2016-12-06 Services and Organisation Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   6 DECEMBER 2016




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           6 DECEMBER 2016

              AUSTRALIAN SPORTS TURF CONSULTANTS                                [www.ASTCs.com.au] s.com.au
              Irrigation
              Irrigation is to be applied to maintain unstressed growth. Application rates and timings will
              depend on environmental factors and the sportsfield design. An annual internal or external
              irrigation audit is also recommended to make sure your irrigation system is fully operational
              and achieving satisfactory uniformity. A minimum irrigation distribution uniformity (DU) of
              75 % should be achieved.

              Infrequent and deep watering to encourage extended root growth is recommended. Deep
              watering refers to aiming to get the irrigation water down to the bottom of the growing
              rootzone. Irrigation should not be applied higher than the soils infiltration rate.
              A core sampler can be used to assess and monitor the water infiltration through the rootzone
              and root development.
              The following table (Table 5) provides some general guidelines on the likely minimum weekly
              water use in mm for barely acceptable growth warm-season turf species (e.g. green and blue
              couch) in Brisbane using a crop factor from Handreck and Black (2010) and Bureau of
              Meteorology averages for daily evaporation rates.
              Table 5 The likely minimum weekly water use for acceptable turf based on seasonal
              conditions
                             Summer          Autumn          Winter            Spring
                             January          April             July          October
                          Warm            Warm            Warm             Warm
                          Season          Season          Season           Season
                         turfgrass        turfgrass       turfgrass        turfgrass
                          13.0-20.7 mm                                      11.4-18.2 mm

              Sand and Soil
              Sand should be used as part of your annual topdressing maintenance program, whereas a sand
              or suitable soil should be used to repair worn areas before they become blowouts (ruts) as
              discussed below.
              Topdressing
              Topdressing sand should be a medium to fine grade double washed sand suitable for sports
              turf. A maximum thickness of 10 mm at any onetime should be applied evenly to the playing
              surface. The sand will help to reduce thatch levels, fill in small voids and provide a more
              uniform surface.
              All top dressing material is to be “worked into” the turf sward by the use of an appropriately
              sized ‘drag mat’, or by similar process to ensure a minimum 50% to 90 % of the plant leaf is
              exposed prior to the completion of work and before the irrigation system is switched on. If
              there is a dense cover of turf or a thick thatch layer present, low mowing (even scalping) or
              verticutting before top dressing is recommended to ensure good contact with the surface. This
              will also prevent the formation of a layer that may slow or impede water movement through
              the profile.
              Due to the quantity of sand and equipment required, it is recommended that a reputable
              contractor undertake full field topdressing work.

              Reference #14R160614                                                   ll of17|Page

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