Technical
At Reesink and Aquaturf's first irrigation training day, an entire sprinkler system was brought above ground to clearly demonstrate best practice to attendees
2) UTILISE TECHNOLOGY Control systems
Professional irrigation management is a skill in itself, but can be greatly assisted with the right technology. The control system acts as the brain of your irrigation system, gathering important information which determines where water will be sent and how much. Without a fully functioning control system, your entire irrigation system could cease to work. But there’s no point in settling for one that is merely ‘functional’; for longer-term benefits, it is worth choosing an intuitive control system.
Technology has moved on so quickly these last few years that this investment could cut your job by half, while saving huge volumes of water. An intuitive control system gives the operator
access to comprehensive information such as weather and pump station set-up, sprinkler performance, intelligent field controller data and soil sensor levels. This makes a world of difference because knowledge, as they say, is power. Particularly as we have recently experienced unpredictable weather - from surprise heat waves, to sudden downpours - having an intuitive control system allows you to respond to these unexpected changes in real- time. Knowing the exact conditions your turf faces will lead to more informed and ecological decisions, as you will only use the water required to sustain it. Plus, this sort of intelligent control system
can be accurately tailored to precise conditions and requirements, meaning it will respond exactly to the needs of specific areas and, therefore, allow optimal management of water. This is integral to good irrigation practice as every area of turf is different. Applying a set amount to all parts of your course or pitch is a fool’s errand as salinity, temperature and moisture levels will vary widely across your site and constantly change due to external environmental circumstances.
Soil monitoring systems
Presenters at the irrigation training day gave hands-on demonstrations to show how easy it is to access and maintain sprinkler heads
132 I PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
For detecting changes in moisture, temperature and salinity levels, soil monitoring systems are the way forward. The invaluable data they record enables more informed adjustments to your irrigation schedule which, in turn, means only the necessary amount of water is used to maintain optimum turf health. As well as water- saving benefits, these systems can help prevent browning and diseases spreading because the user is alerted to problems such as drainage issues and turf stress. One of the biggest benefits of soil monitoring
systems is they prevent over watering - an inefficient use of water that inhibits root growth and is detrimental to overall plant well- being. Under watering is also avoided as dry areas can be detected long before the turf is impacted. Thanks to the important information recorded by a soil monitoring system, no more or less than the right amount of water is applied, meaning you have even more control over water consumption and sward health. If you don’t already benefit from a soil
monitoring system, I’d recommend investing in a wireless network. The installation of sensors is quick and easy and they can be placed anywhere. Should you ever want to change the position of one, it is a simple job without the requirement to wrestle with wires or dig deep trenches. This means sensors can be installed or moved with minimal disturbance to play and, once in the ground, players won’t even notice them. Home of Leeds Rhinos rugby club and
Yorkshire Cricket Club, Headingley Carnegie Stadium was one of the first sports stadiums to invest in an intuitive control system. Theirs is coupled with wireless soil sensors, informing the groundsmen of what’s going on beneath the surface of the turf, so timely, educated decisions can be made regarding irrigation schedule adjustments. Headingley Carnegie Stadium’s head
groundsman, Ryan Golding, attests to the benefits of this combination, saying it has had “a big impact on how much water we use and on the club’s bottom line. Water off the mains is not cheap and it’s sensible not only for the environment, but also our budget to use the resource effectively. We’re making big savings and it’s improving grass-growing conditions, too.”
Sprinklers
The type of sprinkler used can also make a huge difference to responsible water usage.
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