Many sports turf managers take time during the “off-season” to make plans for the upcoming spring. Each season starts with a plan but without proper information, what is the basis for that plan? Late fall and early winter are the optimum times for soil sampling. Sampling this time of year allows sports turf managers to prepare a fertility plan for the upcoming season. It is important to know what is available to the plant in the soil, so you know how much and what to apply to provide healthy and happy turf.
Soil testing is a valuable tool for your facility as it determines the inputs required for an efficient and economic fertility program. A proper soil test will help ensure the application of enough fertilizer to meet the requirements of the turf while taking advantage of the nutrients already present in the soil. Accurate fertilizer recommendations are essential because problems can result from either inadequate or excessive fertilization. Too little fertilizer leads to poor plant growth, but too much fertilizer can also reduce plant growth and quality. Also, excessive applications of fertilizer can be harmful to the environment and set the turf up for disease.
There are many tools available to sports turf managers these days, and the results from a soil test are just another one of those tools. Having the proper information will allow managers to maximize their time and budgets to accurately target the areas of need to provide the best playing surfaces. A sports turf manager, like a coach, needs a good game plan to be successful.
