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Turf wicket soils - learning from the best

In early 2004, Living Turf commercialised a strategy for treatment of low calcium and elevated salts in turf wicket soils. This strategy was widely adopted in the non-cricket season, along the eastern seaboard by approximately 40 turf curators - it involved soil analysis, application of a relatively low quantity of gypsum, with Nutrisorb Ca9 (liquid calcium chelate) being also used on severely deficient clays.

There is some excellent science and practical experience (courtesy of Les Burdett and Dr Roy Bond in Adelaide), to suggest that application of gypsum outside the cricket season, is beneficial for maintenance of CEC in cricket clays. This helps to develop micro-pores down through a wicket profile, encouraging roots to grow deeper and stronger in the profile.

However gypsum alone is not sufficient to treat calcium deficient clay soils. These soils require mobile calcium to get adequate dispersion down through the profile, quickly, and without affecting soil structure. NUTRIsorb Ca9 (organically chelated calcium) was widely used around the eastern sea-board during winter 2004, with excellent results. The bulk application of this liquid calcium (10%) product, resulted in no change to wicket performance other than noticeably better grass growth during spring.

Initially we recommended this product for use in winter alone. However curators like Richard Winter from the WACA and Peter Devlin from North Sydney, have used it monthly through the summer at 4L/100m 2.

Our recommendation for Nutrisorb Ca9 is apply 20L / per month, after soil tests analysis has been used to establish its fit within an overall fertility program.

For an obligation-free discussion about management of turf wickets at your facility simply call 02 9667 4333.

Rob Cooper, Dr Roy Bond and Michael Box at Adelaide Oval.

Dr Bonds' involvement with turf wickets dates back to the drop in pitches for world series cricket were he was principle soil consultant. He has worked with Les and the team at Adelaide oval ever since.

Did you know ...?

Bicarbonates are alkaline salts that bind to calcium to form calcium carbonate.

Often irrigation water contains bicarbonates that reduce the availability of soil calcium, reducing pore spaces and stressing turf roots. More...

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