hybrid grass
{{Short description|Natural grass surface reinforced with synthetic fibers}}
{{About|grass reinforced with other material|grass hybrids|Grass (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
Hybrid grass or reinforced natural grass is a product created by combining natural lawn grass with reinforcing synthetic fibres. It is used for stadiums[http://entertainment.xin.msn.com/en/radio/938live/singaporenews.aspx?cp-documentid=256188070 National Stadium at Singapore Sports Hub unveils state-of-the-art hybrid grass pitch – 938LIVE on xinmsn Entertainment]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and training pitches used for association football,{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/video/world-class-hybrid-grass-for-the-world-cup-N8NMF54FQeSr6gqi3eASXw.html |title=World-Class Hybrid Grass for the World Cup: Video – Bloomberg |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602043605/http://www.bloomberg.com/video/world-class-hybrid-grass-for-the-world-cup-N8NMF54FQeSr6gqi3eASXw.html |url-status=live }} rugby,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/26043234 |title=Murrayfield pitch to be replaced with hybrid grass |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2014 |access-date=5 May 2025 |archive-date=26 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426113044/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/26043234 |url-status=live }} gridiron football{{cite web|url=https://www.packers.com/news/new-turf-ready-to-welcome-packers-into-2018-season|title=New turf ready to welcome Packers into 2018 season|last=Hodkiewicz|first=Wes|website=packers.com|date=1 August 2018|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016200515/https://www.packers.com/news/new-turf-ready-to-welcome-packers-into-2018-season|url-status=live}} and cricket.{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Grace|date=4 April 2019|title=SIS Pitches uses hybrid grass technology to transform cricket|url=https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/api/content/6b0fdbea-56af-11e9-9dff-12f1225286c6/|access-date=27 November 2020|website=British Plastics and Rubber|language=en-gb|archive-date=17 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017143454/https://www.britishplastics.co.uk/api/content/6b0fdbea-56af-11e9-9dff-12f1225286c6/|url-status=live}} Reinforced natural grass can also be used for events and concerts. The synthetic fibres incorporated into the rootzone make the grass stronger and more resistant to damage.{{cite news |last=Rowaan |first=Dave |title=Hybrid grass, football, and soccer: Can it work? |url=http://www.wakingthered.com/2014/3/10/5482194/hybrid-grass-football-and-soccer-toronto-fc-bmo-field-argos |newspaper=SB Nation |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=23 July 2014 |archive-date=19 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819082818/https://www.wakingthered.com/2014/3/10/5482194/hybrid-grass-football-and-soccer-toronto-fc-bmo-field-argos |url-status=dead }}
A first generation of hybrid grass appeared in the 1990s. Grass roots were allowed to intertwine with a mix of soil and synthetic fibres as they grew. Three main methods exist to insert synthetic fibres in the root zone. The first is to inject fibres in the sand with a tufting machine.{{Cite web |url=http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass |title=Desso GrassMaster technology |access-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210154517/http://www.dessosports.com/hybrid-grass |archive-date=10 December 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url= https://arizonaturfdepot.com/ | title= Arizona Turf Depot | accessdate= 19 July 2020 | archive-date= 31 October 2023 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231031210834/http://www.arizonaturfdepot.com/ | url-status= live }}
The second method is to mix fibres, cork and sand in an automated plant and to install it afterwards on the pitch. The system was created by a laboratory at Arts et Métiers ParisTech.{{Cite web |url=https://www.instituts-carnot.eu/fr/actualite/airfibr-1ere-technologie-de-pelouse-sportive-augmentee-pour-la-securite-et-la |title=AirFibr : 1ère technologie de pelouse sportive augmentée, conçue pour la sécurité et la performance des sportifs de haut niveau grâce au Carnot ARTS | le réseau des Carnot |access-date=3 February 2020 |archive-date=3 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203151545/https://www.instituts-carnot.eu/fr/actualite/airfibr-1ere-technologie-de-pelouse-sportive-augmentee-pour-la-securite-et-la |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web | url=https://business.lesechos.fr/entrepreneurs/idees-de-business/natural-grass-equipe-la-moitie-des-terrains-de-football-de-l-euro-2016-211897.php | title=Natural Grass équipe la moitié des terrains de football de l'Euro 2016 | access-date=5 May 2025 | archive-date=19 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019032812/https://business.lesechos.fr/entrepreneurs/idees-de-business/natural-grass-equipe-la-moitie-des-terrains-de-football-de-l-euro-2016-211897.php | url-status=live }}{{Cite web | url=https://www.stiga.com/fr/magazine/tendances-et-conseils/pelouse-hybride-pelouse-futur | title=La pelouse hybride, la pelouse du futur ? | STIGA | access-date=5 May 2025 | archive-date=28 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128000514/https://www.stiga.com/fr/magazine/tendances-et-conseils/pelouse-hybride-pelouse-futur | url-status=live }}
The third method is to put a carpet or mat with woven or tufted fibres on the surface, then to brush in sand or sand mixes to keep the fibres in an upright position and finally to seed grass mixtures on top. The natural grass roots through the mat and stabilizes the system. These systems are called carpet-based hybrid grass solutions.{{cite web|url=https://www.greentechsod.bg/hybrid-grass/|title=Installation of Hybrid Grass|website=greentechsod.bg|access-date=2 January 2022|archive-date=19 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019032814/https://www.greentechsod.bg/hybrid-grass/|url-status=live}}