Rainfall versus Irrigation Influences Penetration Resistance and Surface Hardness on a Recreational Sports Field

Penetration resistance and surface hardness were evaluated on the basis of volumetric water content (VWC) resulting from either rainfall or irrigation on a recreational sports field. The magnitude of VWC, penetration resistance, and surface hardness changed substantially at each sampling date. Spatial variability of VWC and penetration resistance appeared to be most affected between periods of rainfall versus irrigation. Spatial variability of surface hardness was not influenced substantially by soil moisture condition, but rather the combined effect of penetration resistance and turfgrass cover on each sampling date. Baseline testing is recommended for native soil fields after rainfall and irrigation to determine whether a field meets predetermined performance standards. Subsequent sampling should be conducted under similar soil moisture conditions to compare back to baseline data. Spatial maps of VWC collected after a rainfall event may provide insight into the infiltration and drainage capabilities of a sports field, whereas data collected after irrigation are likely best for assessing malfunctioning irrigation heads. Spatial maps of surface hardness may be useful for the delineation of sitespecific cultivation zones, since the spatial distribution of surface hardness was not influenced by soil moisture.

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