Spectrum Technologies, Inc., the leading manufacturer of plant measurement technology, has announced the launch of the FieldScout TDR 350; the next generation to the TDR 300 series.

Enhancements to the TDR 350 include EC (Electrical Conductivity) measurement, turf surface temperature measurement, an improved easy to read, large backlit display, integrated Bluetooth, and internal GPS; in addition to offering the proven time-domain measurement technology that turf professionals have come to trust in the FieldScout TDR brand.

BTME 2018 will feature over 250 hours of education including the Turf Managers' Conference, over

Spectrum Technologies, Inc., the leading manufacturer of plant measurement technology, has announced the addition of two accessories for the FieldScout® TDR product line: Infrared Temperature Sensor and Rod Spacer.

The Infrared Sensor a ‘must have’ accessory for the TDR 350 and 150 models. With the Infrared Sensor, turf wilt can be predicted with higher accuracy. You can now easily correct a moisture deficit earlier and reduce heat stress to the green. Simply attach the sensor to the TDR 350 or 150 and begin to receive canopy and soil temperature readings in real-time

The moisture and nutrient status of your soil are key pieces of information for every grower or greenkeeper. Armed with this knowledge, you can precisely tailor your irrigation and fertilisation program to suit your crop's requirements – this leads to less wastage in terms of costs of inputs, and achieving optimum quality and yields.

Soil Moisture (Volumetric Water Content)

The volumetric water content (VWC) is the ratio of the volume of water compared to the total soil volume. At saturation, the volumetric water content (expressed as a percentage) will equal the per cent pore space of the soil.

In-field soil moisture content will range from air-dry to saturation. However, plants cannot extract all the water in a saturated soil and can extract none of the water in an airdry soil. Instead, two other moisture content levels, field capacity and permanent wilting point are often used to indicate the upper and lower limit of plant available water.

Clive Liddiard is the Head Groundsman at Hampton School and is responsible for all external areas including information on closing the school for inclement weather. Clive started in the turfcare sector when working weekends at West Byfleet then joining their full-time team. He has since achieved a Soil Science MSc and improved the facilities offered at Hampton School since his appointment 10 years ago.

Clive has been using a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station with solar, UV, soil moisture and leaf wetness sensors with USB WeatherLink data logger at Hampton School since 2007. The weather station was purchased “to give broad information and provide high levels of data that can be used to create full information trending charts, we learn from history”. Clive continues to say “my work relies on having as much information as possible which is why having decent weather systems

Set in 130 acres of private park, including wild gardens and woodland, Hampshire Collegiate School was once the home of Florence Nightingale. Following an investment of over £15m in 2005, facilities on campus include a performing arts centre, a sports hall, science labs and ICT suites, tennis courts and an all-weather hockey facility. The Prep School and Nursery School are on the same site in separate, purpose-built accommodation and offer an exciting curriculum both inside and outside the classroom.

In May 2012 Hampshire Collegiate School purchased from Weather Front Ltd a Davis Vantage Pro2 weather station with WeatherLink USB data logger & software. Adding a leaf wetness/soil moisture station with soil moisture and soil temperature sensors completed the school’s

Andrew Crawford is a Ground Manager working on behalf of Trinity Fields Trust in Wandsworth. He maintains Trinity Fields for Local Community Clubs, Schools and Independent Prep Schools known as The Consortium, with one assistant, Daniel Alexander, who is currently studying for his NVQ Level 2 in Sportsturf and Amenity from Merrist Wood.

Andrew required a weather station for recording data and monitoring the weather to provide “a justification tool for works and cancellations” at Trinity Fields. In previous roles Andrew had used weather stations but his requirements were different now as he has no fixed desktop. Andrew made enquiries with EnviroMonitors for an iPad compatible and internet ready weather station after seeing an advert in The Groundsman. After initial conversation the Davis systems fitted the specification and as his budget for groundscare is limited the Vantage Vue was opted for with the

Glenn Kirby used the FieldScout TDR100 Soil Moisture Meter in his previous role as Assistant Courses Manager at The London Golf Club. Glenn comments that the two TDR100s were “originally purchased to help be more efficient in our watering practices but found that moisture content was very indicative of organic matter content and believe long term it would help us evaluate and manage how we deal with Organic Matter build up”.

From a young age Glenn has been involved in sportsturf starting in Cricket pitch maintenance and with education and time has evolved to Golf Course maintenance. Golf seemed to offer much more job variety and career progression and in November 2012 Glenn started the position of Course Manager at Hockley Golf Club in Hampshire on the outskirts of Winchester. Hockley has ambitious plans to develop the course to fulfil its full potential and aspires to be considered amongst the very