Tuesday, 8 November 2005
7

Angled Aerification Vs. Traditional Aerification.

Haibo Liu, Christian Baldwin, and philip Brown. Clemson University, Department of Horticulture, E-143 P&A Bldg., Clemson, SC 29631-0319

A two-year replicated field study in 2003 and 2004 was conducted to determine the impact of angled aerators on ‘Crenshaw' creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferous L. var. palustris (Huds.). Treatments included an untreated plot (without aerification) and three angles at 50, 70, and 90 degrees (traditional ones). Manual aerators consisted of four 6.35 mm and 12.7 mm diameter hollow tines. Treatment applications were in April, May, September, and October. Measurements included visual turfgrass quality (TQ), Molarity Ethanol Droplet Test (MED), and water infiltration. No treatment (control, 50, 70, 90 degrees) effects in year I for TQ were noted, however, in year II, the 70 degree treatment had a 5% greater TQ score than the untreated. MED scores in May were 23% higher than August and September. The larger tine size (12.7 mm) reduced soil hydrophobicity (MED) 6% compared to 6.35 mm tines. The 50, 70, and 90 degree hollow tines had 56%, 62%, and 68% greater water infiltration than the untreated. Overall, different angled 12.7 mm and 6.35 mm hollow tines had minimal impact on TQ, MED, and water infiltration results.

Back to Establishment, Cultivation, Irrigation, and Fertility
Back to C05 Turfgrass Science

Back to The ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings (November 6-10, 2005)