Grass Cloning for Polo Fields is Now a Reality

Palermo in Buenos Aires, field 1.

Cloning in the world of polo is no longer restricted to the horses. Battro Polo Fields, an Argentine company and global leader in polo pitch consultancy, has developed advanced cloning technology to produce superior grass. Using these innovative processes, they successfully replicated the model of a field on the outskirts of Buenos Aires—voted the best in the world by elite players—at the sport's most prestigious venue: Pitch 1 at the Cathedral of Palermo.

Preparing a surface for horses worth fortunes is a critical task; a single bobble of the ball can alter a match result, and an animal's stumble can lead to significant loss. The expertise behind the planet's finest greens lies with Battro Polo Fields, a pioneering family firm specialising in the design, construction, and maintenance of international polo pitches. To date, they have provided consultancy for over 800 fields across 45 countries.

Nearly 30 years ago, the company’s founder—then working on golf courses—noticed that horses frequently slipped or fell in specific areas. He realised the issue lay not with the rider, but with the ground itself. This initial observation led the firm to refine their machinery and focus on soil composition and sand distribution in high-traffic zones.

Technological evolution has enabled the company to implement cutting-edge agronomic techniques, as evidenced by Pitch 1 at Palermo, host of the Argentine Open final. There, they developed a turf possessing all the essential traits for the sport’s premier event: rapid recovery, high durability under intensive use, optimal colour, and the ability to integrate seamlessly with other grass species.

The genetic material was sourced from a field located more than 60 km from the Palermo Cathedral. This unprecedented milestone involved harvesting the grass with vertical-cut machinery to extract the complete runner—known as a stolon—along with its roots. These runners contain nodes that hold the genetic information required to generate new roots, stems, and leaves. Once harvested, this material is sown similarly to traditional seeds. After being planted, a disc machine compacts it into the soil before intensive irrigation begins.

Notably, the main pitch at Palermo covers a total surface area exceeding 4 hectares.

Technically known as Tifton 328, the grass used is a modern hybrid variety. As a warm-season grass, it thrives with higher temperatures and longer daylight hours. These grasses are laboratory-created, do not produce fertile seeds, and reproduce asexually.

The company is currently developing summer grasses with enhanced cold resistance. By transferring the qualities of summer grass—the ideal surface for polo—to colder climates or regions prone to snow, they aim to revolutionise markets such as Europe, where winters are prolonged.

Battro’s maintenance technology serves as a primary differentiator. The firm employs soil mappers, specialised software, digital moisture meters, and scanners capable of analysing the ground at depths exceeding 1 metre. Additionally, they use equipment to measure soil shear strength and advanced sensors to analyse sand quality and filtration systems. All collected data is processed through proprietary software, allowing for precise and effective management decisions.