The paper presents the results of a study investigating the physicochemical properties of the substrate and the functional quality of football turf after complete and professional renovation (in 2018) of the main field in the Municipal Stadium in Olsztyn. Soil samples for physicochemical analyses and plant samples for a detailed botanical analysis by the dry-weight-rank method were collected at five representative sites. The following functional characteristics of football turf were determined in different areas of the football pitch: goal area, penalty area, center circle and sideline area (24 sites), in accordance with the methodology recommended by the Research Center for Cultivar Testing (COBORU): sward density, color, disease prevalence, visual merit (in the spring, summer and fall) on a 9-point scale (1 – unacceptable, 5 – satisfactory, 9 – highly desirable); the functional quality of turf and compaction were also evaluated. It was found that intensive use of the football pitch affected its physical parameters (compaction) and led to changes in the functional characteristics and species composition of turf. The substrate was characterized by high bulk density and relatively low total porosity, high to very high phosphorus content, a high content of calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc, a moderate content of manganese and iron, low to moderate potassium content and low sodium content, and alkaline reaction (pH) that exceeded the optimal range for grasses. Football turf was characterized by satisfactory to high density, a grayish-green, fresh green or green color, very low disease prevalence, and satisfactory or good visual merit. The proportion of Lolium perenne L. decreased insignificantly, and monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds, resistant to trampling, emerged spontaneously in the analyzed football turf. Compaction in the vegetation layer exceeded the norm (two-fold on average), which had a negative effect on grass rooting.

26.2.2021