To understand the basic mathematics of irrigation, it is best to start with a few concepts related to the application of water to the surface area of the land. The first concept is that of the “acre-foot.” An acre-foot (ac-ft) of water is the amount of water required to cover one United States (US) acre (43,560 ft2) to a depth of 1 foot. This is a standard unit used by engineers and others who deal with water as part of their job.

Many sports fields and parks have not seen the same amount of usage this year because of health concerns. This situation, which can bring many challenges, also gives turf managers a unique opportunity to do more involved projects to promote the health and conditions of their turf. One of those maintenance practices is aeration. 

For expert insight into fertilizer application and rates, SportsField Management interviewed Christopher S. Gray, Sr., golf channel manager, professional fertilizers at LebanonTurf, and Steve Harris, manager, golf national accounts and sports turf at SiteOne. Click “read more” below to see their responses.

Athletic field traffic management. This topic can cause an argument faster than politics at Thanksgiving. But it is the focus of sports field management at all levels. The playability (traffic tolerance) and aesthetics (traffic recovery) are likely factors in every turf management decision and have become more important as interest in athlete and field safety increases.