What is Thatch?

Intensive grass cultivation produces very large quantities of organic matter. Most of it is removed during mowing, but the plant does not only grow aerially. The underground tissues also grow very intensively. Organs such as roots, stolons or rhizomes often die and are replaced by young organs, but the old ones accumulate.

When these organs die, they do not disappear instantaneously, but are slowly decomposed and converted into organic matter that will later be mineralised and can be absorbed by the plant again.

Nitrogen fertilisation, vigorous species and high cutting heights stimulate the development of thatch.

The problem is usually that the production of this material is much faster than its decomposition and this is when the famous thatch appears.

Actually, thach is not only dead tissue, it is composed of a mixture of living and dead organs intertwined to form the layer. This layer tends to accumulate because the older remains have serious difficulties in decomposing.

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Creeping species are much more likely to form thatch quickly.

Depending on the needs of the surface, the tolerance to thatch is different, but generally covered with a layer of more than 1.2 centimetres on average may start to have many contraindications.

The thatch is: a good environment for the development of diseasesThe soil is a barrier to proper infiltration, with all the consequences that this entails. For example, the movement of fertilisers or phytosanitary products through the soil profile.

Thatch is water-repellent and when it accumulates in excess, surfactants should be used.

The best way to check the amount of thatch in an area is to use a suitable sampler. These tools will allow you to see the actual profile and measure the depth of the thatch with a ruler.

After measuring at different points, it can be decided whether to remove the thatch with mechanical equipment or do recebados to lighten the soil.