Seed from DLF is returning to the sports surfaces of Brazil for the second time in two years.
Following the success of the seed used at the 2014 World Cup, DLF have been chosen to help Brazilian groundsmen prepare their stadiums for the footballing element of the world's largest celebration of Sport and Athletics, the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
August is Brazil's cool season, so turf preparations must overcome the grass's natural dormancy. The solution is to adopt the same grass technology used in 2014; overseeding with a special turf mixture developed through DLF plant-breeding research.
The mixture, which has proven to be optimal for the Brazilian climate and geography, provides a perfect and uniform playing surface for all matches of the tournament. It includes the top-performing perennial ryegrass varieties and exclusive 4Turf® technology.
Maximino Borsi, Export Director from DLF Estero in South America, is confident that the pitches will be ready for the players in August.
He says: "We have plenty of experience in optimising local sports grasses, and are in close cooperation with the grass specialists and professional constructors responsible for the pitches. We have no doubt, that Brazil will once again present top-class football on top-class grass."
UK sports turf managers can benefit from the same 4Turf Tetraploid rye technology used at the Olympic venues with the new Johnsons J 4Turf and Nitrogen coated J Nitro 4Turf mixtures. These take advantage of the rapid establishment, stress and disease tolerance characteristics of DLF's Tetraploid ryegrasses making them ideal for the autumn renovation of winter playing surfaces.
