BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Editor ’ s Note : The following is an excerpt from STMA ’ s National BMP guide , Best Management Practices for the Sports Field Manager : A Professional Guide for Sports Field Management . The full guide , as well as a customizable BMP template , is available at https :// www . stma . org / knowledge _ center / bmps /

Cultivation practices disturb the soil or thatch through the use of implements to relieve soil compaction , support thatch / organic matter reduction , and improve the opportunity for a healthy water and air exchange . However , cultivation should be used judiciously as it can disrupt field use and require significant time for recovery .

Cultivation frequency should be determined by the amount and timing of field use , degree of soil compaction , soil type , and the amount of accumulation of excessive thatch and organic matter . Excessive organic matter reduces root growth , encourages disease , and creates undesirable playing conditions . Cultivation events can be stressful to turfgrass , so they should occur when turfgrass recovery potential is optimized , aiding in the quick recovery of surface density . If done improperly , cultivation can decrease lateral stem and root growth .

Cultivation methods

Cultivation events vary in the degree of injury or stress to the turfgrass plant . Some cultivation tactics can be used during the playing season with minimal disruption to the playing surface . Some cultivation methods are more aggressive , increasing the time required for turfgrass recovery . If shallow irrigation pipes are present , they should be taken into consideration in terms of cultivation method and depth .

Hollow tining Hollow tining is the most effective practice for relieving soil compaction , increasing oxygen levels in the rootzone , and aiding in improvement of soil drainage by physically removing small cores from the soil profile . Cores are usually 0.25 ” to 0.75 ” in diameter , with depths ranging from 3 ” to 10 ”. Working depths depend on equipment and soil conditions . Surface disruption potential is high with hollow tining , often requiring several days to a few weeks before the effects are no longer visible . While the cores can be harvested , they are frequently allowed to dry and then dragged back over the surface to serve as topdressing .

Solid tining Solid tining causes less disturbance to the field surface than hollow tining and can be used to immediately create channels for water infiltration , temporarily reduce compaction , and soften surface hardness . However , the benefits of solid-tine cultivation are temporary because no soil is removed from the profile , except when using a deep tine aerator with a “ kicking action ” that results in some soil fracturing . “ Venting ” or “ needle-tining ” is often used to describe the practice of solid tine cultivation using small-diameter tines ( 0.25 ” to 0.375 ” in diameter ). This is an effective tool that can increase gas exchange to root systems . It is primarily employed during times when the turfgrass is under stress and / or use of the field does not permit more aggressive cultivation .

Turfgrass cultivation methods and rankings of agronomic benefits .

18 SportsField Management | January 2022 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com