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| Web URL(s): | http://archive.lib.msu.edu/tic/rpr/1997/54922,%20Ohio%20State,%20McCoy.PDF
Last checked: 10/30/2013
Requires: PDF Reader |
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| Publication Type:
| Report |
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| Material Type: | Manuscript |
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| Monographic Author(s): | McCoy, Ed; Dick, Warren; Boehm, Mike |
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| Author Affiliation: | Ohio State University |
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| Monograph Title: | Understanding the Hydrology of Modern Putting Green Construction Methods: [1997 Annual Research Report], 1997. |
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| Publishing Information: | [Columbus, Ohio]: Ohio State University |
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| # of Pages: | 25 |
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| Collation: | 3, 8, [14] pp. |
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| Abstract/Contents: | "This research investigates the influence of modern putting green construction method on hydrologic processes in the root zone, including water infiltration, redistribution, and drainage. The greens construction methods under investigation are the United States Golf Association (USGA) and California (CA) specifications. Additionally, each soil profile design contained either a high or low water permeability root zone, resulting in 4, soil profile/root zone composition treatments, each replicated 3 times. The experimental greens contained a creeping bentgrass turf maintained at a mowing height of 3/16th inch. Of particular interest is the effect of green slope on hydrologic processes. The greens were built above ground in 4 by 24 ft boxes with slopes of 0, 2 and 4% adjusted by jacking and blocking the legs. The units also contained drain lines at 2 and 17 ft from the downslope end effectively yielding a 15 ft drain spacing. The root zone of each experimental green was instrumented with TDR soil moisture probes at 3 depths (3, 6 and 9 inches) and 5 locations (2, 7, 12, 17 and 22 ft from the downslope end). A tipping bucket rain gauge was connected to the outflow of the furthest downslope drain line to monitor drainage outflow rate. Each green received simulated rainfall from a device delivering either 4.44 ±0.09 in hr-1 for the high rate or 1.89 ^D+- 0.04 in hr-1 for the low rate treatment. Continuous measurements of drainage outflow and soil water contents were started at the beginning of the rainfall period. Rainfall was then applied for 3 hr to ensure a constant drainage rate. At the end of the rainfall period, the rain simulation device was turned off but drainage outflow and soil moisture measurements continued for an additional 48 hr. While drainage rate is but one aspect of putting green hydrology, there is some confusion regarding which construction method should be the more rapidly drained and proponents of either system have claimed that theirs promotes faster drainage. The key understanding we demonstrated in this study is that both profile design and root zone mix permeability contribute to drainage rate. Given equal root zone mix permeability, the USGA profile yields more rapid drainage. Indeed, even rainfall rates of about 4.5 hr-1 failed to overwhelm drainage of the USGA profiles as evidenced by equivalent drainage rates for both the low and high permeability root zones. Further, this same rainfall rate exceeded the drainage capacity of a CA profile containing a root zone mix initially tested to have a permeability of 20 in hr-1. For equivalent drainage performance, therefore it seems that a CA style green would need a root zone mix permeability 10 to 20 in hr-1 greater than a USGA green. Drainage rate represents an intensity factor, The capacity factor of the drainage process, in the context of the present study, is the completeness of excess water removal from the respective root zones. Here, it is commonly thought that a USGA putting green profile would become less completely drained than a CA green. This belief results from the water perching effect in a USGA green. Our results showed that for equivalent root zone mix permeabilities the USGA green is drier after 48 hr (interpreted as more completely drained) than a CA system green (Fig. 1). This appears to be principally due to the need for water to move laterally through the root zone in a CA green before reaching a drainline. Again, for more complete drainage, a CA green would appear to need a higher root zone permeability as evidenced by the nearly equal soil water contents after 48 hr drainage in the CA high permeability profile and the USGA low permeability profile. All greens are contoured or sloped to some degree. This contouring may be slight in cupset areas but is more extreme between terraces or throughout links style greens. This sloping clearly has an effect on water redistribution following rainfall. Prior to this study we believed that the perched water table in a USGA green would lead to strong lateral movement of water to more downslope locations. This would suggest the possibility of 'hot spots' forming at higher elevations in a USGA green. We did not believe this would occur to a great extent in a CA green because this green construction method was thought to be more completely drained, having no perched water to migrate. The results from this study suggested that our prior beliefs were somewhat incorrect. While lateral water movement was observed in the USGA greens, it was also observed in the CA greens. Thus, for equal root zone permeabilities, there was a much greater lateral difference in water contents after 48 hr drainage in the CA greens than the USGA greens (Fig. 2). One caveat in the results of this study is that these constructions were just 1 year old and had not experienced foot traffic. Our future plans for these experimental greens is to simulate foot traffic and repeat this study under more natural conditions. We also have collected undisturbed soil cores in November 1996 and 1997. These cores are currently being employed for measurement of soil physical properties and to assess changes relative to the fresh mixes. These periodic sampling and measurements will continue throughout the study." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | See also related summary article "Understanding the hydrology of modern putting green construction methods" 1997 Turfgrass and Environmental Research Summary [USGA], 1997, p. 97-99, R=54922. R=54922 |
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| Note: | Also appears as pp. 515-539 in the USGA Turfgrass Research Committee Reporting Binders for 1997.
"Progress Report 10 December, 1997"
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