Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Turf watered
shallowly and
frequently
Fig. 7.3. Excessively frequent irrigation results in a shallow root system. (Drawing by
R. Castro.)
Turf watered
deeply and
infrequently
Turfs with excessive thatch layers present unique irrigation prob-
lems. Decaying stems and roots in the thatch layer hold irrigation water
and reduce its infiltration into the soil. Under dry conditions thatch dries
quickly, producing sudden and often severe water stress. Excessively
thatched turfs must be irrigated frequently. The 'deep and infrequent'
rule must also be modified on newly seeded or sodded areas. In some
instances, especially in the dry tropics, irrigation of newly seeded turf
may be needed several times a day. One more irrigation technique
deserves mention, even though it is seldom used on warm-season spe-
cies. Turfs in temperate climates dominated by cool-season species occa-
sionally suffer from midday heat stress. When summer weather is
exceptionally hot, root systems of certain turfs may not be able to keep
up with transpiration demand and may become overheated to the point
of death.
Syringing
is the application of small amounts of water for the
purpose of cooling, reducing transpiration or preventing turf wilt. Syrin-
ging is often performed several times a day.
Water Sources
The majority of home lawns, parks, landscapes around businesses, sport
turfs and other relatively small turf areas are irrigated with municipal
water. Golf courses, resorts, large parks and other similar areas generally
strive for independent water sources. Connecting to municipal water is
the easiest and does not require investments in pumping stations or
