Evaluation of root zone for bermuda grass athletic fields

• Grant number: 11/06939-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2011
• End date: November 30, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Roberto Lyra Villas Boas
• Grantee: Roberto Lyra Villas Boas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

An appropriate athletic field must have desirable characteristics of quality, performance, durability and drainage. Among the three layers that make up the athletic field (sub-base, base and grass), the base or root zone is responsible for grass root development and has direct influence on the four factors described above. The construction of the root zone of athletic fields has been based on the recommendations of the USGA (United States Golf Association) to greens of golf courses, the main component sand, due to its high drainage capacity, however there may be loss of quality, performance and durability. The objective of this work is to define the best composition of the root zone for bermuda grass athletic fields and generate technical information that contribute to the construction of Brazilian soccer fields for the World Cup 2014. We will evaluate the following treatments: T1) Standard USGA (80% sand and 20% peat), T2) Pure sand, T3) Pure sand + Native clay soil e T4) Native sandy soil + Pure sand. The experimental design is a randomized block consisting of 4 treatments and 3 replications, each plot size of 6 m x 5 m. During one year will be held the following assessments: surface traction, speed of water infiltration into the soil, mechanical strength of the substrate penetration, root depth, substrate humidity, concentration of nutrients in the leaf and chemical analysis of the substrate. (AU)