Q & A WITH PAMELA SHERRATT

What are your thoughts on rolling native soil fields to get them ready for play in the spring ? Do the benefits outweigh the risk ?

All athletes deserve a consistent , even playing surface , and , in some situations , rolling can help achieve that . First , consider the type of roller – walk-behind , ride-on , or pull-behind . Turf rollers should always have rounded edges to prevent damage to the turf . Rollers come in all sizes and weights , but are typically 300 to 2,000 pounds in weight or greater . This equates to approximately 3 to 15 pounds per square inch ( psi ) load applied to the soil surface and is similar in weight to vehicular traffic such as ride-on mowers . Although there is no set weight for athletic field rollers , on native soil fields the maximum recommended weight is one ton ( 2,000 pounds ). The weight of a roller can be increased by filling the roller with water , sand , or cement . The stress at the soil surface is proportional to tire pressure , or psi . Therefore , a roller or mower with tires inflated to 15 psi will apply 12 to 15 psi pressure to the soil surface . What ’ s also interesting to note is that the force applied dissipates as a function of depth . For higher loads , the stress penetrates more deeply into the soil . How much stress a certain soil can withstand depends upon many factors . In particular , a soil ’ s ability to resist compaction depends upon soil texture ( sand or native soil ) and moisture content .

Rolling in the spring can smooth out uneven surfaces after winter heave or heavy traffic . Rolling cannot rectify poor grades , but is used to address minor undulations and can produce a firm surface that would be considered “ faster ,” which is why rolling is a common practice in golf green and soccer field management to increase speed short-term . Rolling is also utilized in sports that require ball bounce , such as tennis , cricket , and baseball . Rolling newly seeded or sodded turf areas can aid turf : soil contact and speed up establishment . Also , mowing patterns , typically created by the rear roller on a cylinder mower , can also be achieved by using a roller .

Keep in mind that rolling does not improve turf quality . In fact , overuse results in turf thinning , and quality is

significantly reduced . Soils that are wet and / or frozen are susceptible to surface compaction . Using them excessively will also result in surface compaction , so it ’ s critical that rolled fields are regularly aerated / vertidrained . Fields that are rolled too often are more likely to become infested with shallow rooted weeds such as Poa annua and prostrate knotweed , because these weeds can survive in soils with surface compaction , whereas turfgrasses cannot . Soils that are too dry will not benefit from the impact of rolling . Furthermore , if the turf is wilted or dormant it will be severely stressed and may die , so only roll when grass is actively growing . Fields with 100 % grass cover and a moderate thatch layer are less likely to be affected by rolling as a method to increase field “ speed .” Also , never roll fields that have disease problems , particularly infectious diseases such as gray leaf spot , pythium , or brown patch

Whether you roll or not is a decision made on a fieldby-field basis . Factors such as athlete safety and playability , soil moisture , recovery time and turf quality all come into play . In general , rolling should only be carried out “ as-needed ,” not routinely . This may be once per year in the spring ( after winter soil heave ) or several times during the playing season to keep the field safe and playable if grass cover is lost . SFM

Pamela Sherratt Sports turf extension specialist The Ohio State University

Questions ? Send them to Pamela Sherratt at 202D Kottman Hall , 2001 Coffey Road , Columbus , OH 43210 or sherratt . 1 @ osu . edu

Or , send your question to Dr . Grady Miller , North Carolina State University , Box 7620 , Raleigh , NC 27695-7620 , or grady _ miller @ ncsu . edu

50 SportsField Management | December 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com