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 !