Soil and top layer conditioning Ottevaere Davy TerraCottem bvba www.terracottem.com How can we improve the soil physical properties?
Soil and top layer conditioning
Ottevaere DavyTerraCottem bvba
www.terracottem.com
How can we improve the soil physical properties?
1. Zand = noodzaak in toplaag !
2. Juiste zand = belangrijk !
3. Zand heeft:
a) Voordelen:
• grote doorlaatbaarheid,
• weinig compactie;
b) Fysische, biologische en chemische beperkingen:
• lage retentie voor water en nutriënten,
• geen structuur;
• …
National Sports Turf Day 2015… WHAT DO WE REMEMBER?
1. Zand = noodzaak in toplaag !
2. Juiste zand = belangrijk !
3. Zand heeft:
a) Voordelen:
• grote doorlaatbaarheid,
• weinig compactie;
b) Fysische, biologische en chemische beperkingen:
• lage retentie voor water en nutriënten,
• geen structuur;
• …
=> Nood aan fysische bodemverbetering
What is soil conditioning?
Products incorporated in the soil…
Improving its physical and/or chemical features…
To compensate a feature which can be limiting to plant development…
Sand allows high percolation
= requirement: football is a winter sport
=> water excess due to:
- low evapotranspiration;
- high rainfall;
Sand? Because…
% particles < 0,05mm
Ks (mm/h)Sand? Because…
Effect of small soil particles
(loam & clay) on saturated
hydraulic conductivity
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Sand? Because…
Invloed van fijne deeltjes
(leem & klei)
op die doorlatendheid…
% particles < 0,05mm
Ks (mm/h)
8% silt => Ks: 28,5 mm/h
10% silt => Ks: 19,5 mm/h
= 1 bucket per m² per hour !!!
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Sand? Because…
Remark: adding too much organic matter will also have a negative effect on water percolation
=> GANDA: 2-3% (max. 5%)
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Exaggerated?
Most likely , however…
November 2015: Qualifier Copa America postponed
Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
=> Large pore spacing…
Sand? Because…
Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
but has a too low water retention capacity !
Physical limitations…
pF - curve:
Relation between- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and- the volumetric percentage of
water present,
Suction force
100cm = WH
Sand
Suction force
100cm = WH
Clay
pF - curve:
Relation between- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and- the volumetric percentage of
water present,
Suction force
100cm = WH
pF - curve:
Relation between- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and- the volumetric percentage of
water present,Loam
Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Field capacity = the amount of water held in the soil after excess water has drained away.
100cm = WH
Suction force
Field capacity: => sand… barely 7% !!!
Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Wilting point: the percentage of water in the soil that is no longeravailable for the plant roots
Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Wilting point: 2% of this 7% is not accessable for the grassroots
Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Wilting point
Field capacity
7% - 2% = only 5%plant available water in a
sandy soil
5%
Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Clay: 50% - 28% = 22%plant available water
22%
Clay
Loam
Sand
Zand
Suction force
Sand + TCTsoil conditioner
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers
Zand
Suction force
5%
Sand WITHOUTsoil conditioning
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers
Zand
Suction force
Sand WITH TCTsoil conditioning
25%
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers
= 25% more plant available water
Without decreasing top layer percolation;
The pF – curve:
Shifts to the right = more water (inside the polymers);
Sand WITH TCTsoil conditioning
Water Retention Capacity:
> 4000g H2O / 100g
= 25% more plant available water
Zand MET TCT -bodemverbetering
= 25% more plant available water
Without decreasing top layer percolation;
The pF – curve:
Shifts to the right = more water (inside the polymers);
Tilts = almost ALL water inside the polymers is plant available;
97,1 – 99,3% plant available water inside
the TerraCottem polymers
Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
but has a too low water retention capacity!
Physical limitations…
Youtube/myterracottem
Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations…
Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations …
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains... humates and root growth stimulators
Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations …
Soil Sand 90/10 Sand 90/10 + TCT
Effect of application rate and depth of incorporation
When renovating…
No. TerraCottem Turf (g/m²) Depth (cm)
1 180 20
2 120 20
3 180 10
4 120 10
5 Control -
SYDNEY
120g/m² - 20cm
180g/m² - 20cm
Control
When renovating…
Effect of application rate
Control
120g/m² - 10cm
120g/m² - 20cm
When renovating…
Effect of depth of incorporation
When renovating using turf: faster establishment !
Sand is inert:
=> Little to no room, nor chemical bonding for water and nutrients
Physical limitations…
↔ Clay
TCT
Measured through CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) = the capacity of the soil to exchange positivelycharged ions with the soil solution; soil “fertility”;
Physical limitations…
Sand is inert:
=> Little to no room, nor chemical bonding for water and nutrients
san
dlo
amcl
ay
Zand is inert:
=> weinig tot geen ruimte, noch chemische ladingen om water en nutriënten
te binden
Fysische beperkingen…
CEC TCT
= 150
meq/100g
TerraCottem® Turf – soil conditioning:
contains… hydroabsorbant polymers and zeolite
When renovating also consider increasing the soil’s CEC
= better grass growth !
san
dlo
amcl
ay
Zand onteert aggregaten en heeft dus geen structuur
Fysische beperkingen…
TerraCottem® Turf – soil conditioning:
also contains… fertilisers and root growth stimulators
TCT - bodemverbetering:
- Hydroabsorberende polymeren
- Meststof
- Zeoliet
- Humaten
- Groeistimulatoren
Nadelen:
- Lage retentie voor water en nutriënten
- Geen structuur
Startmestof
And… renovation of goal mouths
TerraCottem @TerraCottem - 8 sep 2011
Goal mouth renovation – 3 months after seeding
#DePol #Gaanderen #Netherlands
x
And… renovation via hybrid systems = extra sandy top layer
And… renovation via hybrid systems = extra sandy top layer
And… renovation of other sports fields
And… renovation of other sports fields
And… renovation of other sports fields
Remember:
• Sand is a must !
• All “limitations” are easily avoided using
physical soil conditioning
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Thank you !