FieldScience
Monitoring the soil testing data will allow for the appropriate adjustments to be made to maintain the high quality standards expected here at Lindbergh High School.
tant as often as monthly, will be a big help in keeping the sodium and bicarbonates at bay and keeping this exceptional field where they want it to be. Retesting a new field at least a few times per season is very important because there are so many changes happening as the pre-plant works through and the grass continues to establish. Monitoring the soil testing data will allow for the appropriate adjustments to be made to main- tain the high quality standards expected at Lindbergh High School. “We had originally designed it to be a sand-based field but the cost was restrictive. The soil we brought in was good but a little tight and we knew with a little amending we could build a product that will provide the school district what they wanted for the long term,” Moffitt said. “I am a believer in the use or- ganic-based fertilizers along with some synthetics when needed, this has been the approach we’ve taken on most of our projects and it has provided great results. We try to make a fertility pro- gram that simply lasts and doesn’t run out all at once.” ■
Joel Simmons is the president of EarthWorks Natural Organic
Products and Soil First consulting and teaches the Soil First Academy all across North America. He holds a Masters Degree from Penn State University and is a former Penn State county ex- tension agent and instructor of soils at Rutgers University. He may be reached at joel@soil first.com.
16 SportsTurf | March 2011 www.sportsturfonline.com
