ET

ET. ( EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION ) is the measurement of the combined loss of water by evaporation from the soil and transpiration from the plant.  The weather station which is linked to the irrigation software gives us this information .  In the past two months there has been no reason to look at this measurement due to all the rain.  The saturated soil that we have experienced deprives the roots of oxygen and without oxygen the roots decline.  With a shallow root zone and the weather pattern changing to a high pressure system, golf course superintendents will be keeping a close eye on ET and irrigation systems will be used sooner and more frequently than previously thought.
Watering golf course turf is much more difficult than watering your home lawn.  Golfers like a firmer surface for shot-making and further ball roll. Superintendents compensate for this by applying just enough water to keep the turf alive one day at a time.  There is an art to irrigating the golf course but ET measurements have put an exact science to work in respects to course conditions and playability.



Weather Station at MCC - Reports ET