Lack of funds is all too common for coaches and groundskeepers and results in decisions to purchase brick dust/vitrified clay, limestone screenings, shale, sand or other products to try and keep a field from becoming unplayable during rain. These products do not absorb and manage water like a purpose-designed sports field conditioner. Most products sold as conditioners fall into one of three categories. Each category has a different degree of impact on moisture management and they are as different as night and day.

Calcined Clay

Calcined clay is by far the #1 choice of professional groundskeepers to build and maintain safer and more playable fields. Calcined clay products, the most widely used infield conditioners, are like a sponge, full of tiny pores and internal storage sites. When a particle is exposed to water, moisture is absorbed into the internal storage sites. Turface® specifically has 74 percent internal porosity and absorbs its weight in water. During rain, the excess water is sucked away from the infield mix and absorbed inside the calcined clay particle until a balance has been reached between the moisture in the infield mix and the moisture inside of the particle. As time passes and the infield mix (clay) begins to dry, the calcined clay particle gradually releases the stored moisture back into the surrounding mix. Calcined clay helps keep "just the right amount" of moisture in the field for a longer period of time when compared to what we get when we rely on Mother Nature alone.

Turface MVP®, Pro League® and Quick Dry® are calcined clay products manufactured specifically to condition sports fields to improve drainage, reduce compaction and absorb excess water. However, variation exists between calcined clay products. Many materials are called calcined clay, and many claim to be as good as the quality brands. However, degradation of calcined clays range from 3.5 percent over 20 years as in the Turface brand to calcined clays that degrade or melt to clay in a few days. Turface's quality is due to its unique raw clay mineral and the manufacturing process, which produces a very stable, uniform particle with consistent color and little dust.

Diatomaceous Earth

DE is primarily made of prehistoric diatoms (single celled algae). While it does absorb water, it is more brittle, breaks down more, floats on water and is dustier than calcined clays. Claims that the lighter bulk density of DE will allow you to use less product to condition a field as well as calcined clay are simply not accurate. While lighter bulk density allows you to get more coverage per ton, DE does not condition an infield as effectively as calcined clay so you do not receive equal benefits.

Brick Dust / Vitrified Clay / Crushed Aggregate

There are significant differences between calcined clays and crushed aggregates which are byproducts of non-sports field related industries including the concrete and brick industries. Typically, these crushed aggregates are used as a red infield colorant or as a substitute for a soil conditioner to prevent rain outs. Unfortunately, they do not have the absorption, drainage and stability characteristics to properly manage water on an infield. These materials may appear inexpensive but they typically weigh twice as much as calcined clay thus requiring twice the tons to cover the same area.