Recreation Field Testimonial

Athletic Field Root Development at St. Vrain Valley School District

St. Vrain Valley School District has used BioLynceus® Humega® and TurfMaster® at the Niwot High School Athletic Park.

The complex includes heavily used softball, soccer, and baseball fields, making soil compaction and turf root development important concerns for the district’s grounds-management program.

Evaluating Soil Compaction and Turf Root Depth

Grounds Manager Ron Smith asked BioLynceus® representative Rick Allen to evaluate the athletic fields using soil core samples and ground-hardness testing.

After the second year of using Humega® and TurfMaster®, soil evaluations were conducted at eight locations throughout the athletic complex.

The treated fields showed visible turfgrass root growth ranging from approximately 8 to 12 inches deep.

Comparing Root Development at a Nearby School

For comparison, additional soil samples were collected at Niwot Elementary School, located only a few blocks away.

At the elementary school, BioLynceus® products were not being used. The turf-management program consisted primarily of granular fertilizer applications twice per year.

During testing, the soil probe was considerably more difficult to push into the ground, indicating more restrictive soil conditions.

Visible turfgrass root growth at the comparison site reached only approximately 2 to 2½ inches.

Supporting Deeper Roots in High-Use Athletic Fields

According to Smith, the Niwot High School fields treated with Humega® and TurfMaster® showed:

  • Root growth of approximately 8 to 12 inches

  • Improved soil penetration

  • Less restrictive soil conditions

  • Deeper turfgrass root development

  • Better conditions for heavily used athletic turf

Deeper roots can help turf access a larger volume of soil for available moisture and nutrients, which is particularly valuable on high-traffic sports fields.

“The BioLynceus® products Humega® and TurfMaster® are doing the job of loosening the compacted soil and establishing deeper and better root growth for our turf.”

Ron Smith
Grounds Manager
St. Vrain Valley School District

Supporting Athletic Field Soil and Turf Health

The results observed at Niwot High School demonstrate how Humega® and TurfMaster® were incorporated into a broader turf-management program focused on soil structure, compaction management, and root-zone development.

The results described above reflect observations from these specific school properties. The comparison was not a controlled research trial, and turf performance may vary depending on soil conditions, irrigation, traffic, fertility, turf species, and management practices.