EC (Electrical Conductivity) test

Measures the amount of salts present in the soil profile or irrigation water.

• To ensure the salt content of irrigation water is below the recommended range for the growth of turf.
• To check for salt levels in the soil. Salt levels may rise due to high levels in the irrigation water or from fertilisers.

Tests can be performed for soil and water.On-job testing may be done with hand-held EC tester. User needs to be experienced in using meter with an ability to interpret results.Off-site, samples to be sent to a laboratory to be analysed and results interpreted.

Frequency: Annually, or more frequently if there are high salt levels in the irrigation water, or frequent use of a fertiliser with a high salt index.

pH (potential Hydrogen) test

Measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution:

• pH below 7 is acidic.
• pH of 7 is neutral – for example, pure water.
• pH above 7 is alkaline.

• To check levels of pH in the soil. High or low levels can affect the availability of many nutrients to the plant.
• High pH irrigation water may raise the pH levels in the soil.

Tests can be performed for soil and water. Testing in Australia is done with the 5-1 soil water mix.

On-job sampling can be done with paste and colour chart testing kit. Paste kits will give an indication of the pH.Or, tests can be done off-site, for a more accurate measurement. Sample can be sent to a laboratory for pH in water (pHw) and pH in Calcium chloride (pH_CaCl).

Frequency: Annually, until a database is collected. If there is no change over a two or three year period then testing may be reduced to every two years.

Soil texture – particle size

Measurement of the size of soil particles and percentage of each size.

• To check particle size so that the characteristics of the soil are known.

Off-site. Samples to be sent to a soil laboratory for a sieve analysis. Results to be interpreted and recommendations made as to the characteristics of the soil.

Frequency: One-off test to establish particle size of the soil.

Moisture

Measurement of the percentage of moisture that is in the soil profile.

• To check to the soil profile is not holding too much water and its associate problems – waterlogging, deforming of the surface.

All testing is required to be done on-site. If samples are sent off-site then there will be water loss through evaporation.

A soil sampler is used to remove a plug of soil to the depth of the root system. The profile of the plug should be inspected to give an indication of the depth of the moisture.

Various moisture-sensing meters are on the market. For accurate testing a consultant would be required to take tests, interpret results and give recommendations.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis.

Infiltration rates

Measures the rate water enters the soil profile in millimetres per hour.

• To help the turf manager introduce an irrigation program where precipitation rate from the sprinklers does not exceed the infiltration rate of soil profile. Indication that this is happening would be water laying on the turf surface.

On-job. Infiltration rate tests can be performed using a plastic tube.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis.

Percolation rates – the rate at which water moves through the soil profile.

• To assist the turf manager introduce an irrigation program that will not apply irrigation at a higher rate than the water can move through the soil. This especially applies to areas where coarse sands have been applied over fine soils. In this instance, the water can get into the soil profile quickly but moves through the profile slowly, resulting in pools of water on the surface.

Off-site. Percolation rate of soil samples should be tested by a soil laboratory.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis.

Water repellency

Tests the inability of water to enter and move through the soil because of hydrophobic conditions

Off-site. Percolation rate of soil samples should be tested by a soil laboratory.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis.

Compaction – bulk density

Compaction is the reduction and rearrangement of pore spaces between the soil particles.

Bulk density is the amount of soil (grams) in a given volume of soil (cm³).

This test would be necessary when a turf manager would like to know how much soil would be required to order when constructing a turf surface, e.g. for USGA specifications.

The higher the bulk density, the smaller the pore spaces and the finer the soil, the higher its bulk density. Of all the soils that turf surfaces are constructed on, clay would have the highest bulk density, while coarse sand would have the lowest bulk density.

Off-site. Bulk density testing to be done by a soil laboratory.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis.

Nutrition – soil analysis

Measures the nutrient status within the soil.

Soil analysis. To aid in the detection of nutrient deficiency or toxicity. Can be used to test for the amounts of:

• calcium (Ca)
• potassium (K)
• sulphur (S)
• magnesium (Mg)
• phosphorus (P), which needs to have a determination of available phosphorus, that is phosphorus available to the plant immediately.

Note: Nitrogen (N) cannot be accurately determined by soil analysis. It is always low in soils as nitrogen is mobile.

Off-site. Soil samples should be taken and sent to a chemical analysis laboratory.

Frequency: Annually until a sufficient database is compiled. If there is no change, reduce testing to every second year.

Nutrition – tissue analysis

Measures the nutrient status within the plant.

Tissue analysis. Indicates the nutrient status of the plant and can be valuable to determine which nutrients the plant has taken up in sufficient amounts. Micronutrients such as:

• manganese (Mn)
• iron (Fe)
• molybdenum (Mo)
• zinc (Zn)
• copper (Cu)
• chlorine (Cl)
• boron (Bo).

Because the plant requires these elements in such small amounts they might not show detectable traces in the soil but will show that there is a sufficient amount in the plant.Tissue analysis will also indicate the amount of nitrogen in the plant.

Note: A tissue analysis will also tell the turf manager whether the plant has taken up enough phosphorus. Phosphorus is an element that appears to be in abundance in the soil but the plant cannot extract sufficient levels to maintain plant growth.

Off-site. Tissue samples to be taken and sent to laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

Frequency: Annually.

Disease – soil analysis

Tests for diseases that originate in the soil.

Soil analysis. Identifying the disease causing the turf problem may assist in the selection of appropriate chemicals. Build up a database of disease cycles on your turf.

Off-site. Cores to be collected and sent to laboratory for sampling.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis. Will be seasonal and affected by the weather .

Disease – tissue analysis

Tests for diseases of the leaf and stems.

Tissue analysis.

• Identify the disease causing the turf problem.
• Assist in the selection of appropriate chemicals.
• Build up database of disease cycles on your turf.

On-site: Visual inspection

Off-site: Tissue samples to be sent to laboratory for testing of leaf and stems. Samples are plated out in an agar solution in a Petri dish to grow fungal spores out for identification.

Frequency: Testing on an 'as needs' basis. Will be seasonal and affected by the weather .