Strip and Replace

A soil grading technique which involves the following: a) Remove the topsoil, stockpile it by stacking in a heap, and then replace it after levelling of the subsoil has taken place. There is always a slight assumption that the topsoil is suitable for being placed back onto the graded subsoil; or b) Remove the top-soil and use it for other purposes, then grade the existing subsoil to the desired evenness and then import new topsoil or rootzone material.

  Sub-base

A layer of stone which is used to create a stable and free-draining base for a pitch. Where a different layer of stone is laid above the sub-base then this additional layer might be called a base layer.

  Subsoil

A layer of soil beneath a topsoil. It will typically be lighter in colour, due to less biological activity and organic matter content. A subsoil may also have higher clay content than an overlying topsoil, due to soil particles being gradually washed down the soil profile.

  Surface Banding

Narrow slits of sand, or sand over gravel, which have either been injected or material excavated and filled. They are typically 20mm to 35mm in width and up to 300mm in depth. They will typically be spaced at up to 1-metre centres.

  Surface Ponding

Water present on the surface. This might be in small localised areas, especially in small depressions within a surface forming what looks like a small version of a pond, or larger slightly uneven areas where drainage is poor, and water cannot readily be moved from the surface. Surface ponding is a hazard to players on winter sports pitches (football and rugby) and this would contribute to a game being cancelled or postponed.

  Surface Runoff

Water which is not able to infiltrate into the ground and subsequently moves towards lower points on land, or is retained within hollows or low spots. This is defined in the Flood and Water Management Act as “rainwater (including snow and other precipitation) which— (a) is on the surface of the ground (whether or not it is moving), and (b) has not entered a watercourse, drainage system or public sewer.”

  Sustainable Drainage Systems

Drainage system that reduces surface water runoff, reduces drainage rates to watercourses and act as a buffer to retain water and decrease flow rates in extreme weather conditions. The aim is to allow water to gradually drain and soakaway event at a steady and more controlled way than if water was shed directly from the surface or straight through drainage pipes to outfalls and watercourses, which would otherwise result in short-term overload of the system and subsequent flooding to businesses and households. A range of features can be used as SuDS, including ponds, soakaways, infiltratio

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  Sweet Soil

An agricultural term, often used in turf culture prior to the mid-20th Century and still sometimes in gardening, meaning an alkaline or neutral soil, pH 7.0 or above.

  Tennis Loam

A soil which is suitable for use on tennis courts and which will have a slightly lower clay content than that required for cricket surfaces. The strength of a tennis soil should be a minimum of 35kg using the ASSB test, otherwise more rapid deterioration of the soil profile can occur during play.

  Tile Drain

A clay pipe, laid by hand, previously used in draining fields and sports pitches. They went out of use in the 1960s and 70s following the introduction of plastic drainage pipes which came in long coiled lengths and could also be installed quite readily by machinery.