The rubber recycling industry was introduced to the turfgrass industry about 15 years ago. Since then, ways have been improved for the incorporation of the rubber into the soil profile.
Crumb rubber is typically the rubber particle used for topdressing turf.
The spherical crumb rubber particle shape allows for easier incorporation of the material into core aerification holes. Buffing rubber, therefore, is not used as often for two reasons. Other research reported in this publication indicates that turf injury was less when topdressed with buffing rubber compared to crumb rubber. Our goal was to use football players to apply live traffic to buffing rubber. The objectives of the two-year study were to evaluate buffing rubber as a topdressing and to determine its effects on seed germination.