FFTC

Practical Technology

Crops PT2004-26

Production of turf on plastic sheet

urf or grass is an important element in landscaping, erosion control, development of golf courses and football fields, among others. The common type of grasses used for these purposes are the carpet grass (Axonopus compresses), Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon), and Zoysia grass (Zoysia matrella, Z. japonica, and Z. valvet ). Turf is commonly produced by the open field method. The grass seeds, grass stolons, or grass plug or sods are planted in the open field and are managed with proper agronomic practices. However, this method is found to be troublesome, especially in terms of

managing the weeds and harvesting. In Malaysia, a new way of producing turf or grasses on plastic sheet was developed and proved to be successful and efficient.

The technology
Basically, this new method involves planting of turf on the compost medium, spread on a layer of black polyethylene plastics (Fig. 1). The materials used are: black polyethylene plastics (1 m wide) as mat; compost; wooden plank (1 x 3 in); and rooted (grass) stolons, 10-15 cm long as planting material.

coconut leaves

1 x 2 wooden plank as border

1m

m 15

grass stolon

compost

side elevation

plastic sheet

Fig. 1. Production of turf using plastic sheet

Food and Fertilizer Technology Center (FFTC) 5F, 14 Wenchow St., Taipei 106, Taiwan ROC Tel.: (886 2) 2362 6239 Fax: (886 2) 2362 0478 E-mail: fftc@agnet.org Website: www.fftc.agnet.org FFTC: An international information center for small-scale farmers in Asia

Cooperating agency for this topic: Department of Agriculture Wisma Tani, Aras 7-17, Lot 4G2, Presint 4 Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan 62632 Putrajaya, Malaysia Tel: (60 3) 88703418/19 Fax: (60 3) 88703485 E-mail: mohamad_s@doa.gov.my

The procedure
1. Prepare a planting bed with an area of 1.0 m x 15 m. Level the area and make the bed a bit concave to allow water draining. 2. Spread the polyethylene plastic on the leveled bed. 3. Place the wooden plank (1 x 3 in) as a boundary on both sides of the plastic. 4. Spread the compost evenly on the plastic to form a layer of about 1.5 cm thick. 5. Erect a temporary shed structure for the bed to avoid direct impact of heavy rain. This shed should be removed after 1.5 months. 6. Spread the grass stolon uniformly on the compost layer (sprigging technique). 7. Spread another layer of compost, about 1.5 cm in depth, to cover the stolons. 8. Compact the compost layer. 9. Water the bed after planting.

Maintenance of turf bed

1. Water the turf bed 2-3 times a week with mist spraying. Avoid saturating the compost with water. 2. Apply 350 g of NPK 15:15:15 or Urea per 15 m2 or per bed every 2 weeks. Water the bed after fertilizer application. 3. Weed if necessary. 4. Trimming needs to be done 2-3 months after planting. 5. Turf is ready to be harvested or transplanted 2-4 months after sprigging, depending on the type of turf planted (Axonopus, 2-3 months; Zoysia sp., 3.5-4 months; and Bermuda, 2.5-3.5 months). 6. To ease transportation for transplanting, harvesting is done by rolling the turf mat (Fig. 2).

grass

1 meter

Fig. 2. Rolled grass ready for transplanting