improve efficiency. This process, known as water auditing has been widely promoted as a tool for combining information on climate, irrigated areas and volumes applied to assess 'reasonable' need. The key to water auditing, however, is to keep it simple. Finally, an inter-related issue that turf managers need to consider is demonstrating 'efficient use' of water (Test 3). For this, they might consider providing a comprehensive review their operational (agronomic, management and irrigation system equipment) aspects of water management on their site. This can then be used to judge the extent to which the current irrigation practices demonstrate efficient use of water. Attendance at workshops and technical meetings for staff to raise awareness of the key issues would also help add credibility.
The way forward
Given the current restrictions on water use for sports turf in the south east, the prospect
of further regulation on irrigation abstraction, government demand for greater environmental protection and climate change; it would be easy to conclude that water resources for sports-turf irrigation are under threat. But there are opportunities to respond and adapt in a positive way. Improving one's
understanding of water management, identifying alternate water sources, considering water recycling and water harvesting are all feasible options, and likely to become main-stream as the competition and costs for water inevitably rise. Turf managers can and must rise to the challenge of water management.
Dr Jerry Knox is a Principal Research Fellow in the Institute of Water and Environment at Cranfield University and Honorary Secretary of the UK Irrigation Association. He can be contacted on 01525 863156 or by email
j.knox@
cranfield.ac.uk
Figure 2. Monthly rainfall and ET at Silsoe (Bedford) in (a) wet year (1998) and (b) dry year (2003).
AGRIPOWER
TOP DRESSING OVER SEEDING DE-COMPACTION VERTIDRAINING GROUND BREAKING LANDSCAPING
SPECIALISTS IN ALL ASPECTS OF SPORTSTURF CONSTRUCTION NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC SURFACES
DRAINAGE AND MAINTENANCE
TEL: 01494 866776 FAX: 01494 866779
www.agripower.co.uk sales@agripower.co.uk
22
www.pitchcare.com/re
A good grounding in sport 23
www.pitchcare.com/re
55
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80