Investigation of proper mixture of soil and fertilizer at the rootzone of pitch grass of sport fields to provi̇de durability, fast and efficient drainage conditions

This study aims to improve the durability of sports turf grass, drain surface water as soon as possible and investigate the optimum soil mixes and fertilizer grades in the root zone. Therefore, different turf grass with 70% Perennial rye grass. Lolium perenne L. and 30% Annual bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) were grew in 1.3m*0.5m*0.7m baskets using soil mixes of 100% sand, 90% sand 10% soil and 80% sand+20% soil at Yıldız Technical University (YTU) laboratories. These baskets were exposed to different fertilizers (18-22-0 slowly released with Nufilm, 26-05-11 slowly seperated and 9-9-9 fertilizer with 9% Fe and two different humic acids with 2.5 ml. and 3.0 ml. Within the scope of this study, optimum soil mixtures and fertilizers were determine by using experimental results obtained from inflometer tests. Experimental soil samples was analyzed and pH value was found 5.1, organic matter content was determined as 5.27% (high). Total nitrogen content was 0.23% that shows the "high nitrogen content soil" within the 0.17-0.32% range. When the lime content of soils was 0.32%, it was determined as 2.74% for sand. Therefore, pH value of sand was found 7.87 (high alcaline). As a consecuence, considering experimental results, except Nitrogen, the other macro and micro element components of soils were determined very enough. According to experimental results, the best root development through the rootzone was observed with the rootzone of 90% sand with 10% soil. Then, 3.0 ml fertilizer grade was better in terms of long root depth and turf durability. Unless 100% sand rootzone is the most desirable for drainage rate, the lack of organic and inorganic matters in the rootzone affects the quality and density of turfgrass roots. Therefore, 90% sand rootzone was determined the optimum rootzone according to drainage rate and quality of rootzone considering firm footing, adequate resiliency and resistance to tearing.