ABSTRACT
Irrigation system design and operation/scheduling program are profoundly affected when poor irrigation water quality is being applied to recreational turfgrass. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of the issues that must be considered with respect to the irrigation system and scheduling. The irrigation system is an essential tool for managing poor-quality water, especially in climates where evapotranspiration exceeds rainfall, or rainfall events are relatively infrequent or seasonal in distribution. Precisely controlled, uniformly applied irrigation applications are critical when leaching to manage salt and/or Na accumulations (Carrow et al., 2000; Duncan and Carrow, 2000; Tanji, 1996). Without excellent distribution uniformity, overwatered, saturated wet areas can develop where excess irrigation is applied that exceeds soil infiltration and permeability rates (Duncan and Carrow, 2000; Zoldoske, 2003). Conversely, in the process of managing those wet areas and trimming back irrigation, drier areas can become salinized if a sufficient leaching fraction is not being applied. Therefore, where salt and/or Na management is required, investing in a more sophisticated irrigation distribution system is justified.
