HORT 2303 Lecture 6: Turfgrass Soil
Document Summary
Soil is not always needed, hydroponics or sand is ok to use. This lecture physical and chemical aspects of turfgrass soils. Components of soil: 45% minerals, 5% organic matter, 25% air, 25% water. Components of soil are sand, silt and clay. Muck soils up north can be 90% organic matter. Soil texture size range of particles in the soil; qualitative = how texture feels; quantitative = particle size analysis. Very coarse sand has large pores and drains quickly. Bulk density weight of a volume of dry soil; determines the porosity of soil. Soils loose and porous have low bulk density per volume (sand) Soils that are packed have high bulk density per volume (clay), (cid:449)o(cid:374)"t grow grass anymore. Turfgrasses will perform better in soils with low bulk density. Bulk density affects important parameters for turfgrass growth: physically impedes root growth, prevents water infiltration, reduces air filled porosity.
