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| Publication Type:
| Proceedings |
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| Author(s): | Inglis, Jay |
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| Author Affiliation: | District Manager, Hunter Industries |
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| Title: | Low precipitation with a view toward water conservation |
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| Meeting Info.: | [Lismore, New South Wales, Australia]: September 18-19, 1989 |
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| Source: | Australian Turfgrass Research Institute: Proceedings of the 18th Turfgrass Management Seminar. 1989, p. 67-70. |
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| Publishing Information: | Concord West, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Turfgrass Research Institute Ltd |
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| # of Pages: | 4 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Irrigation rates; Water conservation; Application methods
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| Abstract/Contents: | "Once the saturation point of the soil has been reached (about 5mm per hour in heavy soil), the downward movement of water in the soil nearly ceases. This happens because the water at the surface of the soil has cut off the air supply to the soil creating a vacuum that that hinders the downward movement... Typically, turf needs about 25mm of water per week. If you apply that water all at once, about 5 to 7mm will actually be available to the plant. The other 18 to 20mm will either run off or be evaporated. This is not only a great waste of water, but it also means that when watering day comes around again, the turf is stressing more than it should from receiving only 7mm of usable irrigation... Ideally you want turf with deep roots that can can draw from reservoirs of moisture, even when the irrigation system is inoperative for a time, and has more stamina to abrasion and abuse. This should be done with the minimum water possible. Certainly run-off and excessive evaporationshould be avoided. The way to acheive this ideal situation is to water turf at a rate less than the infiltration rate of the soil. By watering at a rate of 3 to 5mm per hour, you can water for long periods of time without reaching the saturation point of the soil. Longer and longer watering cycles coupled with longer periods between waterings will develop the long root structure we are looking for. On a site in southern California, a test was run for more than 3 years. A park area, using small but conventional sprinklers, was set up in a very heavy clay soil. The precipitation rate was 1.8mm per hour (.07 inches) and was operated for 14 hours at a time once a week, applying 25mm of water to a combination of bermuda, fescue, and blue grasses. The results of the test were: 1. A very good looking turf was grown using 20% to 33% less water than conventional systems. 2. None of the diseases and soil compaction problems, that typically occur in irrigation, were evident. 3. When the water supply was lost to the system, it took 3 1/2 weeks to see any signs of stress in any of the turf... Attempts at obtaining low precipitation in the past have been abandoned because wind would destroy the distribution. This is because previous attempts have been made using standard pressures (400 to 500 kPa). The small droplets, created by high pressures, are more prone to distortion. The new technology will allow spacings of 16 to 22 metres (or more) at pressures of 200 to 350 kPa. This low pressure creates a larger droplet size that carries in wind much better than heads operating at 400 to 500 kPa and think of the savings in pump electricity consumption and pump size." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| Note: | Reprint appears in Proceedings of the 19th and 20th Turfgrass Management, 1990, p. 41-42 |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Inglis, J. 1989. Low precipitation with a view toward water conservation. p. 67-70. In Australian Turfgrass Research Institute: Proceedings of the 18th Turfgrass Management Seminar. [Lismore, New South Wales, Australia]: September 18-19, 1989. Concord West, New South Wales, Australia: Australian Turfgrass Research Institute Ltd. |
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