Sports: Wear & Compaction
About Wear & Compaction
Areas such as sports field turf receive a lot of traffic usually become compacted. When this happens, soil particles are packed closely together creating a root zone where there is little air, poor percolation of water and a tough medium for roots to grow in. As a result, roots grow less reducing healthy development and creating a shallow root system. Soil wetting agents can improve moisture penetration and organic materials could stabilize soil structures, however, it is important to note that only a physical disruption of a compacted soil will soften the soil and allow grasses to deepen their root systems and aggressively fill in thin turf in hard soil. Calcium is often applied as a means of removing sodium salts that make soils more friable. Aeration followed with the application of sand and calcium is often recommended because calcium is slow to migrate down into the soil.
Sod: Plant Stress
About Plant Stress
All of Amp Agronomy™’s products were developed with plant stress in mind. Plants are always under some sort of stress every minute of every day, whether biotic or abiotic. It is actually rare for all things to be in perfect condition for a plant’s growing environment. In fact, all plants, including sod, are continuously subjected to oxidative biotic and abiotic stress due to a wide variety of environmental factors. Although these visual symptoms may indicate a stress issue in your field, it is important that a proper diagnosis takes place for successful problem correction. When a plant is stressed, it triggers a molecular and cellular process to fix the issue. It then focuses so much of its energy on fixing the issue that it has to divert energy from normal or productive growth processes. Not only is the plant putting a halt to its productive growth process—it is also dispelling toxic biochemicals that although fix the problem, linger even after the issue is resolved. Phosphorus and potassium provide the plant with the necessary nutrients it needs to help the plant cope with and recover from stress appropriately.
RECOMMENDED PRODUCTS
Sodium accumulations in soil replace calcium, which destroys soil structure. As a result, water and soil aeration are reduced. Salt Remedy provides high levels of exchangeable calcium ions which displace sodium ions that are absorbed on cation exchange sites of soil colloids. The outcome is the restoration of soil structure and the prevention of sodium build up resulting in vigorous plant growth.
SurCal+ helps reconstruct the soil your turf grows in so that there are micropore spaces for root development and nutrient uptake. It adds the important surfactant to carry the calcium to where it is needed most while simultaneously lowering surface tension for better water movement.
Carbon is an important nutrient in your soil, and it also serves as an organic material. It is one of the basic building blocks of all life forms, and with the proper mix of both carbon and proteins, all plants can benefit. A balance of carbon with the amounts of nitrogen you apply allows for overall lower N inputs and increased nitrogen efficiency.