EFFECT OF SIMULATED TRAFFIC ON SOME SUBSTRATE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS IN CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS OF SOCCER PITCHES

S. Macolino, F. Recchia, M. Scotton, U. Ziliotto
With the aim to evaluate the effects of simulated traffic on different construction systems of soccer pitches some measurements of substrate physical characteristics were made seasonally from November 2001 to August 2002. Systems compared consisted of one intergreen system with volcanic sand as topsoil and two vertical drainage systems with volcanic and river sand as topsoil respectively. The three systems were subjected or not to a simulated traffic treatment. Mechanical impedance of the 0-150 mm rootzone layer was estimated using a cone tip penetrometer while the water infiltration rate was measured by the double ring method. From February 2002 undisturbed soil cores were taken to evaluate moisture content in the rootzone profile. Penetrometer readings showed that mechanical impedance of rootzone profile was strongly affected by construction system, it was higher in the intergreen system, while the lowest values were found for the river sand system. Foot traffic was responsible of an increase of penetration resistance; this difference was more evident on the top layer (0-50 mm) of rootzone for intergreen system and volcanic sand system. Moisture content values were not influenced by foot traffic. Instead, water infiltration rate of vertical drainage systems decreased under traffic condition. On the other hand, infiltration rate of volcanic sand system was markedly lower than that of river sand system.
Macolino, S., Recchia, F., Scotton, M. and Ziliotto, U. (2004). EFFECT OF SIMULATED TRAFFIC ON SOME SUBSTRATE PHYSICAL PARAMETERS IN CONSTRUCTION SYSTEMS OF SOCCER PITCHES. Acta Hortic. 661, 171-175
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.21
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.661.21
substrate physical parameters, simulated traffic, soccer, construction system, rootzone material
English

Acta Horticulturae