Reducing Chemicals through Data Collection
Unlocking the Power of Clip Volume and Nitrogen Tracking for Healthier Greens
Every year, the push to maintain perfect putting surfaces for longer seasons becomes the focal point of greenkeeping facilities everywhere. I’ve had my share of sleepless nights, just like many turf managers across the country, striving to keep the turf healthy, resilient, and consistent under ever-changing conditions.
We’re in a golden age of greenkeeping. Never before have we had access to such advanced machinery, products, and knowledge to manage our grass plants for peak performance. But as weather patterns become more unpredictable, the task of managing turf is growing more complex. Collecting performance data and interpreting it correctly is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity.
When it comes to maintaining the perfect playing surface, fine-tuning nutrient inputs and monitoring growth trends are key. Two of the most effective tools for this are Clip Volume and the Nitrogen Tracker, which can form the backbone of any turf management program.
Clip Volume: The Foundation of Your Maintenance Program
Clip Volume measurement isn’t just about tracking clippings — it’s about understanding how your turf is responding to its environment in real time. Developed by Micah Woods in 2013, Clip Volume has gained recognition for the insights it provides into turf health. For me, it’s become an invaluable part of managing greens.
By collecting this data and using the graphs to track growth trends, it’s easier to make informed decisions — whether it’s dialling back nitrogen, adjusting mowing frequency, or tweaking plant growth regulators. It’s a tool that provides the clarity needed to avoid guesswork and fine-tune maintenance practices.
For turf managers juggling multiple responsibilities, Clip Volume becomes the foundation of any greens program, allowing you to proactively manage turf performance with precision. By identifying growth patterns, you’re empowered to make smarter decisions, leading to healthier, more consistent playing surfaces — and easing the day-to-day stress of turf management.
Nitrogen Tracker: A Guide to Smarter Nutrient Management
Alongside Clip Volume, the Nitrogen Tracker helps take the guesswork out of nitrogen management. By linking nitrogen use to weather conditions and Growth Potential, it provides a clear guide to when and how much nitrogen to apply. This helps avoid the common mistake of overfeeding, especially in cooler months when it’s easy to try to push growth when conditions aren’t ideal.
Maintaining the right balance of nutrients is crucial for reducing stress on the turf, especially during summer when diseases like anthracnose can thrive. The Nitrogen Tracker helps the turf manager to stay on target with nutrient applications, ensuring the greens are healthy and resilient throughout the year.
Using Technology to Simplify Data Collection
Incorporating tools like Clip Volume and the Nitrogen Tracker into your turf management program offers a data-driven approach that makes decision-making easier. These tools have made a huge difference in my own turf management practices, I’ve seen a reduction in fertiliser use with data that informs me that the grass plant continues to have strong growth, long after I considered they were due another feed. And also a reduction in chemical applications, as a healthy plant is better equipped to resist disease attacks. It’s not just about collecting data — it’s about using that data to keep your surfaces playing at their best, year-round.
And while collecting and analyzing this data can seem like a time-consuming process, there are platforms like Turf Tracker available that simplify data collection and make it less time-consuming. This allows turf managers to focus on what truly matters: producing the best playing surfaces possible.
For further information, please contact Rob Hay, Course Manager at Northants County Golf Club, at coursemanager@countygolfclub.co.uk
