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Laboratory Evaluation of Soil Mixtures for Sports Turf¹

ABSTRACT

The suitability of soil mixtures for sports turfgrass areas is often determined by measuring physical properties of laboratory-packed samples. The objectives of this study were (i) to establish a basis for choice of laboratory packing conditions for preparing test samples; and (ii) to determine whether physical properties of soil mixtures after in-situ settling on sports turfgrass areas were correlated to physical properties of the same mixtures packed and tested in the laboratory.

Seven soil mixtures varying from 76 to 97% sand by weight were packed in the laboratory by applying impact energies of 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0 J/cm² to samples at water potentials of –30, –100, –330 mbar. Comparisons of K_sat and bulk density of laboratory-packed samples with sustained infiltration rate and bulk density of mixtures after turf growth and compaction under greenhouse conditions indicated a packing combination of 3.0 J/cm² packing energy to a sample at –100 mbar water potential was equal or preferable to any other combination.

Using this laboratory packing combination, K_sat, bulk density, and air porosity at –30, –40, –60, and –100 mbar water potentials of undisturbed cores from golf greens were compared to corresponding properties on disturbed samples taken from the greens and packed in the laboratory. Laboratory-packed samples were not indicative of the properties of soil mixtures after settling in situ on greens. Sand content was a better measure of the physical qualities of soil mixtures in the field than were physical properties of laboratory-packed samples.

¹ Contribution from the Minnesota Agric. Exp. Stn., Univ. of Minn. Scientific Journal Series Paper no. 11,423.

² Former Research Assistant and Professor of Soil Science, Univ. of Minn., St. Paul, MN 55108. Senior Author is presently Assistant Professor, Dep. of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, Univ. of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108.

Received for publication October 10, 1980. Accepted for publication June 15, 1981.