ABSTRACT
Automatic inground sprinkler systems provide the means of establishing and maintaining high quality turf areas. However they do require good design, careful equipment selection, sound installation and ongoing maintenance. Turf managers now have available the technology to gain much more information about the irrigated site and the system. In addition to the benefits of this increased knowledge, which will significantly aid overall site management, the turf industry also benefit from the greater utilisation of irrigation performance indicators? Both uniformity and water use efficiency indicators should be used. Developments in turf irrigation are mirroring other areas of turf management in that the challenges in getting it right are increasing, and so are the rewards. There are several turf management techniques that can be adopted to improve irrigation efficiency. It is recommended that grass be mowed at the highest allowable height for the turfgrass species. The additional height does provide a greater leaf area, which produce an increased transpiration area.
