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Guidelines Regarding Water Restrictions and Athletic Field Maintenance
Routine watering of athletic fields is a significant and continuing water use for many educational and recreational institutions. In times of short water supply, the amount of water used to maintain turf grasses can and must be reduced. This prescription for conservative water application for turf survival was developed with the assistance of turf grass management specialists from N.C. State University. This guidance acknowledges player safety and the investment made in good athletic fields, but does not support cosmetically green grass. For non-essential fields the guidance represents more than an 80% reduction in water required in the absence of rain.
Non-essential fields can be defined as fields that have been taken out of play or do not expect to receive play in the near future.
Such fields should be irrigated lightly (1/4 inch of water per application). This light rate is required to prevent excessive plant loss and erosion, and will not stimulate growth. Irrigation frequency will depend upon turf composition.
In general, fields comprised of tall fescue should receive this light rate every two weeks, whereas bermudagrass and Kentucky bluegrass fields will go dormant or semi-dormant and can go without water for up to four weeks.
When a non-essential field is returned to play, the irrigation practices discussed below for essential fields should be implemented six weeks before play is scheduled.
Essential fields can be defined as fields that receive play or are expected to receive play in the near future. (Important note: Hard and dry fields are potentially unsafe and can increase the possibility of player injury.)
Essential fields should be irrigated to moisten the soil to a depth of six inches each time the field is irrigated. This should require no more than one inch of water (620 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft) per application.
It is best to irrigate early in the morning (4-6 a.m.) when winds are calm and there is little evaporative loss. Empty cans placed around the field can help determine the amount being applied. A soil probe can also be used to determine the depth of soil moisture.
The field should not be irrigated again until symptoms of wilt (folded or curled leaves, footprinting or bluish-green color) are apparent on 50 percent of the field. This will actually encourage deep rooting and result in more drought tolerant plants.
It is not essential to overseed most bermudagrass fields in the fall with ryegrass. Bermudagrass fields can often withstand moderate play even though the grass is dormant.
Dr. Art Bruneau
Department of Crop Science
North Carolina State University |