Clay Soil

A heavy soil which retains water and will often have a poor soil structure and slow drainage capability in turfgrass situations. An example of a clay soil is one that contains the following: 20% sand, 20% silt, 60% clay. It is prone to compaction and surface smearing except during prolonged dry periods, when the soil will be prone to cracking, which may be beneficial within the soil profile but not on the surface where it will make playability conditions poor and frequently unsafe. However, if an extensive grass root system is present then this will help bind the soil and significantly reduce

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  Clay Soil Class

A heavy soil which retains water and will often have a poor soil structure and slow drainage capability in turfgrass situations. An example of a clay soil is one that contains the following: 20% sand, 20% silt, 60% clay. It is prone to compaction and surface smearing except during prolonged dry periods, when the soil will be prone to cracking, which may be beneficial within the soil profile but not on the surface where it will make playability conditions poor and frequently unsafe. However, if an extensive grass root system is present then this will help bind the soil and significantly reduce

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  Clinker

A waste ash product from the burning of coal. This was previously used as a drainage layer on bowling greens and for drainage trenches, however, this material is rarely used in modern construction and drainage systems.

  Clod

A soil structural unit which has been created by human activity, in contrast to a Ped. A typical soil clod is that of a crumb which has been formed as part of seed or turf bed preparation.

  Coarse Tail

Particles greater than 2mm diameter which are retained by a 2mm sieve and which are not used for Soil Particle Analysis purposes. To provide an overall picture of a soil it is often helpful to include the coarse tail by expressing the weight of the particles greater than 2mm in diameter as a percentage of the total Fine Earth content within a certain soil mass. For example, a 500g mass of soil is extracted and it is found that 300g consists of material greater than 2mm in diameter, therefore, (300g ÷200g) x 100 = 150% of the soil consists of a Coarse Tail.

  Cold Soil

A soil which often contains relatively high percentages of clay and silt and which retains water longer than sandy soils. The relative abundance of water within these more water retentive clay loam and similar type of soils takes longer to warm up than freer draining sandier soils, especially in Springtime. A heavier soil which has a good soil structure will warm up quicker than a poorly structured heavier soil, but still at a slower rate than a sandier soil.

  Colloid

A material such as clay and dispersed organic matter which might appear to be dissolved in solution but is not and it will not pass through a permeable membrane.

  Column-like

A soil ped, which can have aggregates of vertical columns, being sub-divided in Prismatic and Columnar structures. Prismatic has a flatter top to the column and is especially found in sub-soils in drier regions, whilst a Columnar structure has a rounded top and is common in salt affected sub-soils.

  Compaction

An undesirable state of a soil with reduced air pore spaces and increased bulk density. It results from the squashing together of soil particles due to the pressure exerted by people or equipment. This undesirable action contributes to reduced root growth, reduced drainage capability and a more easily worn turf surface. Compaction has a significantly detrimental effect on the production of a good turfgrass surface. Other negative effects of compaction can include: • A reduction in desirable grass coverage. • An increase in annual meadow grass content. • An increase in surface thatch build

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  Consolidation

A state of soil firmness which provides for adequate drainage, root anchorage and adequate soil stability. Soil consolidation is achieved through the active and planned action of firming a surface, which may be through the use of a roller. Over consolidation develops into soil compaction. This term is often also referred to as Soil Consolidation or Firming.