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T HERE IS PLENTY to consider when it comes to natural grass turf for sports stadiums. As you tune into your favorite college football or NFL team this weekend take a look at the stadium. Does it have shade or no shade Is it in a warm climate or a cool climate Is there a retractable roof Whether its Kentucky blue grass or a turf-type tall fescue all these factors and more must be taken into consideration when it comes to nurturing natu- ral grass turf in sports stadiums. Turfgrass managers are demanding new cultivars because they need sur- faces that are durable and can recover well. They need surfaces that are low maintenance requiring fewer inputs and less water. They need varieties that can handle stress be it athletes weather or pests and diseases. Bred to Handle Stress Evaluating how the turf wears is key to finding a suitable mix for your sur- face. We want a cultivar with adequate wear but also good seed yield says Leah Brilman director of research and technical services for Seed Research of Oregon a business unit of DLF Pickseed. The durability of Bermudagrass has made it a favorite of NFL teams which is put to the test weekly during the season. In a recent poll by Sports Illustrated seven of the top 10 fields in the NFL were in southern climates and all but two had some variety of Bermudagrass. Brilman says turfgrass managers are not only looking at the lower main- tenance Kentucky bluegrass but also ryegrass and turf-type fescues for sports fields. Especially when you get down to younger kids sports fields we are seeing much more use of turf-type tall fescues she says adding that Kentucky bluegrass holds up well has excellent sod strength and produces an adequate amount of seed. Brilman explains that her team in partnership with the Alliance for Low- Input Sustainable Turf A-LIST has done a lot of work with tall fescues and selections under stress. Many of todays stadiums are less than ideal for sun exposure. To manage these factors stadiums in the southern United States have tried hearty warm weather strains like Paspalum and Zoysia. Low inputs little maintenance and the ability to withstand wear and tear thats what turfgrass managers want today. Sandi Karstens High Maintenance Job Results in Low Maintenance Turf 32 SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2015