We always know that preparations have always been extravagant for the FIFA World Cup, an event that is held only once in four long years. For this year, the twelve stadiums around Brazil where the various matches will be played have been carpeted thickly with ryegrass brought into the country from up north – America and Canada.
Here’s a little insight into the carefully constructed pitches – the unacknowledged heroes of the World Cup who play so integral a role in allowing the players to have a smooth game on the pitch.
The grass used to carpet the twelve stadiums across the country has been contracted from American firm DLF Pickseed, and firm Royal Verd has been responsible for planting and maintenance work at Manaus and six other stadiums.
The pitches are a mixture of artificial grass constructed from manmade fibres that have been implanted into the soil in long rows, along with natural grass. The natural grass has been made to grow around these fibres, creating a thick mesh.
The grass is primarily a mixture of Bermuda ryegrass. 300,000 pounds of it have been exported to Brazil and have been spread over twelve stadiums.
The grass has undergone stringent testing for weeds and other pollutants before being exported. Experiments were conducted with 18 types of grass before a variety best suited for Brazil’s climate and the purpose of football were decided upon.
However, the maintenance firms have still experienced severe difficulties with the pitch due to the inaccessible nature of the stadiums combined with Brazil’s humid climate. While the remote locations made it difficult to transport the kilo-tonnes of fertilisers, seeds and other infrastructure required to establish the stadiums, the humid climate resulted in growth of algae and fungus on the pitch.
The pitch is maintained beautifully after each match – it is fortified with bio-stimulants to compensate for the ravaging it undergoes during each match. It is also mowed an inch per day to prevent weeding and overgrowth.
Technology has played a major part in enhancing the World Cup experience for players and fans alike, and here’s a sneak peek into the efforts that have gone into creating the perfect playing fields:
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