Our study was conducted in 2013-2017 on the main sports field of the Department of Physical Education and Sport of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The examined field was established in the 1950s. The following sward characteristics were evaluated on a 9-point scale in accordance with the methodology recommended by the Research Center for Cultivar Testing (COBORU): overwintering success (spring), density, color and the overall quality of the sward (spring, summer and fall). The species composition of the sward, plant health, functional characteristics of the sward, and soil compaction were also determined.
An increase in soil compaction, a decrease in the sward’s functional characteristics and changes in the species composition of grass were noted after five years of field use for various disciplines of professional sports. The sward was characterized by varied overwintering success, high density (particularly in summer), green and fresh green color, very low prevalence of fungal diseases, and satisfactory or good visual merit. The proportion of Lolium perenne L. decreased, whereas the proportions of the undesirable species Poa annua L. and dicotyledonous weeds increased in the analyzed sward.
The condition of the evaluated sward was influenced by loading (field exploitation), increased soil compaction, and deterioration in the physicochemical properties of soil, as well as the applied maintenance treatments and weather conditions during the study.