Soil Moisture Percentage Cancel The title field is required!

1. Steven Chernosky

   

   4 posts
   
   3/12/2012 7:03 AM

   What is the target number that most people shoot for when monitoring soil moisture on a regular basis? I currently have some Turf Guard sensors set up in a few of our greens and am trying to figure out a starting point for the year. The greens are newly (2011) constructed to USGA spec with 80/20 sand/peat mixture and like all new greens are extremely firm.
   
   Thanks for any input.

   
   
   
   
2. Jason Boyce

   

   0 posts
   
   3/12/2012 8:03 AM

   you really need to figure out what works for you... trust me it will not take long. I started using them a few years ago. Best money ever spent.
   
   It also depends on the time of year and where you are located. In the summer I can have 13% in the am and I know that I will not get wilting that day. However, if you have shallower rooting, different soil or you are in a place that is 110 degrees with no humidity.. you might be toast, and I could be fine. On another note.. every green can be different too... that is why the soil moisture meters are great, it lets you figure this out.
   
   Find out where your wilting point is, and learn to see how much moisture your greens lose in a day in the summer and check all of your greens. You will learn a lot about each one.
   
   Like I said, every course and green is different, but you will figure it out quickly.
   
   Jason Boyce
   Smuggler's Glen Golf Course
   Gananoque, Ontario
   www.smugglersglen.com
   Home of the 2012 Canadian Tour "Great Waterway Classic"

   
   
   
   
3. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   3/12/2012 3:03 PM

   We have some of the handheld moisture meters and check the greens each day. We shoot for anywhere from 15-20% on our TifDwarf Bermuda in Central Florida. We had to play with it for a few weeks until we found a number we were comfortable with. What works for me may not work for you. You have to feel it out for yourself.

   
   
   
   
4. Larry Stowell

   

   0 posts
   
   3/12/2012 5:03 PM

   Check out the report below for a simple example of soil moisture and turf quality assessment. Follow the link to the full report and scan down the report to the turf-quality soil-moisture relationship. Each site might have a different relationship, maybe certain greens, that can be fairly easily described by recording a series of soil moisture and VWC readings. Just plot the results using Excel.
   
   http://www.paceturf.org/index.php/journ ... _firmness/
   
   Sincerely