To be successful, it is recommended that we

Transcription

1 WATER PROBLEMS? Spot Drainage May Be For You Robert S. (Bob) Oppold COO, ISTRC New Mix Lab, LLC; Vice President, International Sports Turf Research Center, Inc.

2 To be successful, it is recommended that we address the cause and not the symptoms.

3 For Instance:

4 Or:

5 Premises A soil that is waterlogged quickly turns anaerobic roots and microbes are in competition for O 2

6 Premises A soil that is waterlogged quickly turns anaerobic roots and microbes are in competition for O 2 Water is released by: Evaporation Internal drainage

7 Premises A soil that is waterlogged quickly turns anaerobic roots and microbes are in competition for O 2 Water is released by: Evaporation Internal drainage Soil oxygen is a depleting resource that must be replenished from the atmosphere oxygen diffuses slowly through soil water

8 As a General Proposition, there are 4 Reasons Why Water Collects in a Soil Physical Problems with the Soil (includes compromised drainage) Chemical Problems with the Soil Water Repellency Problems with the Soil and Organic Layering Adhesive and Cohesive Tensions of Water

9 Case Study #1 New Green less than 1 year old with dead areas along the collar (not a typical drainage problem)

10 Left side of year old green

11 Back sdeo side of the eyear odgee old green

12 Right side of year old green

13 Water collection area is saturated in spite of drain Green s root zone properties were good

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15 Case Study #2 10 year old NFL field (Tile Failure)

16 First Step: Identify the Cause - Root Zone Mix or Drainage System

17 Undisturbed core testing found that the Root zone mix had excellent infiltration and percolation properties Visual inspection and testing found gravel ok

18 Field was leached, puddling was observed on 50% of the surface area; further inspection found that the tile lines were failing Could not fix tile because of heating grid

19 Had to lay new tile over old system and tie into trunk lines along perimeter

20 A California-style drainage system was installed on top of a failing USGA-style system The two systems do not provide equivalent drainage: the lateral movement of water is significantly slower than gravitational flow Without a gravel field to move water to the tile: the issue was how closely should the lines be spaced? [Same issue when cutting tile into native soil greens or fairways]

21 California-Style Drainage Water has infiltrated and accumulated in the root zone above the subgrade soil forming a pattern relative to the drainage trenches. Slide Courtesy of OSU The parabolas have their high point midway between the tile. The potential stress points are above the tile Water Content (vol/vol)

22 USGA-style Drainage Rain has infiltrated into soil surface and perched water has accumulated above the gravel layer. Water is also flowing through the gravel layer to the drains. Slide Courtesy of OSU Water Content (vol/vol)

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25 Case Study #3 14 month old USGA style baseball field (Water borne contaminants)

26 Sand root zone and gravel were locking up

27 Chemical Problems ph Salts Chemical Deficiencies

28 ph No Direct Impact on Water Movement Issues

29 ph No Direct Impact on Water Movement Issues Indicator of Potential Salt Related Issues

30 Salts Sodium, Carbonates, Bicarbonates

31 Salts Sodium Deflocculates The Soil

32 Dispersion and Deflocculation Na + Na +

33 Salts Carbonates & Bicarbonates Turn Soil Into Stone

34 The Chemical Breakdown Ca(HCO 3 ) 2 CO 2 + H 2 O + CaCO 3 Calcium Bicarbonate

35 Calcium carbonate crystals

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37 Chemical Deficiencies Calcium & Magnesium

38 Chemical Deficiencies Calcium & Magnesium Aggregation

39 Flocculation/Aggregation Ca 2+ Na + Na + Ca 2+ Ca 2+

40 Solving Chemical Problems Salts Sodium - Calcium Carbonate - Acidify Chemical Deficiencies Chemical Deficiencies Calcium and/or Magnesium

41 Case Study #4 Push-up greens [1926 Tillinghast course]

42 Good surface drainage is critical Loamy soils will never drain like a sand-based root zone but that does not mean that drainage cannot improve turf conditions

43 Good surface drainage is critical Loamy soils will never drain like a sand based root zone but that does not mean that drainage cannot improve turf conditions Drainage is often cut into greens because of poor ET drainage helps, but it is not a substitute for sunlight or surface air flow

44 Trench lines will show for one of two reasons: Desiccation, or Healthier [greener] turf

45 Cut-in drainage will improve growing conditions if water can reach the trenches

46 Cut-in drainage will improve growing conditions if water can reach the trenches In greens, drainage is often improved if you change the composition of the top 3 to 4 inches (the change usually requires exchanging sand for accumulated organic matter, silt, & clay)

47 The goal is to improve lateral a as-well-as gravitational flow Simulated water contents t within a Push-Up putting green at 42 hours. Slide Courtesy of OSU Water Content (vol/vol)

48 A green s micro-environment, however, must also be considered drainage is only a partial substitute for ET

49 A green s micro-environment, however, must also be considered drainage is only a partial substitute for ET Soil water holds heat and increases soil temperatures drainage reduces soil water while surface air flow reduces surface temperatures as it removes water - BUT

50 Cut in drainage may be a waste of money unless the aerification program addresses physical property deficiencies in the top three to four inches

51 The mix filling the trenches should try to match the physical properties of the surrounding soil while maintaining reasonable percolation A finer textured soil will draw water from a coarser textured soil [one cause of desiccation] In heavy loam soils, the trench mix will have to be coarser in order for water to percolate Entire surface should be modified to allow lateral movement of water and improve soil aeration/oxygenation to match material in the trenches and the green s micro-environment i

52 Questions?