• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2006

This research was initiated to enhance the tilth of fine-textured soil for turf growth by incorporation of crumb rubber shredded from used tires. A specific objective was to determine the physical properties of soil mixes amended with different grade and amount of crumb rubber in soils. Two soils and three different grades(3.5, 6.5 and 9.5 mm) of crumb rubber were used. The soils selected were an Arenzville silt loam(coarse-silty, mixed, nonacid, mesic Typic Udifluvents) and a Hosmer silty clay loam(fine-silty, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudalfs). The amount of crumb rubber mixed in soil ranged from 0 to 0.4 $g{\cdot}g^{-1}$(using 0.05 $g{\cdot}g^{-1}$) increments and 0 as a control. For each treatment, soil cores were constructed following the recommendation by the United States Golf Association Green Section Record. Results indicated that porosity of the mixes decreased as the amount of crumb rubber increased. Regardless of the grade of crumb rubber, mixes with less than 0.15 $g{\cdot}g^{-1}$ of crumb rubber in fine-textured soil could not enhance their macro-porosity and hydraulic conductivity. However, as the amendment increased over 0.15 $g{\cdot}g^{-1}$, the tilth of the mixes had improved significantly macro-porosity, hydraulic conductivity and air permeability, as compared with a control.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2010

Research on nitrate-nitrogen ($NO_3-N$) leaching in turfgrass indicates that in most cases leaching poses minimal risk to the environment. Although there have been many studies investigating $NO_3-N$ leaching, there has been little research to investigate the effect of compaction level and rootzone mix on nitrogen (N) leaching. The research objective is to determine the effect of compaction level and rootzone mix on nitrogen leaching. The four rootzone mixes are 76.0:24.0, 80.8:19.2, 87.0:13.0 and 93.7:6.3 % (sand:soil). The four levels of compaction energies are 1.6, 3.0, 6.1, and 9.1 J $cm^{-2}$. Nitrogen was applied using urea at a rate of 147 kg $ha^{-1}$ split among three applications. Rootzone was packed into a polyvinylchloride pipe with a perforated bottom to facilitate drainage. Rootzone depth was 30 cm over a 5 cm gravel layer. Each column was sodded with Poa pratensis L. Hoagland solution designed for coolseason grasses, minus N, was used to ensure adequate nutrition in the rootzone. Turf grass quality and clipping yield were recorded from each tube at two-week intervals. The clippings were oven-dried at a temperature of $67^{\circ}C$ for 24 h and weighed. At the end of the study, root dry weight was determined by washing and oven-drying samples at $67^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. Leachate solution was collected weekly for analysis. More than 6.1 J $cm^{-2}$ of compaction energy increased possibilities of surface runoff. The compaction energy between 3.0 and 6.1 J $cm^{-2}$ produced more clipping dry weight and less N leaching than 9.1 J $cm^{-2}$.