Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria

Bacteria within a rhizosphere which can encourage plant growth. Examples of these include Rhizobium, Bacillus, Azotobacter and Pseudomonas.

  Podzol

A type of soil, which is generally of a low nutrient status, especially due to leaching of the surface A horizon (thereby termed an E, eluviated, horizon). It will have a low, acidic soil pH, typically of sand and silt particles. A consequence of this is that an organic layer, mor humus, can be present above the lighter coloured first soil horizon due to reduced organic matter decomposition. These conditions are less favourable for soil micro-organism activity. The subsoil (B horizon) will usually be darker in colour, often having an increased quantity of iron and aluminium, as well as fine

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  Ponding

The result of additional water being added to either a Saturated soil, which produces surface puddles, or when water is applied at a rate which the soil cannot cope with, meaning it exceeds its infiltration rate.

  Positive Outfall

A downward slope in the direction of an outfall. This ensures water will always flow when it is present.

  Push-up Green

A traditional soil-based construction for a golf green using local soil and which saw the green raised slightly above the height of the green surrounds and fairway so as to aid drainage. Many greens before the invention of modern high specification greens (c. early 1970s) would have been constructed in this way.

  Quartz

The main component of sand, having the chemical composition of SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide).

  R Horizon

A parent material layer, the bedrock, or rock material, which is consolidated rock and is the lowest layer in any soil profile. Examples include granite, sandstone or limestone and it can be exposed to the surface without any other soil horizons above it, or buried deep within the ground, with the 'R' Horizon typically situated below the 'C' Horizon.

  Residual Pore

A micropore size of less than 0.0002mm in which the water is held very tightly that it is unavailable for plant use and is a stage at which permanent wilting point would occur in a plant.

  Rhizosphere

The area immediately surrounding roots, especially root hairs, and influenced by soil micro-organisms and root exudates, which are commonly called sap. Where large roots have been cut through, such as from root pruning of encroaching tree roots into turf areas by, for example, slit tine aeration then sap leakage can discolour and kill patches of turf.

  Rodding Eye

Covered access points to a drainage pipe. This allows a drainage pipe to be cleaned with the use of drainage rods or flushing through with water.