SAFE program improves field quality and reduces water use
By Rachel Alexander
Improving the quality of athletic fields and reducing water use are just two benefits of the Sports Athletic Field Education (SAFE) program organized by Texas Cooperative Extension.
Now in its third year in El Paso County, the SAFE program is expanding to include football and soccer fields at 16 schools and a county park. School administrators, coaches and field maintenance crews are involved in the program, receiving site-specific irrigation recommendations from Extension specialists and agents.
Athletic fields managed through automatic irrigation systems often receive three to seven times the recommended amount of water annually. Automatic irrigation systems with design flaws, hardware problems and improper run times also result in poor field conditions and low-quality turfgrass.
“The heart of the SAFE program is water conservation,” said Ray Bader, Extension agent for natural resources in El Paso, Texas. “But we work with field management staff and administrators to help develop site-specific management protocols that make efficient use of resources in establishing high-quality turfgrass in athletic fields.”
Though Extension faculty with the SAFE program are concentrating on irrigation of football and soccer fields, the water-smart practices are applicable to all athletic fields. Through an irrigation audit, they work with school districts to inspect athletic fields and test irrigation systems. Then they develop recommendations for field maintenance and irrigation scheduling. These recommendations also include fertilization programs based on soil test results, turfgrass species, environmental conditions and field use, integrated pest management practices, and the best mowing height and frequency for each field based on the type of sports field, turfgrass species and available mowing equipment.
Another recommendation, which school officials said had a tremendous impact, is aeration of the fields. Field audits indicated that many fields were in need of soil aeration to create a less compact growing condition for turfgrass and a safer playing surface for athletes.
Officials said that since maintenance crews began implementing the recommendations, injuries at participating schools have decreased 40 percent.
Bader said the percent change in irrigation water used at participating schools ranged from 32 to 48 percent. He said the average savings was 17 inches of water per season.
“We’ve saved thousands of gallons of water through efficient irrigation while improving field quality.”
Counties across Texas are involved in Extension’s SAFE program. Funds from the Rio Grande Basin Initiative are helping to expand its reach in El Paso County.
