STRI (Sports Turf Research Institute) Bulletin Jan 2014 | Page 8

TURF TALK

Firmness (Clegg) map
showing classified values

Soil compaction map
showing stretched values

This is most useful for understanding
the effect of play or traffic flow. This is
extremely useful in managing the use
of training pitches which may be prone
to overuse of favoured goalmouths
or sustained ‘fast feet’ training along
nearside touchlines close to facilities.

Soil moisture summary graph

Other maps of interest present Upper
and Lower Quartile results detailing
information such as the 25% highest
compaction or highest (Upper quartile)
moisture zones per individual area
(fairway or pitch) or across the whole
site. Similarly, Lower Quartile results
identify 25% areas of lowest compaction
or driest areas. Turf vigour, or stress,
can also be viewed this way.
A series of simple summary graphs
provide easy reference charting results
across the sites assessed.

On-site Assessment
Upper quartile map highlighting
soil moisture levels

Great, we now have a base plan or
working document which accurately
measures performance over a wide
area and range of playing surfaces. So,
what now?
It is essential that the client has
a thorough understanding of the
situations presented. Key Indicator
Zones are selected based on the
mapped results in conjunction with
client feedback. There may be an
obvious area of concern which causes
problems time and time again or hidden
areas which become troublesome at

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Bulletin January 2014 Issue 264