M
oisture management is one of
the most important aspects of
bringing creeping bentgrass
putting greens through a southern
summer. Too much moisture encour-
ages maladies such as leaf and root
diseases, softness, more susceptibility
to mechanical damage, algae, etc. Too
little moisture brings on wilt, higher
canopy temperatures, and potential for
more localized dry spot. At The Shoals
(Muscle Shoals, Alabama), we strive
for the optimum level of moisture each
day to give the bentgrass the best
chance to thrive despite soil and air
temperatures that are often hostile.
In 2010, we obtained a Field Scout
300 TDR Soil Moisture probe from
Spectrum Technologies. Almost imme-
diately we began learning nuances
about the putting greens, their perfor-
mance, and the irrigation system distri-
bution. This article will discuss some
discoveries we made using the Field
Scout on a daily basis and reveal how
we use the Field Scout plus a GPS
receiver as a diagnostic tool.
DAILY USE
A Clear Language:
The first discovery
we made was the ability to speak far
more precisely in terms of soil moisture.
Clear communication requires that
information is sent accurately from the
sender to the receiver. Unfortunately,
terms like “a little wet” or “really dry”
are prone to be misin
t
erpreted between
the sender and receiver. When “a little
dry” becomes a volumetric water
content (VWC) of 11% using the Field
Scout, the communication is much
more clear.
Informal Audit of Irrigation
Coverage:
While the Field Scout can
be used to conduct detailed irrigation
audits, daily use rapidly uncovers how
existing irrigation affects both wet and
dry areas. This is powerful information
to know when scheduling irrigation run