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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #64531
Title: USING SOIL WATER RETENTION FUNCTIONS TO QUANTIFY COMPACTION ON SPORTS TURF

Author
item HENRY, J - U C RIVERSIDE
item COCKERHAM, S - U C RIVERSIDE
item REESE, S - U C RIVERSIDE
item Shouse, Peter

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/19/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Soil compaction on sports turf results in decreased water penetration, restricted soil aeration and reduced turf grass quality. Soil water retention functions enable one to quantify the effects of human foot traffic on soil porosity and pore size-distribution. Differential foot traffic treatments were administered using a foot traffic machine designed to simulate one week's football practice. We measured soil-water retention and bulk density on soil cores taken from field turf plots after differential traffic treatments. In this paper we discuss the effects of simulated football practice on changes in soil-water retention, pore- size distribution, bulk density, and penetration resistance of turf grass soils. Sports turf quality will also be discussed.