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OPINION<br />
<strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> <strong>Sensor</strong> is the official<br />
magazine for <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> Oy.<br />
Figure 1: Surfactant trial - Control plot vs Surfactant treated treated plot.<br />
Figure 1 Surfactant trial - Control plot vs Surfactant treated treated plot.<br />
<strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> Oy<br />
Lapinlahdenkatu 16<br />
00180 Helsinki<br />
Finland<br />
The views expresssed in <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> <strong>Sensor</strong><br />
are those of the individual contributors<br />
and not necessarily the views of <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong><br />
Oy or Plus Two Media Limited who take no<br />
responsibility for them.<br />
All content is copyright © <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> Oy 2023<br />
and may not be reproduced without written<br />
permission.<br />
Design & Layout<br />
JAMES BAYLIS<br />
Head of Creative Content<br />
james.baylis@soilscout.com<br />
Contributors:<br />
BLAIR FERGUSON, DR JOHN DEMPSEY<br />
& the <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> team.<br />
Figure 2 Control plot vs Surfactant treated plot, soil moisture (VWC) measured May to<br />
Figure 2: Control plot vs Surfactant treated plot, soil moisture (VWC) measured May to September 2022.<br />
September 2022.<br />
helpful in preventing this problem.<br />
Likewise, with Microdochium infection, turf<br />
grass struggling with deficient moisture and<br />
nutrient levels are more prone to infection.<br />
Keeping on top of what’s going on in your root<br />
zones is crucial in the battle for healthy turf!<br />
I have used the <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> sensors in my<br />
researcher role for the past 18 months and<br />
they have provided me with some excellent,<br />
up to the minute data during my trials. They<br />
were especially useful during surfactant<br />
research I carried out, giving me regular<br />
updates, allowing me to easily assess what<br />
effect and interaction the various treatments,<br />
irrigation and nutrient inputs had on trial<br />
plot root zones. And of course, moisture<br />
management in sports turf is much more than<br />
providing water to the plant. Ensuring correct<br />
infiltration and consistent water distribution<br />
also has significant effects on soil microbial<br />
populations, nutrient uptake, turf grass health<br />
and playing quality.<br />
I’ve also used them in some greenhouse<br />
work I did, assessing root zone physical<br />
amendments, sensors placed in growth<br />
vessels provided me with interesting and<br />
novel data.<br />
As superintendent, I would have loved<br />
to have had the <strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> system installed<br />
during my time, it would have saved me a lot<br />
of stressing, but also it would have allowed<br />
me to produced better and healthier playing<br />
surfaces, by allowing me to specifically<br />
target resources to areas prior to problems<br />
becoming problems!<br />
As a researcher I find the ability to access<br />
data instantly from any location very exciting<br />
(turf nerd here) and extremely useful.<br />
Overall, I can see the integration of <strong>Soil</strong><br />
<strong>Scout</strong> sensor technology with drone usage<br />
and irrigation controls to becoming standard<br />
operational procedure.<br />
A long way from testing the ground with a<br />
screwdriver!<br />
<strong>Soil</strong> <strong>Scout</strong> <strong>Sensor</strong> has been designed and<br />
printed by Plus Two Media Limited.<br />
For more information about design and<br />
publishing call: 07977 481186 or email:<br />
james@plus2media.co.uk<br />
#GainADeeperView | @<strong>Soil</strong>_<strong>Scout</strong> | soilscout.com 21