Salt-affected Turfgrass Sites: Assessment and Management

 

Salt-affected turfgrass sites are becoming more common due to many reasons: use of wastewater or other irrigation sources containing salts, the location of golf courses on coastal sites that are susceptible to salt water intrusion, flooding and salt spray or in other environmentally sensitive areas; use of sands that are easily salinised for growing media; and water conservation pressures. Regardless of the cause, salt-affected sites present one of the most difficult and complex management challenges that a turfgrass manager may confront.

Complied by Dr Robert Carrow and Prof Ron Duncan, both of whom were keynote speakers at the 20th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Melbourne, Salt-affected Turfgrass Sites: Assessment and Management aims to bring together all the information required to assess salt-affected problems that can lead to development of best management practices. 

It also aims to present in greater detail and scope comprehensive information on the soil-water-plant-climatic components of this issue, and hopes to encourage turfgrass growers, consultants and research scientists to understand salt-affected problems and focus on developing even better management strategies in the future.

The book is split into three sections – the basics of salt-affected soils, soil and water quality testing for salt-affected sites and the management of salt-affected sites. There is also a fourth section which looks at some interesting case studies.  The first section looks at the scope and causes of salt-affected soils, salt-related problems as well as classifications and characteristics. The second part on testing covers soil tests and irrigation water quality analysis and their interpretation.

The management section looks at site assessments, the selection of turfgrass and landscape plants, leaching of salts and water management, and the selection of amendments and application guidelines and methods. As well, there is a chapter on additional cultural practices which deals with nutritional and physiological problems, environmental and traffic stress, wastewater and monitoring progress.