Analytical

ASTC is pleased to offer independent analytical testing services for the sports turf and turf production industries. Please contact us to discuss your testing needs in greater detail.

Contact us to get your project started

Soil

ASTC provides soil testing services to sporting clubs, golf courses, Councils, soil suppliers, landscape maintenance and commercial plus civil construction companies. Testing can be undertaken for existing facilities or relating to new construction projects for quality control purposes.

Nutritional
pH and/or electrical conductivity (EC) to Australian Standard 4419
Complete nutritional testing to include pH (H2O), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic Matter, Macro nutrients N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca and Macro nutrients or elements Na, Fe, B, Al, Cl, Cu, B, Mn and Zn
Complete nutritional testing plus lime requirement, colour and texture
Organic matter Loss on ignition (LOI) testing of soils/sands
Physical testing
Particle size analysis
Bulk density
Hydraulic Conductivity testing at 16 and 32 drops
Sports field suite testing to include particle size analysis (USGA test sieves), Hydraulic Conductivity at 16 & 32 drops, Moisture Retention & Porosities, pH & Electrical Conductivity
D Value & Performance Factors
Declaration of compliance Review documentation and provide letter to approve or reject stockpiles or supply material

Leaf Tissue

ASTC can provide leaf tissue testing to assess and monitor turf health. This includes nutrition and disease testing.

Nutritional To include macro nutrients N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca and Macro nutrients or elements Na, Fe, B, Cu, B, Mn and Zn.
Disease Identification
Forage analysis testing Energy: ME 1x (Mj/kg), Relative Feed Value, and % Digestible Dry Matter (DDM). Protein: % Crude Protein (CP) and Available Protein. Fibre: % Neutral Detergent Fiber, % Acid Detergent Fiber, NDFD 24hrs % of NDF, % TDN. Minerals: Potassium.

Water

Irrigation water can significantly affect the quality of your turf. It is important to test and monitor water quality depending on your source. This may include potable water, recycled water, freshwater and bore water.

Nutritional
Comprehensive to include pH (H2O), Electrical Conductivity (EC), N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Na, Fe, B, Cl, Cu, B, Mn and Zn
Comprehensive plus ammonium and bicarbonate
Microbiological E. coli, Faecal Coliforms and Total Coliforms
Algae Identification

Pest, Disease & Nematode

Pests, diseases and/or nematodes can quickly turn your turfgrass into a nightmare. ASTC offers a range of tests to assist sports turf managers, superintendents, sporting clubs and Councils to identify and treat the problem.

Foliage and roots Disease identification
Nematode Identification
Plant Health Combined disease and nematode testing
Fungal Fungal isolation of soil including testing for pythium, phytopthora, fusarium etc.
Couch Smut Identification
Mite e.g couch, kikuyu, zoysia Identification

Gravel

Gravel testing is undertaken for compliance purposes as part of the pre-commencement testing works for sports field construction or redevelopment projects.

Physical testing
Particle size analysis
Hydraulic conductivity 10 mm minus
D Value & Performance Factors
Declaration of compliance Review documentation and provide letter to approve or reject stockpiles or supply material

Turf DNA & Genetics

ASTC has a Research Agreement with The University of Queensland’s (UQ) main commercialisation company UniQuest to deliver a reputable turf DNA testing service for the wider Australian turfgrass industry. Supplementary specialist analytical work including chromosome counting and X-ray testing of turfgrass for identification and breeding purposes can also be conducted.

DNA testing Please contact us for further details
Chromosome count Using flow cytometry
X-ray of seed head / inflorescence Used to measure seed production characteristics

Contaminated Soil

We offer contaminated soil testing of existing and imported soil. This can be for construction or redevelopment purposes, or following a natural disaster like flooding of sports fields to determine if they are fit for play.

Microbiological
Faecal Coliforms, E. coli, Enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Clostridium perfringens
Faecal Coliforms and E. coli only
Eight metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc and mercury) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
Asbestos Identification (Not Quantifiable)

Fertiliser

Fertiliser quality control checks are available to check on product particle size and fertiliser analysis (composition). Such a service is taken up by Councils who contract out supply and or apply fertiliser programs across their many sports fields. This provides quality assurance to Council to confirm that the product being supplied is what was specified and paid for.

Particle size analysis and SGN identification Analysis of granular fertiliser
Fertiliser analysis compliance testing Total Acid Extractable Nutrients to check on the composition of fertiliser product supplied: Includes moisture, pH, Ec, Total nitrogen, total carbon, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, silicon, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, manganese, iron, copper and boron. Identification

Flood Damage

We are able to test sports turf surfaces for bacterium, including faecal coliforms and faecal strep. The two bacterium are commonly tested after flood events to identify if the sports field is fit for play after being inundated by flood water.

Microbiological
Faecal Coliforms (NPN/g), E. coli (NPN/g) and Enterococci (faecal Strep) (CFU/g)

Research

ASTC conducts independent turf research studies with a focus on warm-season turf grasses to meet the needs of the turf industry and end user within Australia and overseas.