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Turf MD: Danneberger discusses the race against saltwater damage

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In late September 2022, Hurricane Ian caused massive damage and flooding in Florida. Out of that storm came an iconic video of a McLaren P1 floating away down a street. This new $1.15 million ($2 million on the resale market) car that the owner purchased 10 days prior went up for sale later. It was purchased by a YouTuber who has been rebuilding the vehicle over the past year (you can follow the process through his videos.)

The most significant issue is that the car sustained not just ordinary flooding but saltwater flooding. Salt intake into and around an engine is devastating to its operation. Those who live in the snowy areas of the United States and have restored classic cars are aware of the corrosive effect road salt has on the metal of a car.

The corrosive effect of salt can occur quickly. Metal corrosion begins within hours of salt exposure. On golf courses, saltwater, in general, can cause damage to turfgrass equipment. Corrosion occurs when metal reacts with sodium. Fortunately, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe used in golf course irrigation is corrosion-resistant.

Still, any metal parts associated with contact with salt or effluent water must be cleaned. This also applies to turf equipment; removing salty irrigation water from mowers and other equipment through cleaning increases the longevity of the equipment.

Saltwater flooding is detrimental to golf course turf as well. Salt that comes into contact with leaf tissue causes a burn. This often results in the browning or yellowing of turf after flooding from weather events such as a hurricane. This is the most frequent concern and question I get from friends, professionals and acquaintances who work or own property in Florida.

The browning results from salt stress, where the water within the leaf is physically extracted from the leaf due to the osmotic potential gradient set up by the salt concentration. This type of injury to the leaves can occur quickly in the aftermath of the flooding.

The immediate remediation efforts should focus on the removal of flood water through both surface and subsurface drainage. Similar to salt’s effects on metal, which can occur in a short period, osmotic stress can cause plant damage quickly. Long-term practices focus on salt removal from the turf. The primary procedure involves the use of gypsum and leaching of the salts with fresh water (rain or irrigation).

On sandy or high sandy soils found throughout Florida, normal rainfall over time leaches much of the salt through the soil profile. Fresh water applications, either by rain or irrigation, dilute the residual salts and reduce the osmotic stress in the soil.

For finer-textured soil, gypsum is added prior to leaching. Gypsum or the calcium that is gypsum displaces the sodium in the soil, allowing the sodium to be leached down and through the root zone. Gypsum tends to dissolve slowly, so finer ground products should be used. The presence of sodium in the soil actually enhances the solubility of gypsum. If irrigation is not available, make multiple applications in small amounts prior to rainfall events.

Salt is detrimental to both living and innate objects. Salt affects the workings of a turfgrass plant by damaging root systems which can cause an increased likelihood of drought kill, reduced drought tolerance and increased root and crown diseases.

While salt can reduce a multimillion-dollar McLaren to a pile of junk, restoration with both turfgrass systems and cars is a long process that is often expensive. If you live in regions where salt is a potential issue, maintain a long-term view of the damage that can occur.


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<p>The post Turf MD: Danneberger discusses the race against saltwater damage first appeared on Golfdom.</p>

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