Monday, April 1, 2013

New Moisture Management Tool



Pictured below is one of the many tools we use on a daily basis, the Spectrum Technologies TDR 300.  This device allows us to quantitatively measure the soil moisture by its percentage of volumetric water content (%VWC) versus the old fashion way of a soil probe and feeling the plug, leaving a lot of interpretation from one team member to the next.  The TDR 300 allows a staff member to take readings and based upon the %VWC determine if that particular spot on the green needs to be watered or not, this allows us to water only areas of the green that need water and not water the areas that still have proper moisture in the soil.  The areas that typically need more water are hills and slopes that dry down quicker than the low areas, achieving a consistent %VWC across the entire green is our goal however due to weather and environmental conditions we have a range that we rely on for daily goal.  The use of this device helps the greens play firmer and faster by maximizing plant health during thosehot-dry periods of the summer.

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