Monday, November 5, 2007 - 8:05 AM
72-2

Site Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Soil Moisture Conditions on Golf Courses.

Joseph Krum1, Robert Carrow2, and Keith Karnok1. (1) University of Georgia, 505 Riverbend Pkwy., Apt. 254, Athens, GA 30605, (2) Crop & Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin Campus, 1109 Experiment Street, Weed Science Bld, Griffin, GA 30223-1797

The high degree of spatial and temporal variability of soil, climatic, and plant characteristics associated with complex landscape sites such as golf courses produces a wide array of site-specific management units (SSMU), which differ in irrigation and management requirements. Using mobile and hand-held devices, volumetric water content (VWC), turfgrass stress (NDVI, normalized differential vegetative index), and penetrameter resistance (PR) were determined daily during several dry-down periods following irrigation or rainfall events in the May to August 2006 period. VWC data was used to calculate estimated daily evapotranspiration (ET). The influence of slope aspect on these variables was determined in a replicated treatment scheme. In a complimentary spatial mapping study using GPS/GIS, the same Paspalum vaginatum fairways at Old Colliers Golf Club in Naples, FL used in the above study were mapped across the whole area in the same time periods to determine spatial and temporal changes in ET, VWC, NDVI, and PR. Potential applications of spatial and temporal mapping of these characteristics in irrigation programming will be discussed.