Prediction and Control of Porosity and Water Retention in Sand-Soil Mixtures for Drained Turf Sites1
- L. Art Spomer2
Sand-soil mixtures are commonly used in drained turf sites such as golf greens and athletic fields to ensnre proper water retention. The objective of this study was to develop a physical model useful in developing mixture recommendations based on a few simple laboratory measurements on the components and which eliminates extensive field testing. A simple physical model which predicts the total porosity, water retention porosity, and aeration porosity of bidisperse sand-soil mixtures from the bulk or mixing volumes of each fraction and their individual total porosities was developed and laboratory tested. The porosities of each of a series of compacted sand-soil mixtures were measured and compared to those predicted by the model. Actual porosities were within 3% of predicted values. This model apparently accurately predicts the porosity and water retention of sand-soil mixtures and should prove useful in developing recommendations for using such mixtures on golf greens.Please view the pdf by using the Full Text (PDF) link under 'View' to the left.
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