Effects of Soil Reinforcing Materials on the Surface Hardness, Soil Bulk Density, and Water Content of a Sand Root Zone

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of various types and rates of soil reinforcing materials on soil bulk density, soil water content, surface hardness, and turfgrass density of a high‐sand root zone exposed to three levels of simulated traffic (wear). Six soil reinforcing materials were mixed at varying rates with a high‐sand root zone. These included DuPont Shredded Carpet, Netlon, Nike Lights, Nike Heavies, Turfgrids, and Sportgrass. Three levels of wear were imposed on each treatment. The types and rates of reinforcing materials had varying effects on surface hardness, bulk density, water content, and turf density of the root zone. Surface hardness and soil bulk density were correlated during the 2‐yr test period (r = 0.63). The reinforcing treatments that lowered soil bulk density and surface hardness were DuPont Shredded Carpet, Nike Lights, and Nike Heavies. Reinforcing material treatments that increased or did not affect soil bulk density generally resulted in increased surface hardness compared with nonamended controls. These treatments included Netlon and Turfgrids. Surface hardness generally became more pronounced as the level of wear increased for Netlon, Turfgrids, and Sportgrass treatments. The Sportgrass treatment consistently measured lower in soil water content than the control and had a turfgrass density lower than the control on all rating dates in 1996 but did not differ from the control in 1997. Athletic field managers considering using reinforcing materials should be aware that the type of material and rate influence athletic field surface hardness.

Water Restriction Impact on Surface Hardness and Soil Volumetric Water Content on Recreational Sports Fields

“…Vanini et al (2007) have also noted the puddling of water in areas of high traffic, which the authors attributed to a more compacted surface. Surface hardness is affected to a greater degree by soil bulk density than by water content (McNitt and Landschoot, 2003). Additionally, soil water content has little effect on the surface hardness of sand-dominated rootzones, but for finer textured soil, water content is the major controlling factor of surface hardness Baker, 1991).…”

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

“…Volumetric water content (VWC; i.e., soil moisture), penetration resistance, surface hardness, and turfgrass cover were measured twice during the study, when VWC was based on rainfall or irrigation events. Turfgrass cover was also measured due to previous reports of a significant inverse relationship with surface hardness (Holmes and Bell, 1986;Bell and Holmes, 1988;McNitt and Landschoot, 2003). Data obtained on 28 Mar.…”

“…A 2.25-kg missile was dropped once through a guide tube from a height of 0.45 m at each sample location (manufacturer recommendation). Impact attenuation was measured by an accelerometer at the end of the missile and reported as G max (the ratio of peak deceleration on impact in gravities to the acceleration due to gravity) (McNitt and Landschoot, 2003). The Clegg had last been calibrated by the manufacturer 8 mo prior to use.…”

“…Penetration resistance and surface hardness are negatively correlated with soil moisture, which is dependent on weather, irrigation regimes, and soil texture (Holmes and Bell, 1986;Bell and Holmes, 1988;McNitt and Landschoot, 2003). Sports fields constructed with fine-textured soils exhibit greater within-field spatial and temporal variations of penetration resistance and surface hardness compared with coarse-textured soils (Miller, 2004;Caple et al, 2012b).…”

Evaluation of Factors Contributing to Surface Stability of Sand‐Based Turf

“…However, rubber crumb, a popular reinforcement material, decreased capillary porosity, hardness, and shear strength when incorporated in sand-soil rootzones (Baker et al, 2001). Disadvantages in using reinforcement materials include poor turfgrass establishment, and extreme traction and surface hardness values (Adams, 1997;Baker 1997;McNitt and Landschoot, 2005). Furthermore, inclusion of reinforcement is not always cost eff ective (McNitt and Landschoot, 2001).…”