1B, 2010-2014 Capital Improvement Plan

Home Browse Search

82 SPOR-m FjF1A)sDv%x;N, CONS TRU(MON AND MAIN-UNANCE ,Figure 7.1. Installed irrigation systems prot4de tile most effectitv r i ti) f f v r licielicy Whot" Courtesy of Hunter I"Justriesi omb na C " o unt or?" I - ing ind operating ef -are must also be considered in planning any watering program. Obviously, a clay if will If not accept as much water as asandy soil, and will require lighter, more frequent irriga- tion. Consideration must also be given to scheduled field usage; a heavy irrigation event a few hours before a game can result in slippery and even dangerous playing conditions. Nlost turfgrasses, including overseeded bermudagrass, need as much as I" to 1 %.' of water per week during the growing season to support turf growth. This cou Id come ei- ther from rainfall or from supplemental irrigation. If the turf is not receiving enough water it will -tell- an arrentive manager when it needs water. Signs like leaf rolling and wilting, sustained foorprinting (failure of the turf to spring back quickly after foot or vc- hicular traffic), and a change in turf color to a blue-green color are all characteristic of desiccation-c:xcessivc dryness. , The best time to irrigate turf is in the early morning hours, just prior to or just after sunrise. Early morning irrigation does not interfere with play in most situations, and .serves to minimize the period of leaf surface wetness. Reducing the time the turf leaves stay wet is an effective way to reduce disease incidence. Early morning irrigation also tends to get more water into the soil for plant use, since evapc)rarion rates at that time of day are minimal. Also, wind disruption of the irrigation pattern arc of lcsos concern in the early morning hours. Finally, early morning irrigation usually allows for adequate field drying before competition or practice, sea play can prof ced without a slippery surface.