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Spatial Mapping Of Penetrometer Resistance On Turfgrass Soils For Site-specific Cultivation
1K. Rice, 1T. Carson, 2J. Krum, 2I. Flitcroft, 1V. Cline, 2R. Carrow
1. Toro Company
2. University of Georgia

Site-specific management requires site-specific information.  Soil compaction at field capacity is a major stress on recreational turfgrass sites that requires frequent cultivation. Spatial mapping of penetrometer resistance at field capacity could allow site-specific cultivation; thereby, reducing costs associated with labor, energy, and equipment wear. Also, for safety reasons on sports fields and horse racing tracks, spatial variability of soil hardness when soil is less than field capacity due to irrigation patterns is important. A mobile platform was developed with GPS capability for: a) rapid measurement of surface zone volumetric water content (VWC); b) turf performance or stress by NDVI (normalized differential vegetative index) using spectral reflectance; and c) penetrometer resistance (PR) for soil compaction mapping by two custom stainless steel probes of 9.53-mm diameter, 3.3-cm spacing, and 10-cm length were installed on the moisture sensor to facilitate a soil penetration depth of 10 cm. An Omega LC302-500 1.90-cm diameter stainless steel compression load cell (Omega Engineering, Inc. Stamford, CT) was used to measure the insertion force (kg) of the TDR moisture sensor probes. The TMM was affixed to and maneuvered with a utility vehicle, traversing the area by making passes at approximately 2.5-m spacing with measurements every 2.5 m in a traverse at an operating speed of 2.7 to 3.3 km h-1 with measurements made while the TMM is moving. Spatial mapping of penetrometer resistance and application to golf course fairways, sports fields, and horse racing situations will be discussed.  

Keyword: Turfgrass, precision turfgrass management, soil compaction, soil hardness