungrier for nutrition, and the growing season is extending year on year. But we have the flexibility to quickly adjust the liquid nutrition with the sprayer when required.”
John, who is the ECB County Pitch Advisor for Leicestershire, also uses his Acuspray for fungicide applications when required to prevent damaging disease outbreaks, particularly in high pressure periods around renovation time in the autumn.
“Where warm and wet conditions coincide with trying to encourage growth from overseeding it creates a microclimate for disease,” he warns. “Red thread can be a huge issue on new seedlings, along with fusarium (microdochium patch) on susceptible new growth.”
The club’s strategy is to use a systemic fungicide while turf is actively growing, but a more contact product as growth slows; having his own sprayer gives the opportunity to select the optimum treatment for the timing. Treatments for leatherjackets and worm casts will also be applied through the Acuspray.
Barrow Town’s machine was first purchased in 2007, and after nearly 20 years has just had it’s first service back at the Techneat factory in Littleport, Cambridgeshire. “The first thing that struck me was the Acuspray available now is still exactly the same – which is a testament to the original design and manufacture.
“The simplicity of the machine is one of its great strengths. With a comprehensive inspection just two small parts replaced in the drive mechanism were replaced, but otherwise it should hopefully go on for many more years now.”
The Techneat Acuspray pedestrian sprayer is aimed at the professional groundsman and keen gardener, for the application of a wide range of products onto fine turf and hard surfaces, reports Techneat amenity specialist, Ady Sallis.
“The Acuspray features a unique wheel driven pump, which provides an accurate application rate that is consistent, no matter how fast or slow the operator walks,” he highlights.
Utilising Techneat’s modern manufacturing processes to produce a robust and durable machine, the sprayer is incredibly light weight by design, but strong in construction, says Ady.
“The 25-litre tank consistently covers 625 m2 per fill, which makes it simple to accurately calculate the amount of any product to add per application. A shrouded boom cover is available for treatment in more exposed sites or to protect surrounding areas from drift.
“The Acuspray is the ideal sprayer for grass court venues, golf greens, bowling greens and cricket squares where frequent treatments are required,” he adds. “Productivity, ease of use and accuracy is far superior to that of a traditional knapsack sprayer.”
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Mark Sanderson
Director, TOP PR Ltd.