3/13/2017 - By Dr. Raymond Snyder

The use of pigments by turf managers is becoming increasingly popular. Pigments applied to turf provide a natural aesthetic enhancement to turf, unlike many spray applicator dyes and paints. Their low use rate and residual characteristics also make them attractive to turf managers seeking immediate and sustained visual color enhancements to turf.

The effect of pigments on turf canopy temperature has been a subject of late. Inferences by some in the industry have been made suggesting that pigments undesirably increase turf canopy temperature. Furthermore, a few products within the colorant class of products claim to reduce canopy temperature relative to green pigment-type products.

In an effort to explore the claims relative to pigments increasing canopy temperature and some reducing canopy temperature in comparison to pigments, a study was conducted to determine the effect of these products on turf canopy temperature. In this study, each product was applied at label rates to ultradwarf bermudagrass in south Florida during the month of September. Turf canopy temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer both one day and seven days after application. Data was analyzed using SAS statistical analysis software.

For both one day and seven day observations, no differences in turf canopy temperature were observed between the green pigment product and colorant designed to reduce turf canopy temperature (Chart 1 and 2). Furthermore, at no time did the green pigment product undesirably increase turf canopy temperature relative to the untreated control plot. These findings suggest that products in the green pigment class of colorants do not increase turf canopy temperature while increasing the aesthetic appearance of treated turf.