Sports Field Audit Report 7th Brigade Park Cricket Field 2

Transcription

1 Sports Field Audit Report 7th Brigade Park Cricket Field 2 Sampling Date: 3/04/2014 Address: Delaware Street, Chermside Region: North Field Size: 0.8 ha Irrigation: No Technigro Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 397 Varsity Lakes 4227 Queensland, Australia Phone

2 Overview On 3/04/2014, 7th Brigade Park Cricket Field 2 was tested as part of the Brisbane City Council s Sports Field Audit project undertaken by Technigro Australia. The purpose of these audits is to assist Council in understanding the condition of the city s sports fields and to provide clubs with information essential in the development of a proactive turf management program. The assessment involved a scientific evaluation (i.e. agronomic assessment) of the sports field, along with the collection of data to support field performance and safety. This report summarises the findings of the sports field audit, as well as providing some practical management advice. Figure 1. Map of Field Showing Location of Sampling Points

3 Summary of Agronomic Assessment Figure 2. Ratings of Field Attributes Requires Attention Acceptable Desirable Turf Composition Thatch Depth Root Depth Soil Nutrition Surface Hardness Soil Compaction (100 mm) Soil Compaction (200 mm) Surface Levels Water Infiltration Rate Figure 3. Turf Composition Desirable Undesirable Species Cover (%) Green Couch Blue Couch Kikuyu 0.00 Crowsfoot 0.00 Paspalum 0.00 Bahia Grass Wiregrass 0.00 Summer Grass 0.00 Rhodes Grass 0.00 Other Grasses 0.00 Sedges 0.00 Broadleaves 0.00 Bare 5.00 The above information relates to the date of testing. Field performance is influenced by a wide range of variables such as climate, usage and maintenance activities and can therefore change over time.

4 Figure 4. Results of Soil Sample Analysis

5 Explanation of Results and Suggested Remedial Actions Turf Cover Turf cover relates to the appearance and uniformity of the grass in the field and is dependent on the proportion and condition of desirable turf grasses. Maintaining a good cover of turf grasses improves safety, optimises playability and limits the opportunity for weeds to establish. This field has a poor turf cover, with undesirable species making up a large percentage of the total species composition. In such situations the focus must be on improving the coverage of desirable species whilst implementing a weed management program to reduce competition from undesirable species. Thatch Depth Thatch is an organic layer of old shoots and stems of grasses that accumulates between the turf canopy and the soil surface. Some thatch is desirable, as it provides a degree of surface resilience that provides improved wear tolerance and increased resistance to soil compaction. However, excessive thatch accumulation can result in increased disease activity, higher surface moisture retention and poor aeration of the soil profile. The depth of thatch in this field is satisfactory for healthy turf growth. Root Depth Root depth is determined from the observation of soil core samples. This measure provides an insight into the turf's ability to withstand stress, including reduced watering frequencies. The root depth in this field is less than satisfactory and remedial action (i.e. aeration, soil amendment and appropriate turf nutrition) may be required for improvement. Soil Nutrition Good nutrition is vital for the growth and maintenance of healthy turf grasses. If the soil is poor, a number of decisions have to be prioritised to ensure that the appropriate course of action is taken to improve nutrition. Soil nutrition was relatively good at the time of testing, but there may be some minor deficiencies. Consult your turf management professional who can interpret the results of the soil analysis and provide recommendations for soil amendment and turf nutrition. Surface Hardness Surface hardness is used to rate the safety of the field for users of the playing surface. Excessively hard fields can increase the chance of impact injuries from falls, while fields that are too soft can cause strain injuries. The field surface was extremely hard at the time of testing, and requires attention. Mechanical aeration can be undertaken in conjunction with the use of a soil amendment that can reduce hardness and prevent its recurrence. Soil Compaction Compacted soil restricts root growth, which decreases the uptake of water and nutrients by desirable turf. Compaction also restricts the movement of air and water through the soil profile, thereby increasing the likelihood of waterlogging above the compacted layers. The degree of compaction in the soil profile is determined by recording the penetration of a specialised instrument into the turf. The soil in this field was very highly compacted at the time testing. Mechanical aeration can be undertaken in conjunction with the use of a soil amendment that can alleviate compaction and prevent its recurrence. Surface Levels An uneven field impacts negatively on both player safety and the playability of the surface. A three metre long straight edge is used to determine how level a field is. Surface levels were within the desirable range at the time of testing. Infiltration Rate Infiltration rate records the speed of which water on the surface enters the soil profile. Many factors affect infiltration including soil profile, soil compaction, and the amount of thatch present. Water infiltration rates for this field were acceptable at the time of testing.

6 Recommended Turf Management Strategies The following strategies have a synergistic relationship and have been developed to improve both the quality and playability of sports fields. These strategies should be integrated into a pro-active maintenance program with the support of your turf management specialist: Implement appropriate soil amendment and nutrition practices to promote desirable turf species; Undertake a pro-active weed management program to counter weed populations; and Maintain pro-active turf management practices. 1. Implement appropriate soil amendment and nutrition practices to promote desirable turf species The strategy to improve soil structure involves a number of decisions which should be prioritised to ensure that the appropriate course of action is taken as follows: Minimising the impacts of sodium on the soil profile; Maintaining the soil ph within a range that promotes turf grass health and vigour; and Establishing optimum nutrient levels that support turf grass health and vigour. 2. Undertake a pro-active weed management program to counter the weed populations With less than optimal conditions for turf grass health and vigour during the winter sporting period, weeds can become prevalent. Many common weed species will outperform desirable turf grasses in unfavourable conditions, resulting in major infestations during periods of heavy usage. To counter any weed management issues being experienced on this sports field, the following actions are recommended: Minimising weed germination through implementation of a pre-emergent herbicide program; Reducing current weed populations through employment of a post-emergent herbicide program; and Maintaining appropriate soil amendment and nutrition practices to promote desirable turf species. 3. Maintain pro-active turf management practices This report should provide your club with all the necessary information about your sports field in order to determine its current condition. Should you require further assistance please consult a turf management professional, who can provide more specific recommendations about the pro-active turf management practices that should be employed in order to improve the quality and sustainability of your sports field. Should you require technical support regarding this report, or more detail about the assessment process, please turfservices@technigro.com.au.