The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

Managing and Maintaining a Natural Grass Field

The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

Show Notes

Ready to change the way you look at football fields forever? It's not as simple as managing an acre of grass.

In this episode of The Dirt, Dr. Bryan G. Hopkins joins Mike Howell to break down the art and science of sports turf management. From irrigation timing and mowing height, paint and shade, to compaction and crowns, you'll hear what really goes into the fields our athletes play on.

Explore why natural grass has become the turf of choice, how stadium layouts affect growth and uncover innovative technologies that have changed the turfgrass management game for NFL and college football consultants like Dr. Bryan Hopkins.

Looking for the latest in crop nutrition research? Visit nutrien-ekonomics.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NutrieneKonomics

More from The Dirt: an eKonomics podKast

Oct 20, 2026

With so much new technology entering the market, how do we figure out what's actually helpful?

Oct 13, 2026

Soil research is most valuable when it reflects the real challenges growers are seeing and helps them make better management decisions.

Oct 6, 2026

What should you consider when choosing a potassium source?

Sep 29, 2026

Soil fertility isn't always the yield-limiting factor. Compaction, salinity, soil acidity and water management can all affect how well crops grow and how effectively they access nutrients.

Sep 22, 2026

Building soil organic matter has become a common goal for farmers looking to improve soil health, but increasing soil organic matter levels can be harder than we'd expect.

See all episodes →