LEDMASTER
UVC 100
Turf disease control without chemicals
Reduce disease pressure during mowing!
High-performance sports turf is constantly exposed to demanding conditions. Low mowing heights, intensive match schedules, the use of artificial lighting systems, and high nitrogen inputs all contribute to an increased risk of foliar diseases.
The LEDMASTER can be mounted on a wide range of machines, including brands such as Allett, Dennis, Infinicut, Jacobsen, Toro, John Deere, RoviMow, and Salsco.
With the LEDMASTER UVC 100, Milati provides an effective and practical solution to reduce and prevent disease pressure — fully integrated into the mowing process, without requiring additional labour or disrupting play schedules.
Mounted behind the mower, the UV-C unit treats the freshly cut leaf surface with a precisely controlled dose of UV-C light. When applied consistently as part of routine mowing, this results in a cumulative suppressive effect on a wide range of common foliar pathogens.
Milati Grass Machines is the importer of the LEDMASTER UV-C 100 for the Benelux region.
Outside the Benelux, we can connect interested parties with local dealers.
All benefits at a glance…
- Reduces the pressure of turf diseases
- Decreases reliance on chemical treatments
- Fits seamlessly into your regular mowing routine
- No additional labour or time required
- No residues, regulatory constraints, or weather limitations
- A step towards more sustainable turf management
- Operating temperature: -10/+50 °C
- Supported by field trials in stadium environments:
(NL – LEDMASTER UV-C Test Report ADO Den Haag) ← Click here
(NL – LEDMASTER UV-C Test Henk Slootweg AH Vrij) ← Click here
Why leading stadiums choose UV-C treatment:
1. Reducing reliance on chemical treatments
UV-C light has been extensively studied for its ability to deactivate microorganisms. When applied regularly to turf, it can reduce the conditions that allow foliar pathogens to establish on the leaf surface, helping maintenance teams decrease their reliance on fungicides and lower associated costs.
2. Works within your normal mowing operations
The LEDMASTER UVC 100 treats the turf immediately after mowing, when the plant is most vulnerable.
Because the treatment takes place during mowing, there is:
- – No need for a second pass
- – No additional labour hours required
- – No disruption to maintenance schedules
- – No risk of contamination or restrictions on reuse
It simply becomes part of your daily turf maintenance routine.
3. A cleaner and safer approach to disease control
UV-C treatment leaves no residues, requires no storage, and has no weather-related spraying restrictions. For clubs aiming to improve sustainability and reduce chemical usage, UV-C offers a practical, chemical-free solution.
4. Independent field observations
A long-term trial at the ADO Den Haag stadium (Netherlands) delivered very positive practical results when UV-C was applied before each match using pedestrian mowers.
Notably, the ADO Den Haag stadium is owned by the municipality of The Hague. In line with the Green Deal between the Dutch government and municipalities, the use of chemical treatments for turf maintenance is not permitted.
What experts and users say…
“Henk concluded that regular UV-C exposure immediately after mowing made a noticeable difference in foliar disease pressure, without affecting soil biology — supporting the principle that UV-C acts only on the leaf surface.”
“Laboratory analysis confirmed what we observed in the field: a reduction in leaf spot and red thread disease pressure on the turf.”
We treated the pitch four times in one week and saw the outbreak decline, without adjusting the nutrition programme.”
(referring to an unexpected outbreak of red thread in March 2023)
“After three weeks, we could clearly see a visible reduction in foliar disease pressure on the pitch.”
Why UV-C fits modern turf management…
Technical Specifications
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LEDMASTER UVC 100
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LEDMASTER UVC 100
What about artificial turf?
UV-C is also used globally for surface disinfection. On artificial turf, it can help reduce microbial load, as these systems do not benefit from the natural biological breakdown processes found in soil. While further data specific to sports applications is still being gathered, early results indicate promising potential for improving surface hygiene.
The LEDMASTER UV-C 100 exposes the grass plant to a controlled dose of UV-C light during mowing, which helps reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms on the leaf surface.
This can help lower disease pressure and keep emerging infections from establishing in the turf canopy.
UV-C light is known to disrupt the DNA of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria.
Instead of claiming complete eradication, it’s more accurate to say that the LEDMASTER UV-C 100:
- Helps reduce the activity of disease-causing pathogens
- Can prevent small infections from spreading
- Supports healthier turf by lowering overall disease pressure
Field trials at ADO Den Haag (2023) showed noticeable reductions in leaf spot disease and red thread after repeated use.
Not necessarily — but it can reduce your reliance on them.
Clubs that must limit or avoid chemical control (e.g., ADO Den Haag) still rely on UV-C during high disease-pressure periods and have reported:
- Fewer outbreaks visible to the naked eye
- Reduced need for reactive chemical interventions
- A cleaner, more consistent sward under heavy fixture loads
The UV-C approach becomes part of an integrated turf management strategy.
Because mowing exposes the cleanest part of the plant—the freshly cut leaf surface.
This is where many pathogens attempt to colonise.
Combining the two operations:
- Saves time
- Keeps the treatment consistent
- Avoids an extra pass or operation on the pitch
- Fits into the existing mowing frequency (2–4× per week)
No. If used correctly.
The UV-C dose is calculated to be:
- High enough to affect microorganisms
- Low enough to avoid plant damage
- BUT, If you park the mower with the LEDMASTER ‘ON and radiating’ it will burn the grass.
Trials have shown reductions in visible symptoms of:
- Leaf Spot (Helminthosporium spp.)
- Red Thread
- General foliar fungal infections
Lab analysis from ADO Den Haag confirmed a drop in above-ground infections while soil microorganisms remained balanced and unchanged.
UV-C works on surface-level diseases and is not designed to replace soil-targeted fungicides.
Most clubs integrate UV-C into:
- Every mowing session during high disease pressure
- 2–4 times per week in winter/low growth periods
- After wet conditions when fungal pressure rises
Consistency is more important than intensity.
UV-C does not leave residue.
Its effect is immediate and short-lived — which is why regular mowing + UV-C is effective.
Each pass helps prevent new infections from taking hold.
The high-quality LED modules are rated for 10,000+ operating hours, giving several years of regular use.
Very low.
You only need to charge the battery which typically costs 2 pence (1/10th kWh) and a discharge gives 4 hours use.
Compared with fungicide programmes, UV-C is extremely economical.