water sustainability for golf courses...2020/06/16 · water sustainability for golf courses alex...
TRANSCRIPT
Water sustainability for
golf courses
Alex Glasgow, NZSTI
[email protected] 0274 962 486
2020: Not a good year!
• A “once in a lifetime” drought
• Plus a global pandemic
These events show the need to plan for the worst
The immediate future: plan for water restrictions
▪ Current rainfall pattern –complete ban on use of council water for irrigation?
▪ Develop plans around different scenarios and up-date as new information comes to light (from Water Care)
Your plan will depend on your irrigation water source
• Totally dependent on council water – you could have a severe problem
• Fully dependent on water harvest and own water storage (lake)
• Combination of some water harvest and storage supplemented with council water – you may be dependent on stored water only.
• Your own bore water supply
• Other (treated effluent, establish bore, de-salination!)
Irrigation Water sources
• Fully dependent on water harvest and own water storage (lake)
• Combination of water harvest / storage supplemented with council water
• Your own bore water supply
• Other (treated effluent, establish
bore, de-salination!)
Worst case scenario:Totally dependent on council water and there is no water
• Water greens only
• Part circle sprinklers
• Almost entirely hand watering
• Water source? Buy in
Worst case scenario:No water – have to buy it in
• Tanker – 11000 litres / load = half fills a 22 500 litre (5000 gallon) tank.
• Hibiscus Water, 11000 litres, $160 to $325 – depends on transport distance
Worst case scenario: No water – have to buy it in
Depth of
water
(mm)
Volume/
ha (m3)
Volume/
ha (litres)
No. of 22 500
litre water
tanks
Tanker
loads
Cost at
$160/
tanker
Cost per
100 days
1 10 10000 0.4 0.9 142$ 14,222$
2 20 20000 0.9 1.8 284$ 28,444$
3 30 30000 1.3 2.7 427$ 42,667$
5 50 50000 2.2 4.4 711$ 71,111$
Cost of tanker water to irrigate 1.0 ha of greens
Buying water in:
• This past summer, 2-4 weeks wait to get tanker delivery
• Multiple tankers daily may not even be possible
• Get a supply agreement in place early and even that may fall over.
• Do it yourself?
Greens management: Preparation for limited water
• What you can do is limited – big changes (change grasses) are longer term options
• Wetting agents – start early• Wetting agents with major rainfall events • Raise height of cut / increase turf density in
spring.• Renovate early in spring • Reduce N / increase K during late spring • Acclimate turf in spring
Longer term strategies: Plan for the worst to become more shock proof
• Severe restrictions on water use for irrigation
• Complete bans on the use of pesticides such as fungicides and insecticides
• Complete bans on the use of artificial fertilizers
• Massive increases in the cost of fuel
• Massive increases in the cost of imports or import restrictions
Planning for severe water restrictions
Multi faceted approach needed:
• Plan to decrease the irrigated footprint
• Use the most drought tolerant grasses
• Get better at relevant turf management practices such as developing deeper roots, rewetting dry areas
• Managing player expectations
How much water does a golf course use?
• 15 ha irrigated
• 3mm /day for 100 days
• 45 mega (million) litres
• 2000 22500 litre tanks
• 18 Olympic swimming pools
Use the most drought tolerant grasses
• Avoid grasses that die if not irrigated
• Warm season species (e.g. couch but search for the one that’s right for you)
• New species
What if you don’t water greens?
• Poa annua will die
• Bentgrass will survive and come back with autumn rain
Deep roots give drought tolerance
• Turf quality without irrigation
• Correct construction
• Focus on improving root depth
Define “expectations” and educate players.
• Summer dormant browntopfairway – quality playing surface, doesn’t die, re-grows with autumn rain.
• Define as “normal” and educate.
Define “expectations” and educate players.
• Poa annua dies if water is limited.
• Therefore bentgrass is a better option for greens.
• 10.5 foot plus greens = Poa annua
• To have bentgrass need to target suitable green speed range (e.g. 9.5 to 10.5 feet –defining max. is vital )
Marathon not a sprint
• Changes may be difficult
• Changes may take a long time
• But recent events should be a catalyst