FiElD SCIENCE

I) vcr the years questions haverisen about the advantagesof soil conditioners forsports field construction

and maintenance. Experts in the professionknow first hand the importance of using them.Roger Bossard, head groundskeeper for theChicago White Sox says, "There are two mainfactors in the success of maintaining any sportsfield. First the field must be constructed proper-ly. Making the right decisions on building tools,turf, dminage systems, etc is key_ Second, thatafter construction the field is properly cared forand maintained. Soil conditioners are a majorpart of bath construction and maintenance"

Soil conditioners made from calcined mont-morillonite clay arc used to manage moisture,reduce compaction, and increase drainage on

24 February 2008

your sports field. They can be used duringconstruction on the turf areas of your fieldto improve rootzone growth and also on theskinned areas of your baseball or softball field toenhance footing.

This technology was first introduced for useon major league baseball fields in the 1960s.

Then head grounds keeper for the WhiteSox, Gene Bossard, used this emerging technol-ogy to give his team the home advantage. Geneperfected the usc of soil conditioners on hisfield to maintain its health and beauty and alsolearned how they could improve footing on theinfield for the team,

Gene Bossard regularly incorporated soilconditioners into the maintenance of his fieldand has been heralded as a pioneer in using thistechnology. Roger, Gene's son, learned from

his father about the importance of using soilconditioners. A2, an expert in his field, Bossardteaches others about field maintenance andshares his love for the job with up and cominggroundskeepers.

Understanding the concept of how a soilconditioner works and its use is not rocketscience. Calcined montmorillonite clays thatmake up the best soil conditioners are processedto a certain hardness or ceramic-like material.When incorporated into the soil the condition-er creates spaces so the roots grow deeper thustoughening up your grass. As a footing for theskinned areas of your ball field, soil conditionersabsorb excess water because of their capacity tosuck up moisture; they also help with traction asan athlete is running.

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Not just for MLBBossard says, "\Vhen we start a project,

our approach revolves around three consid-erations. These concepts don't just workat the Major League level. If anything,they're even more important to consider onmunicipal and academic projects."

• Never forget the purpose of the tle1d-athletics. The decisions you make will affectits ability to be available on game day.Games that have to be rescheduled orcancelled cost money. Inadequate turf andlnflelds can also cause poor playing condi-tions, which can lead to injury.

• Common sense goes a long way in design-ing a field. Keep it simple. Once it's built,someone is going to have to take care of it.Your success depends on the decisions youmake. In Seattle, the team spent 3 yearsfinding a grass that would proliferate in the

Pacific Northwest climate, under a retract-able dome, none-the-less.

FiElD SCIENCE

• The uriginal design concept must not onlykeep the construction budget in mind, butthe maintenance budget as well. Even thebest designs will suffer if you can't afford totake care of them .

Professor Henry Wilkinson, an expert indesigning, building and maintaining naturalgrass sports fields, has completed years ofresearch proving the heriefits of soil condi-tioners. "If you want to create the perfectmedium for playing hall, you have to do yourhomework," says Wilkinson. "Understandingthe type of soil yOIlhave, sand or clay based,will help determine how a soil conditionercan optimize the conditioning and moisturemanagement effects on your field."

Soil conditioners are super-heated or cal-cined to create stable granules that are

.1IiOWldehiuihln fii ""'"provides excellent plck-up on aD surface'$, inclllding ~artific;iol turf and granular rubber peDets.

. A wear-resistant, rep!ac;eable blower housing liner and directhydl'aU1ic drives help reduce maintenanc;e <:O$tS.

. PrO- and gps engine-powered models let you tow with anytractor or utfIlty vehicle while wireless remote control putsmanagement In the operator's seat.

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SportsTurf 25

FIELD SCIENCEdurable and don't break down into dust. Find a granular size dis-tribution that best meets your needs and your budget. For yourturf areas, a hard, irregular-shaped soil conditioner will give youthe best performance.

"For the infield, 1 recommend choosing one with the reddestcolor and the least dust," says Bossard.

\Vhen it comes to maintaining the field there arc a fewthings to consider. "In baseball it's important to remember,"says Bossard, "70% of the action takes place on the infield, sothat's where your resources should be focused. Don't forget theturf though, proper maintenance will prevent more expensiverepairs down the road."

• Every grounds keeper should know his or her athletes' wan tsand needs. In the Major Leagues, that means making surethat the franchise players have conditions that optimize theirtalents. At other levels you need to ensure the field is safe andready when needed.

• You should choose the best base clay and soil conditioner that fitsyour needs. Of all the soil structures out there, only about 10% areeven suitable for a baseball field. You have to find what's best foryour situation.

• Make sure your drainage options meet your needs. The numberand placement of your watering heads is critical to good irrigation .Your clay should be moist to a depth of 112-3/4" at game time. Ofcourse, weather factors like wind and humidity will playa role inthe amount of water needed.

(AerWar)AerWay~ ventingtines can be used allseason to keep thesoil surface open.Water and nutrientapplications aremore efficientbecause they areabsorbed immediate-ly into the soilprofile.

10, more information 0011 1-800-457-8310

Advanced Aeration Systemswww.aerwav.c om cmaf l: ac rwavte acr .. ay.com

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• Find a knowledgeable/skilled ground-skeeper for guidance. There are many goodresources and a pool of knowledge outthere to help you. The best resources areoften other grounds keepers. "The best wayfor a new groundskeeper to learn aboutfield maintenance is to actually do it. Inthis business, hands-on experience is thebest way to learn," says Bossard.

The skinned areas of the Held are mostimportant to the player. "If there is a badhop you just cringe and you never want tosee it. It happens though," says Bossard."The biggest pressure moments are whenyou are in the playoffs. God forbid youhave two outs, you're winning by a runand someone hits a ground ball and ittakes a bad hop and you lose the WorldSeries. Trust me when I tell you that everygroundskeeper is concerned about how thefield plays. Soil conditioners make the dif-ference.

"As the person responsible for my team'ssafety and comfort on the field, 1 am veryconscience and selective about the product>I use," says Bossard. "Every groundskeeper,no matter at what level of play, should bejust as aware of their field. Going to schooland learning from a book is a plus but the

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FIELD SCIENCE

A GRANULARDISTRIBUTIONBEST MEETS

YOUR NEEDS ANDYOUR BUDGET.

FINDSIZETHAT

most important part is going out on the field andlearning it hands-on,"

Pro's Choice Sports field products sponsors localfield day programs that provide you hands-on expe-rience to learn about proper field construction andmaintenance of baseball and softball fields. Pro'sChoice Field Days brings expert knowledge to thelocal level. You'll have professional groundskeepers atyour disposal to ask questions that pertain directly toyour field and your problems. This one-day programis an excellent opportunity to network with ground-skeepers in your immediate area and work withknowledgeable people. •

This article was provided by Pro's Choice sportJjie!d prod-ucts, www.proschoice1.com.

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SportsTurf 27