Oleg Pyzyak: “48,000 km of fibre will be used for the weaving of Nizhny Novgorod Stadium field”

The work on the construction of the field at the Nizhny Novgorod Stadium currently being constructed by JSC Stroytransgaz for the FIFA World Cup 2018TM is on the final straight. The base is laid, engineering systems are assembled, the sowing is completed - the turf gradually begins to “green”. Oleg Pyzyak, head of projects for the organization of football fields in Protsion LLC, described the peculiarities of creation of the city’s main football ground.  

- Tell us, what works are being carried out on the field?

- We have completed the sowing of the grass. In accordance with the recommendations by FIFA, we selected a mixture of several varieties of turf grass Rigras. For about two months we will be waiting until the grass grows, the root zone will be strengthened, and then we will continue to work on the creation of a football turf.

- What kind of work was done before sowing?

- We performed large-scale work before sowing. We arranged the base of the field, the so-called “pie” including several layers: crushed stone substrate, a lower root zone consisting of coarse sand, and an upper root layer of fine sand mixed with peat and various additives. We placed special geosynthetic fabric in the profile of the field. This is necessary to compact and improve the stability of the ground base. In total, the “pie” thickness is 45 cm.

- How will you maintain the good condition of the turf?

- Actually, we have already completed all measures necessary for the care and cultivation of the grass cover. Engineering systems ensuring the field operations were mounted in the base and under the field. These systems comprise drainage, aeration, irrigation and heating. For example, the heating system alone comprises 36 km of pipes, which will allow playing football regardless of low temperatures. Therefore, the football season will start in early spring and continues till December.

Additionally, the field is provided with moisture sensors and other sensors. These devices will help agrotechnicians to collect data on the level of oxygen in the soil, soil acidity, temperature in the lower and upper root zones of the turf.

Additionally, we will use the system of insolation - the additional light. At the beginning, professionals carried out a light and shadow analysis of the filed to identify the areas of insufficient sunlight. We provided these areas with additional light by special installations with lamps invented in the Netherlands.

- Is there possibility of force-majeure with the turf similar to that at the Zenit Arena?

- No, we have developed several programs, which will depend on the climatic conditions, and on how the turf will survive the winter. Even if, for example, the winter is very cold, then we have a relevant plan of action. We exclude all possible force majeure and are confident that we will be able to present the quality field for the World Cup in 2018.

- What are further steps in the football turf creation?

- When the turf germinates, we will start implementing measures comprising cutting and adding mineral fertilizers. Then we will weave the turf by stabilizing the root zone with polymer fibres using technology developed in the Netherlands. This system has status of 100% natural turf. It improves the drainage properties of the root zone, increases the wear resistance of the turf by more than three times and reduces the risk of injury to athletes.

- How will you weave the turf?

- The weaving site area is eight thousand square meters. For the purposes of the procedure, we will use two self-propelled tracked vehicles. Each vehicle has weight of about 500 kilograms, which is equivalent to an average turfmower. They will cause no damage to the grass cover, since they are specially designed for work on turfs. Machines are compact enough, they gently move around the field. The vehicles are electricity driven, preventing gasoline stains on the grass. This special purposes machinery is operating using sewing machine principle. The soil will be pierced per two centimetres to a depth of about 20 cm, and by means of special needles, polymer threads will be installed. It is interesting to know that the weaving of the field will take about 48 thousand kilometres of artificial fibre. For reference, it should be noted that this length of fibre is sufficient to wrap around the globe.

All weaving works will take about two weeks. The field will be prepared for the game this autumn.

- How long life of the turf is?

- According to the global practice, it is well known that the turf needs regular renovations. Usually, this operation is performed once a year. The renovation extent may be complete, i.e. the soil is cut and field is resown again. Whereas partial renovation assumed the adding of grass to the existing turf.