Wednesday, November 7, 2007
268-25
Survey of Root Zone Properties in Amended Native Soil Pushup Greens.
USGA recommendations for putting green construction were developed following years of extensive research. Although the design is widely accepted with proven results, many golf courses in mostly rural areas do not have the budget, expertise, or desire to reconstruct existing putting greens to USGA specifications. In 2001, research was initiated on 108 ‘pushup’ putting greens constructed from native soil on 36 golf courses in South Dakota. Onsite infiltration rates at or near field capacity ranged from 1.40 to 40.54 cm h-1 with a mean of 4.51 ±2.67. Soil properties sampled at 0 to 15 cm provided mean values of 1.35 ±0.13 g cm-3 bulk density, 48.92 ±4.92 % total porosity, 12.34 ±8.00 cmol kg-1 cation exchange capacity (CEC), 7.59 ±0.30 pH, 0.99 ±0.62 dS m-1 electrical conductivity (ECe), and 3.79 ±1.77 % soil organic matter (SOM). Mean values at 15 to 31-cm depth included 14.74 ±8.63 cmol kg-1 CEC, 7.81 ±0.35 pH, 0.76 ±0.62 dS m-1 ECe, and 3.01 ±1.78 % SOM. Mean soil mineral fraction was 79.48 ±15.51 % sand, 8.63 ±6.19 % silt, and 11.89 ±10.67 % clay at 0 to 15 cm, and 64.42 ±22.92 % sand, 14.17 ±9.22 % silt, and 21.41 ±15.32 % clay at 15 to 31cm. Penetration resistance averaged across all putting greens increased linearly with depth of profile, but resistance was highly variable among putting greens. Soil layering at the sand/soil interface caused by long term core aerification and topdressing was common. Results of the study will be used to develop recommendations to improve putting green performance on pushup greens.
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