Sand is commonly used in the top layer of sports fields due to its high permeability, which allows for water to drain quickly. However, sand has some physical limitations, including low water and nutrient retention and lack of structure. Soil conditioning products can address these limitations by improving the soil's water retention through hydroabsorbent polymers, increasing nutrient retention through compounds like humates and zeolite, and stimulating root growth. Field tests showed that incorporating soil conditioners into sandy soil increased plant available water by 25% without decreasing permeability and improved turf establishment when renovating fields.

1. Soil and top layer conditioning
Ottevaere Davy
TerraCottem bvba
www.terracottem.com
How can we improve the soil physical properties?

2. 1. Zand = noodzaak in toplaag !
2. Juiste zand = belangrijk !
3. Zand heeft:
a) Voordelen:
• grote doorlaatbaarheid,
• weinig compactie;
b) Fysische, biologische en chemische beperkingen:
• lage retentie voor water en nutriënten,
• geen structuur;
• …
National Sports Turf Day 2015… WHAT
DO WE REMEMBER?
1. Zand = noodzaak in toplaag !
2. Juiste zand = belangrijk !
3. Zand heeft:
a) Voordelen:
• grote doorlaatbaarheid,
• weinig compactie;
b) Fysische, biologische en chemische beperkingen:
• lage retentie voor water en nutriënten,
• geen structuur;
• …
=> Nood aan fysische bodemverbetering

3. What is soil conditioning?
Products incorporated in the soil…
Improving its physical and/or chemical features…
To compensate a feature which can be limiting to plant development…

4. Sand allows high percolation
= requirement: football is a winter sport
=> water excess due to:
- low evapotranspiration;
- high rainfall;
Sand? Because…

5. % particles < 0,05mm
Ks (mm/h)Sand? Because…
Effect of small soil particles
(loam & clay) on saturated
hydraulic conductivity

6. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Sand? Because…
Invloed van fijne deeltjes
(leem & klei)
op die doorlatendheid…
% particles < 0,05mm
Ks (mm/h)
8% silt => Ks: 28,5 mm/h
10% silt => Ks: 19,5 mm/h
= 1 bucket per m² per hour !!!

7. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag
Sand? Because…
Remark: adding too much organic matter will also have
a negative effect on water percolation
=> GANDA: 2-3% (max. 5%)

8. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag

9. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag

10. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag

11. Zand heeft een hoge doorlatendheid
= nodig, want voetbal is een wintersport
=> overdaad aan water door:
- lage evapotranspiratie;
- veel neerslag

12. Exaggerated?
Most likely , however…

13. November 2015: Qualifier Copa America postponed

15. Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
=> Large pore spacing…
Sand? Because…

16. Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
but has a too low water retention capacity !
Physical limitations…

17.  pF - curve:
 Relation between
- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and
- the volumetric percentage of
water present,
Suction force
100cm =
WH
Sand

18. Suction force
100cm =
WH
Clay
 pF - curve:
 Relation between
- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and
- the volumetric percentage of
water present,

19. Suction force
100cm =
WH
 pF - curve:
 Relation between
- the“force” that is holding the
water in the soil and
- the volumetric percentage of
water present,
Loam

20. Clay
Loam
Sand
Suction force
Field capacity = the amount of water
held in the soil after excess water
has drained away.
100cm =
WH

21. Suction force
Field capacity:
=> sand… barely  7% !!!
Clay
Loam
Sand

22. Suction force
Wilting point: the percentage of
water in the soil that is no longer
available for the plant roots
Clay
Loam
Sand

23. Suction force
Wilting point:  2% of this 7% is
not accessable for the grass
roots
Clay
Loam
Sand

24. Suction force
Wilting point
Field capacity
7% - 2% = only 5%
plant available water in a
sandy soil
5%
Clay
Loam
Sand

25. Suction force
 Clay: 50% - 28% = 22%
plant available water
22%
Clay
Loam
Sand

26. Zand
Suction force
Sand + TCT
soil conditioner
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers

27. Zand
Suction force
5%
Sand WITHOUT
soil conditioning
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers

28. Zand
Suction force
Sand WITH TCT
soil conditioning
25%
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains….hydroabsorbant polymers

29. = 25% more plant available water
 Without decreasing top layer percolation;
 The pF – curve:
 Shifts to the right = more water (inside the polymers);
Sand WITH TCT
soil conditioning

30. Water Retention Capacity:
> 4000g H2O / 100g
= 25% more plant available water

31. Zand MET TCT -
bodemverbetering
= 25% more plant available water
 Without decreasing top layer percolation;
 The pF – curve:
 Shifts to the right = more water (inside the polymers);
 Tilts = almost ALL water inside the polymers is plant available;
97,1 – 99,3% plant available water inside
the TerraCottem polymers

32. Sand allows high percolation and high water storage,
but has a too low water retention capacity!
Physical limitations…
Youtube/myterracottem

36. Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations…

37. Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations …
TerraCottem Turf – soil conditioning:
contains... humates and root growth stimulators

38. Although sand has a high resistance against compactation, it
doesn’t form aggregates and therefore lacks structure
Physical limitations …
Soil Sand 90/10 Sand 90/10 + TCT

39. Effect of application rate and depth of incorporation
When renovating…
No. TerraCottem Turf (g/m²) Depth (cm)
1 180 20
2 120 20
3 180 10
4 120 10
5 Control -
SYDNEY

40. 120g/m² - 20cm
180g/m² - 20cm
Control
When renovating…
Effect of application rate

41. Control
120g/m² - 10cm
120g/m² - 20cm
When renovating…
Effect of depth of incorporation

42. When renovating using turf: faster establishment !

44. Sand is inert:
=> Little to no room, nor chemical bonding for water and nutrients
Physical limitations…
↔ Clay

45. TCT
Measured through CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity)
= the capacity of the soil to exchange positively
charged ions with the soil solution;
 soil “fertility”;
Physical limitations…
Sand is inert:
=> Little to no room, nor chemical bonding for water and nutrients
sand
loam
clay

46. Zand is inert:
=> weinig tot geen ruimte, noch chemische ladingen om water en nutriënten
te binden
Fysische beperkingen…
CEC TCT
= 150
meq/100g
TerraCottem® Turf – soil conditioning:
contains… hydroabsorbant polymers and zeolite
When renovating also consider increasing the soil’s CEC
= better grass growth !
sand
loam
clay

47. Zand onteert aggregaten en heeft dus geen structuur
Fysische beperkingen…
TerraCottem® Turf – soil conditioning:
also contains… fertilisers and root growth stimulators

48. TCT - bodemverbetering:
- Hydroabsorberende polymeren
- Meststof
- Zeoliet
- Humaten
- Groeistimulatoren
Nadelen:
- Lage retentie voor water en nutriënten
- Geen structuur
Startmestof

51. And… renovation of goal mouths
TerraCottem @TerraCottem - 8 sep 2011
Goal mouth renovation – 3 months after seeding
#DePol #Gaanderen #Netherlands
x

52. And… renovation via hybrid systems = extra sandy top layer

53. And… renovation via hybrid systems = extra sandy top layer

54. And… renovation of other sports fields

55. And… renovation of other sports fields

56. And… renovation of other sports fields

57. Remember:
• Sand is a must !
• All “limitations” are easily avoided using
physical soil conditioning

58. 58
Thank you !