www.stma.org March 2016 | SportsTurf 17
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ATA 1200
fosters more precise and efficient application of inputs. Current
management practices are often based on recommendations
designed to provide good results under average conditions over
large areas. Athletic field managers frequently use high amounts of
resources in order to achieve a safe, predictable outcome. However,
this type of management does not take into account the variability
of certain measured quantities (i.e. soil moisture, soil compaction,
etc.) that may exist within or between fields.
Site-specific management focuses on managing athletic fields on
a smaller scale than current practices. This method helps identify
site-specific management units (SSMUs) so managers can target
"troubled" areas (high or low values). Focusing efforts on smaller
areas may reduce management inputs, improve turfgrass uniformity
(above- and below-ground), increase the efficiency of management
tactics, and enhance turfgrass longevity/
stress tolerance.
Whether you manage 10 fields or
one field there are certain benefits for
conducting site-specific management.
Figure 2 is a Google Earth image of the
Recreational Sports Complex at the
University of Georgia that shows maps
of soil moisture, soil compaction, and turfgrass health. These fields
receive excessive amounts of student traffic from intramural sports
and extracurricular activities. In the fall they are also employed as
overflow parking for football games. There are many site-specific
applications for athletic field maps: a.) soil moisture maps can detect
deficiencies in irrigation systems down to a single head; b.) soil
compaction maps can be used to create a site-specific cultivation
plan; c.) turfgrass health maps can identify wear/stress patterns
that alert managers to rotate field use; and d.) overlaying maps of
different variables may highlight imperfections in current manage-
ment practices or underlying agronomic issues.
Demonstrating sustainability. Terms like "going green" and
"eco-friendly" will soon become common lingo among athletic field
managers. Public concern over the use of pesticides and synthetic
Maps can easily highlight deficient areas within a field
or across multiple fields within a sports complex.
