SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
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Facility&Operations figure 2 Summary of Recommended Corrective Treatments and Recovery Times for Bermudagrass after Five Intentional Petroleum Spills (Texas A&M University).a Petroleum Product Recommended Treatment - - - - - R e c o v e r y T i m e i n We e k s - - - - Treated Untreated GASOLINE MOTOR OIL HYDRAU1IC FLUID BRAKE FLUID GREASE None Detergent Detergent Detergent None 4 4 4 2 to 3 8 to 10 4 8 to 10 8 to 10 8 8 to 10 a From: Johns, D. and J.B. Beard. 1979. Effects and treatments of petroleum spills on bermudagrass turf. Agron. Journ. Vol. 71. Pp. 945-947. Nov.-Dec. ance of calcined clay fines (0.2 mm.), activated charcoal and detergent (anionic and non-ionic granules) as corrective treatments. Gasoline, motor oil, hydraulic fluid and brake fluid were applied to the bermudagrass at a rate of 4 oz./sq.ft. Grease was uniformly and directly spread on the turf. Activated charcoal, calcined clay or detergent was applied within 20 minutes later at the rate of 0.2 oz./sq.ft., 2.1 oz./sq.ft. and 0.7 oz./sq.ft., respectively. An untreated check receiving a water drench immediately after petroleum treatment was also included for comparison purposes. During the study, bermudagrass was irrigated daily with 0.25 inch of water and received 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 sq.ft. throughout the growing season. Mowing was resumed 2 weeks after all treatments were applied. Turf injury symptoms varied among the petroleum products: Gasoline. Turf was shiny, slightly oily and had a pungent smell immediately after treatment. Within 30 minutes, bermudagrass plants were drying rapidly, had rolled leaves and were darker than plants in the untreated check. Leaf rolling was considered severe after 1 hour and the turf was completely brown after 16 hours. Motor oil. For the first 16 hours after treatment, turf was oily and appeared shiny. A few leaves were rolled. Leaf browning occurred after 20 hours and after 48 hours, 50% of the aerial shoots were killed and the turf still appeared to be oily. Hydraulic fluid. Although leaves did not die as rapidly, the initial injury symptoms following the hydraulic oil application were very similar to those of gasoline. Turf developed a dark brown color after 16 hours; however several leaves and stems remained green. Brake fluid. Initially, turf treated with brake fluid had a characteristic odor, and leaves appeared shiny for about 30 minutes before beginning to roll, darken and dry. Leaf roll was considered extensive after 16 hours and turf was pale grayish-green. All aerial shoots were dead after 48 hours. Grease. Although no distinct injury symptoms appeared during the first 16 hours after treatment, grease remained visible on the surface of leaves. After 48 hours, about 30% of the aerial shoots had died and grease was still visible on many leaves. 26 SportsTurf | October 2013 The rate of recovery of bermudagrass following corrective treatments also varied. Gasoline. None of the corrective treatments following the intentional gasoline "spill" improved the rate of recovery of bermudagrass which was totally recovered within 4 weeks. Motor oil. Detergent proved to be the most effective corrective treatment following the motor oil application. Bermudagrass treated with detergent reached 85% recovery by 4 weeks and 95% by 8 weeks after spill. Bermudagrass treated with either activated charcoal or calcined clay had achieved only 30% recovery by 8 weeks after spill. Hydraulic fluid. Detergent was an effective treatment following the hydraulic fluid spill, with bermudagrass recovery reaching 90% within 4 weeks. Activated charcoal and calcined clay were much less effective post-spill treatments. Bermudagrass recovery after 4 weeks was 25% following the activated charcoal treatment and 15% following the application of calcined clay. After 8 weeks, bermudagrass recovery following the application of either activated charcoal or calcined clay was only 50%, just slightly better than the 45% recovery rate of untreated, water-drenched bermudagrass. Brake fluid. Since the brake fluid was relatively water soluble, bermudagrass in the untreated, water-drenched plots totally recovered within 4 weeks. Bermudagrass in plots treated with detergent totally recovered within 3 weeks. Grease. Bermudagrass required 10 weeks to fully recover following the grease application regardless of the corrective treatment. By knowing what injury symptoms look and perhaps, smell like, and what corrective action to take immediately following a petroleum leak or spill will help protect the environment and may speed turfgrass recovery. n Tom Samples, John Sorochan and Adam Thoms, Plant Sciences Department, and William Hart, Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science Department. www.sportsturfonline.com