Second in our new series where we pick up on a website thread and investigate further on your behalf.
TheFull MOTTY
Apart from a slightly bungling BBC football commentator, what is a Motty? Dave Goodjohn of GSB Loams gives an A-Z guide (well A-K actually) on just how to go about it. Malteser anyone?
The Adams and Stewart soil binding test (ASSB) or Motty test as it is commonly known is still a very good method for measuring soil strength. Particularly in that it can be simply done at home without the need to use specialist equipment. Soil strength is very important when selecting clay loam dressings for cricket pitches. The potential success of the wicket is directly related to the percentage of clay content found in the soil profile of the cricket pitch There are a number of clay loam suppliers in the UK who specialise in blending and mixing loam soils for use in the turf grass industry. The clay content in these products can vary immensely ranging anything between 22-32%. The larger the percentage of clay content in your soil, the stronger the binding strength will be, however, having the highest clay content is not always the criteria to base your requirements on.
You need to look at the age of the users and the standard of cricket you are catering for. Using higher clay content soils also require a greater input of resources. High clay content loams tend to shrink and swell more readily, thus you need to control the rate of drying by the use of covers and sheets. Not all clubs have these resources available, therefore, it may be more desirable to use lower clay content loams which are easier to manage.
The performance of your
wicket is dependant on a number of factors:
• The choice of clay loam being used
• Type of square construction
• Preparation and maintenance procedures
• Machinery, equipment and resources available
• Knowledge of the Groundsman
The combination of these factors will dictate the condition of your square and the performance of your pitches, however, the end result will be influenced
entirely by the type of clay loam you manage and the percentage of clay material there is in the soil profile. As a groundsman it is important to accurately identify your soil classification. Ideally, you should take a number of soil samples from your square at a depth between 20-100mm. These samples should be labeled with the date and location taken and sent to a laboratory for classification, measuring for Particle Size Distribution (PSD). This will give you a breakdown of the clay, silt and sand percentages in your soil. Once identified you will be in a better position to manage your square.
Once you know your clay content percentage, you can then decide on what clay loams are desirable for you. This is where the ABBS /Motty test becomes an aid to choosing a compatible loam. The concept behind the Motty test is to determine the strength of the sample taken on your square and compare it with other loam samples,
thus finding a compatible soil for use on your facility. The process begins with the taking of some soil extracted from your square, obtaining enough material to produce several Motties, remember you need enough soil to create a ball approximately 20mm (3/4") in diameter for this test.
Procedure:
(a) Crumble the loam down into a workable size (less than 2 mm). Remove all fibrous matter from the sample (i.e. living roots, grass plant leaves, dead and decaying matter and thatch, any small stones). Transfer half a cupful to a clean plate.
(b) Moisten the sample with distilled water if available (otherwise with tap water) until it can be moulded by hand. Water must be added slowly to ensure that the soil does not become too wet to mould.
(c) Mould vigorously by hand over a period of 5 minutes to destroy all aggregation. Add more water if necessary.
Remove all fibrous matter 56
Crumble the loam into a workable size
Moisten with distilled water
asked!
Well you
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