Lesson 06: Beneath the Surface
An old turfgrass professor once said to you: "If you want to understand why a turf is responding a certain way, look beneath the surface; more often than not, the answers are to be found in the soil." These words appear in your mind's eye as you insert the soil probe into the troubled turf. At first, penetration is resisted as if the probe were being forced through a thin sponge. Then, the metal grinds its way through the grit of what must be a layer of coarse sand. Next, little resistance is offered as the probe moves through a seemingly moist layer of clay loam, probably rich in organic matter. And, finally, resistance increases several-fold as the probe encounters the underling region of dense subsoil. Examination of the contents of the probe -- after extraction -- confirm your suspicions, layer by layer. What a mess! You wonder: "How can turfgrasses be expected to grow and remain healthy in such a medium?"
As you reflect on these observations, consider the following questions:
What to do...
In this lesson you will review information on Soil Properties, Thatch and Soil, Air and Water. When you are finished going through the lesson, access the Lesson 06 Quiz. You can take the quiz up to 5 times. Practice! The questions are just like those you will find on the exams.