Field Science
14 SportsTurf | January 2015 www.sportsturfonline.com
i
n 2011 we were drying our bermuda-
grass outfield down to eliminate
overseeded ryegrass from the winter
season and noticed large areas of turf
had declined. Many of the areas were
virtually void of turf showing a whitish
cast to the soil. Not surprisingly when
tested the soil our salinity was extremely
high. The field built, in 1999, is 12 to 18
inches of medium fine sand over clay
native soil with fabric covered perforated
plastic drains on 40-foot centers. We had
been lobbying for an improved drain-
age system for several years, discussing
and tracking the increasing salinity with
administration. This year showed we
couldn't wait any longer. It took 2 years to
get everything in place but in the summer
of 2013 we installed a complete drainage
system. It consisted of a 2-inch drain line
every 10 feet oriented parallel to the slope
and 2-inch slits perpendicular to the slope
every 20 inches both filled with a slightly
coarser sand than the existing field's soil.
The process started with a request for
proposal (RFP) where we stated what we
were looking to install, the qualifications
any installer would be expected to meet,
and the University's requirements a com-
pany must meet to perform work on State
property. As is usual, we were not given
the go-ahead soon enough to get all the
bidding completed in time to meet our
schedule and the contract was performed
as a job order contract (JOC). As a change
order to the original contract we decided
to include drainage for the infield as well.
Once the contract was awarded deliv-
ery of sand and pea gravel began, and our
contractor used a local company to reduce
transportation costs. Then identification of
elevation and location at the point of con-
nection to our existing storm drain, behind
first and third, which dictated the depth
of the entire system. Digging of the 6-inch
ABS perforated main collection drain was
completed around the arc of the skin and
down both foul lines; our outfield drains
toward the infield, so this was the most dis-
ruptive portion of the process.
A 24-inch wide, 36-inch deep trench
was completed with backhoes while
working around existing irrigation and
other utilities. The contractor then started
The imporTance
of drainage
for salT reducTion
■ By Ron Hostick csFM, cGM
many of the areas were
virtually void of turf showing
a whitish cast to the soil. not
surprisingly when tested the
soil our salinity was
extremely high.
