Soil and Turf Variability Caused by Use Patterns on Collegiate and High School Football Fields.

Newly established football fields have uniform soil and turf but after several years of use, variable compaction and turf degradation become evident. Twelve samples were collected in the fall in four expected compaction level zones based on differential player activity. The zones were the sidelines (player standing areas), midfield (between the hash marks, and between the 25 yard-lines), red zones (between the hash marks, and between the 25 yard-lines to end zones), and edges (between the hash marks and boundary lines). We measured the surface 2-in bulk density, gravimetric soil moisture, and root weight on one collegiate and one high school football field and compared them at the 0.05 confidence level. We found significantly higher bulk density in the sidelines and midfield than the red zones and edges at both fields. Gravimetric moisture was significantly higher at midfield, red zone, and edges than the sidelines at both fields. At the collegiate field, the root growth was higher in the red zones and edges than in the midfield, and midfield root growth was higher than sideline root growth. At the high school field, used for football and soccer, there was no significant difference in root weight between the four zones because the two sports have different activity patterns. However, the root weight was significantly higher in the edges than the red zones because soccer goals are positioned in the red zones and there is intense activity in front of the goal boxes. At the collegiate field, the most compacted zones had the lowest gravimetric soil moisture and root growth. At the high school field, root weight was lowest in the red zones where soccer goals are placed. Bulk density, soil moisture, and root weight were found to vary across fields in expected compaction zones related to player activity levels and patterns.