Wednesday, November 15, 2006 - 2:20 PM
264-3

Methods to Assess Soil Water Repellency in Soils.

keith Karnok, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602

Localized dry spot (LDS) can be defined as an irregular area of turfgrass that for no apparent reason begins to show signs of drought stress. There are many causes for LDS including; excessive thatch, compaction, insects, disease, various pesticides and fertilizers, poor irrigation coverage and water repellent soil. In terms of water repellent soil, there are two primary methods used to determine its presence and severity. This presentation will address the use of the water droplet penetration test (WDPT) and the molarity of ethanol droplet (MED) test. Time will also be devoted to soil sampling practices.