New soil sensor system and hat-trick of new components follow hot on the heels of Lynx irrigation control system

The Lynx irrigation control system software isn’t the only product launch keeping the Toro team busy of late. Toro has also unveiled its unique Turf Guard wireless soil monitoring system together with a trio of components.

Turf Guard is the ultimate intelligent turf management tool. Helping course managers improve turf, soil and water efficiency, this unique monitoring system uses wireless sensors inserted into turf to let users know precisely what’s going on beneath the surface of the course. Access to this in-depth data means they can make timely, more-informed adjustments to their irrigation and other turf management regimes.

So, how does it work? Turf Guard uses small, dual-layer wireless sensors buried, for instance, beneath a putting green, fairway or tee box – or any areas, good or bad, it would be useful to monitor. Installation is quick and easy without any wires or trenches, and so golfers never know the sensors are there. Once in the ground, each sensor accurately measures moisture, temperature and salinity levels of soil at two depths, in real time. The system is able to support up to 500 sensors per course for a comprehensive insight into course conditions.

Data is collected and compiled into easy to view and understand tables, graphs and dashboards. This information can then be accessed from any internet-connected computer by linking to the system’s web-based interface. Users can even access sensor information via a smartphone or ‘smartpad’ tablet device.

The benefits are manyfold, says distributor Lely UK’s Toro Irrigation sales manager Robert Jackson. “Turf Guard is a giant leap forward in irrigation and turf management. Any course manager who’s ever found themselves wondering whether to irrigate at night or exactly how much water is needed to flush the salts out of a rootzone need wonder no longer – Turf Guard means you know for certain, right down to the very last millimetre.

“The beauty of this system is that it tells course managers precisely what’s going on in the soil – not just moisture levels, but temperature and salt, too, which is unique to the marketplace. Better still, our sensors – unlike competitor versions – are wireless and so can be placed anywhere in the playing surfaces without disruption; ideal for monitoring different areas. The data collected reflects the effects of rainfall, irrigation, heat, salt and other factors that can affect turf health, with the system analysing this in clearly-presented graphs and figures. Equipped with this information, course managers can irrigate, mow, flush and fertilise to optimal effect. It really can’t be beaten in providing such comprehensive, useful information.”

Kicking off Toro’s trio of new component launches, meanwhile, is the new R Series golf sprinkler risers, pictured above. This clever retrofit product enables golf courses to easily and cost-effectively upgrade existing Rain Bird Eagle 900 Series and 1100 Series sprinklers to Toro’s industry-leading sprinkler technology.

Also launching is the I Series sprinkler, with integrated decoder, and the Precision Series Rotating Nozzle, which produces heavier water droplets ideal for minimising spray into bunkers and walkways in windy conditions.

For a more information, visit www.toro.com or the dedicated Toro Turf Guard microsite – www.turfguard.com – or call Lely UK on 01480 226858.