BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Spiking / slicing Spiking / slicing reduces surface compaction and promotes water infiltration with minimal surface damage . Slicing is a faster cultivation process than core cultivation but is less effective in reducing compaction . Spiking can break up crusts on the soil surface and enhances lateral spread of creeping grasses since it severs rhizomes and stolons . The effects on surface compaction and water infiltration are short lived as the slits rapidly close from traffic ( play or maintenance equipment ) on the surface . Recent equipment advancements have led to the use of deep slicer units ( up to 15 ” depths possible ) that provide a response called “ linear decompaction .” The benefits of the machine are essentially immediate improvements in water infiltration and percolation through the profile with very limited surface disruption . The vibration of the machine during operation also has been shown to fracture subsurface soil layers .
Deep drilling Deep-drill cultivation creates deep holes in the soil profile through use of drill bits . As the name implies , the hole depths are typically 9 ” to 12 ”. Soil is brought to the surface and distributed into the canopy . Holes can be backfilled with new rootzone materials if a drill-and-fill machine is used . These machines allow replacement of clay / silt soils with sand or other soil amendments in an effort to improve water infiltration into the soil profile .
Water and air injection Water injection machines use a blast of water to create a hole and a vacuum to pull soil material into the hole . While this is disruptive to play on the field surface , the disruption is not long lasting . Air injection machines utilize tines that penetrate the soil and inject a burst of air near the maximum depth of penetration . For specific high-traffic areas , air injection machines are now regularly used and have slight surface disruption .
Vertical mowing Vertical mowing ( verticutting ) can be incorporated into a cultural management program to achieve several goals . The grain of the sports field can be reduced by setting a verticutter to a depth that just nicks the surface of the turfgrass . Deeper penetration of knives stimulates new growth by cutting through stolons and rhizomes while removing accumulated thatch . Deep vertical mowing ( 0.5 ” to 1 ” depth ) removes a greater amount of thatch than core cultivation and can be considered for aggressive thatch removal as it can remove up to 15 % of the thatch at one time . However , it is aggressive and should only be done during less stressful times ( e . g ., cooler temperatures ) and on well-rooted turfgrass . Unlike deep vertical mowing , shallow vertical mowing ( 0.5 ” or less ) does not remove thatch . Instead , it severs rhizomes or stolons promoting new growth and standing up blades to allow removal of old growth and minor canopy thinning . Shallow vertical mowing can be practiced regularly during the growing season except in times of drought or excessive heat .
Fraise mowing . Photo by Ben Polimer .
Fraise mowing Fraise mowing is a cultural practice that was devised in the Netherlands during the mid-1990s and is similar to vertical mowing . While vertical mowing partially impacts the surface , fraise mowing ’ s impact is absolute , encompassing 100 % of the surface and potentially reaching up to 2 ” depths in a single pass . This makes fraise mowing an appealing thatch management tool . Other demonstrated benefits of fraise mowing include Poa annua control and overseeding removal ( McCauley et al ., 2019 ; Brosnan et al ., 2020 ). While fraise mowing was originally developed to mechanically harvest annual bluegrass plants from cool-season sports fields , its use has expanded from cool-season sports fields to warm-season bermudagrass sports fields .
This very important field rejuvenation tool removes sports fields from play for at least eight to 10 weeks under ideal growing conditions and restores “ new field ” conditions , vigor , and growth rates . With renovation of sportsfieldmanagementonline . com January 2022 | SportsField Management
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