| Abstract/Contents: | Summarizes 7 tests to determine the extent of damage caused by hydraulic oil spills on putting greens and to determine the best wash methods for increasing recovery of a green after a spill. The site was a 4 year old Penncross creeping bentgrass green maintained at a 1/4" mowing height. Hydraulic oil was applied by inducing a lead in a front and back reel of a Jacobsen Greens King Triplex greens mower utilizing SAE 10W-30 motor oil. Damage varied among tests due to variance in the oil leakage. Of the individual test described below, Tests 1-3 were initiated on August 18, test 4 on August 20, and Tests 5-7 on October 27, 1981. All plots were five feet in length and were replicated three times. The corrective treatments were applied directly on the oil spill. This usually included an area 5' x 1.5' per leak. For tests 5-7, an additional leak was stimulated by applying unheated oil (air temperature) via a hand made sprinkler. Visual damage ratings were taken weekly until growth subsided in early November. Test 1 compared detergents and absorbents. Treatments were Ivory dishwashing detergent, Aqua-Gro non-ionic soil wetting agent, Cascade granular dishwashing detergent, activated charcoal, calcined clay fines, and waterless skin cleanser. Ivory was the superior treatment. Test 2 compared different methods of applying Ivory. Use of Ivory (diluted 1:10), scrubbed for 2 minutes, and washed with high pressure hose worked best. Test 3 studied the time interval (1.5, 15, and 60 minutes) between hydraulic leak and treatment with Ivory. Results showed that Ivory should be applied as soon as possible after the oil leak. However, even after an interval of 60 minutes, treatment improved recovery. Test 4 showed that the effectiveness of Ivory and Globrite 3001 NC, an industrial cleanser, in cleaning oil spills was reduced when treatment was applied after irrigation. Test 5 compared Ivory to fine or coarse calcined clay. Ivory was superior to calcined clay and the fine textured clay was slightly better than the coarse clay. Test 6 studied the time interval (1, 5, 15, and 60 minutes) between leak and treatment with Ivory or fine calcined clay. Results indicated Ivory was superior to the clay and as test 3 showed, should be applied as soon as possible after the oil spill. There were not significant timing differences with the calcined clay since little benefit resulted from the treatment. Test 7 studied the timing (5, 15, 60, and 240 minutes) of coarse calcined clay removal. No difference among times was detected. In tests 5-7 no differences occurred between hot mower oil and hand applied air temperature oil. In general, oil from a bad leak was obvious on the surface of the green immediately after application. The severity of damage did not become apparent, however, for about 48 hours, and the maximum turf loss occurred about two weeks post-treatment. If the oil spill was very heavy, severe turf damage occurred regardless of the post-leak treatment. Treatment, however increased turf recovery rate. With the better corrective treatments, recovery became noticeable within 20-30 days and the putting surface was not severely damaged. Although Ivory was the best corrective treatment used in these tests, it is presumed that any liquid, non-ionic, high pH, no phospate detergent could be used. Dishwashing detergent and hair shampoo would be good choices. However, it would be best to try the soap and concentration you select on a small area of green to determine potential phytotoxicity. Visual damage estimates for each test are provided in tables. Standard operating procedures for cleaning hydraulic oil spills with liquid detergent or fine calcined clay are also presented. |
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