May/June 2020
A Publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina
TURFGRASS CULTIVATION TOOLS
Where, When and How to Use Them in Your Cultural Program Plus, Member Spotlight on Eagle Award Winner Ray McCauley
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1-888-360-1125 Cary 1900 NC Hwy. 55 Cary, NC 27519 919-836-0492
Charlotte 12600 Downs Circle Pineville, NC 28134 704-525-8873
Hendersonville 583 Jeffress Rd. Mills River, NC 28759 828-681-5000
Mooresville 1060 River Highway Mooresville, NC, 28117 980-444-2347
Raleigh 1225 Farmers Market Drive, Box 19 Raleigh, NC 27603 919-836-0492
10 16 table of contents May/June 2020
More Features:
6 TCNC Deluxe Members 8 Welcome, New Members 9 Congratulations, New NCCTPs 9 Calendar of Events 11 NCCTP Program 12 NC State Turf Team 22 Index of Advertisers 22 From the President
10 Feature Story
Member Spotlight on Eagle Award Winner Ray McCauley
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16 Cover Story
Turfgrass Cultivation Tools: Where, When and How to Use Them in Your Cultural Program
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May/June 2020
©2020 STIHL/MAS MA20TUIMOW-12-143741-4
From the President
Challenging
TIMES O
ur country is going through challenging times. We are fighting an invisible enemy that is upending the lives of so many Americans and others around the world. My heart aches for those who have lost loved ones to this terrible pandemic.
I applaud the efforts of health care workers and first responders who are risking their own safety taking care of others and those of you who are helping others who are in need. I have always found people who work in the Green Industry to be very caring and giving individuals. I would also like to thank Steve Troxler, our Commissioner of Agriculture and his staff for their work informing county and city government across the state that the Green Industry is an essential part of agriculture. This will keep our industry strong through these difficult times. I ask that everyone continue thinking and practicing “Safety First” in our daily lives. Our country will get through this difficult time. We are caring people and together we will defeat the enemy and return our nation back to health and prosperity.
North Carolina Turfgrass is the official publication of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina 110 Horizon Drive Suite 210 Raleigh, NC 27615 919.459.2070 Fax 919.459.2075 www.ncturfgrass.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Marcy Cottle IMI Association Executives info@ncturfgrass.org 919.459.2070 Published by: Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, TN 37064 615.790.3718 Fax 615.794.4524 info@leadingedge communications.com
TCNC OFFICERS PRESIDENT Gene Queen Nature's Select Winston Salem, NC
VICE PRESIDENT Kevin Herrmann Fairway Green Inc. Raleigh, NC
PAST PRESIDENT
Be Safe,
Damon Dean Keith Hills Country Club Lillington, NC
Gene Queen
TCNC President
TREASURER Jonathan Richardson, NCCTP NCCTP Chairman Green Resource Dunn, NC
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DIRECTORS
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Dean Baker Kinston, NC Wilson Sutton Falling Creek Golf Club Kinston, NC Andrew Wampler Southern Ag Hendersonville, NC
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A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 7
TCNC Deluxe Members Companies wishing to support TCNC with multiple members can join as Deluxe Members. Deluxe Memberships can be purchased in one of three tiers: 1–5 employees; 6–10 employees; or 11+ employees. If you'd like to learn more about the Deluxe Membership, please contact the TCNC office at (919) 459-2070 or info@ncturfgrass.org.
Thank You to Our DELUXE MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS
The Biltmore Company
Fayetteville Technical Community College
SiteOne Landscape Supply
Barefoot & Associates Inc.
Givens Estates
Smith Turf & Irrigation
Green Resource Sod Solutions Inc.
Buy Sod Inc JRM Inc.
Southern Ag
Carolina Farm Credit Keith Hills Country Club
Southern Seeds Inc
Carolina Green Corp. Leap Frog Landcare Inc. City of Raleigh Parks & Recreation The Club at Longview Country Boy Landscaping Inc
McConnell Golf LLC
Town of Cary Public Works
Nature's Select Premium Turf Services
Turf Mountain Sod Inc
North Carolina A&T State University
UNCG
Dixie Lawn Care LLC
Vandemark Farms LLC
Duke University
Pennington Seed – ProTurf Division
Fairway Green
Quality Turf SAS Institute Inc.
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May/June 2020
Vereens Turf Products Wake Forest University
TCNC New Members James Brown Lawn Doctor of Hillsborough Greensboro, NC
Joseph Dunn M&M Landscape Management Jacksonville, NC
Stirling Foxworth Turf Mountain Sod Hendersonville, NC
Michelle Robinson Turf Mountain Sod Hendersonville, NC
Dillon Hill Givens Estates Asheville, NC
Kevin Landis Natural Touch Landscaping Mills River, NC
Matthew Cox East Carolina University Goldsboro, NC
James Bernier Huntersville, NC
New NCCTPs Stirling Foxworth Turf Mountain Sod Hendersonville, NC
Michelle Robinson Turf Mountain Sod Hendersonville, NC
Drew Carr Givens Estates Asheville, NC
Robert Kuetemeyer The Biltmore Company Asheville, NC
10680 East Finch Avenue • Middlesex, NC 27557
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Fax: 252-235-4196 www.southernseedsinc.com
Kevin Landis Natural Touch Landscaping Mills River, NC
A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 9
RAY McCAULEY Member Spotlight
on Eagle Award Winner,
R
ay McCauley has a long and impressive career in the turfgrass industry. He has placed great importance on continuing to grow in his knowledge, both through education and experience. It is no secret that classroom learning and hands-on experience are a powerful combination, and Ray has certainly walked the walk on both counts.
Ray began his turfgrass career in 2001, when he started at Clemson University as a Turfgrass Management major. During his time as an undergraduate at Clemson, he completed summer internships each year, which included a variety of locations and disciplines (Mid Pines and Pine Needles Golf Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina; Sankaty Head Golf Club in Siasconset, Massachusetts; San Diego Padres). Ray also spent six months preparing for an Open Championship at St. Andrews Links Trust in Scotland as a seasonal greenskeeper. He began his work as an undergraduate assistant at Clemson during this time as well. After completing his undergraduate degree, Ray began work on his M.S. in Plant and Environmental Sciences with a minor in Experimental Statistics. While earning this degree, he worked as a graduate assistant, which included a variety of tasks – from instruction in the advanced turfgrass management lab to field and greenhouse trials to working with cooperative extension. After finishing his Master’s, Ray began his role as Assistant Groundskeeper for the New York Mets. During his time there, he worked to prepare the field for both the MLB 2013 All Star game and the 2015 World Series. Ray is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Crop and Soil Sciences at North Carolina State University. He is working under Dr. Grady Miller and is conducting research primarily on fraise mowing and how it affects physical soil properties. He is devising programs that expedite bermudagrass recovery and the potential to expand fraise mowing applications. Ray has assisted in 20+ additional studies that have had both local and national impacts. Some of these projects include:
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how to improve zoysiagrass roadside establishment for NCDOT; colored topdressing sands’ impact on bermudagrass maintenance and establishment for the Carolinas’ GCSA; and species evaluations for both the NTEP Program and the USDA’s Specialty Crops Research Initiative. Through all aspects of Ray’s education and career, he has always understood the importance of education, and that will be a focus for his career going forward. “I enjoy giving back by sharing my knowledge with others,” he says. “Whether to a dozen undergraduates in a turfgrass management lab or to hundreds of attendees at the Lake Wheeler Turf Field Day, I enjoy sharing my knowledge, experiences and research with others. I intend to do so in a research and teaching role in the future.” Ray has demonstrated his commitment to the turfgrass industry, the research that supports it and the professionals who advance it. His experience in many facets of turfgrass management will surely be a great benefit to his colleagues and students. The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina thanks Ray for his service to the advancement of the industry across the state.
Upcoming Events*
MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND SAVE THESE DATES
June 18, 2020 NC GIC WATER SYMPOSIUM McKimmon Conference Center Raleigh, NC
August 12, 2020 LAKE WHEELER TURFGRASS FIELD DAY NCSU Horticultural Field Lab Raleigh, NC
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ncturfgrass.org for the latest event information.
* A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 11
NCCTP Program
Fast Facts about the NCCTP Enrollment Requirements:
Become a NC Certified Turfgrass Professional!
The
North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional (NCCTP) program is a comprehensive program developed to enhance the technical competency of turfgrass professionals, while elevating their professional image, that of your business and of the turfgrass management industry. Administered by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina, the NCCTP designation confirms your expertise in turfgrass management to prospective customers and your peers.
Reasons to Begin Earning Your NCCTP Designation Today The NCCTP program increases and enhances your turfgrass industry knowledge, career, and business development through a course of study of in-depth coverage of the science of turfgrass management. The NCCTP designation offers immediate confidence and credibility of turfgrass management practices to customers and prospective employers. Promote and market yourself as a North Carolina Certified Turfgrass Professional. • Use the NCCTP logo on your business materials. • Use NCCTP pins, uniform patches, and vehicle decals. • Your TCNC Member Directory listing is distinguished with the NCCTP logo.
We Are Partnered With The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course The NC State Turfgrass Professional Short Course, a comprehensive turfgrass education program, is offered at select NC State Extension offices and at NC State University. This Short Course offers a full curriculum of the science of turfgrass management as well as Continuing Education Credits for NCDACS Pesticide and NCLCLB Landscape Contractors’ license holders, and it will help you prepare for the NCCTP exam. This Short Course is recommended but not required to take the NCCTP exam.
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old a current TCNC membership. If not currently H a member, go to www.ncturfgrass.org and click ‘JOIN NOW’ to join online or download an application. Have a minimum of one full year of work experience in the turfgrass industry. Agree to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics as detailed on the application form. Submit: • A current and valid NC Pesticide Applicators license • A completed NCCTP application (current TCNC members may apply online). • NCCTP Program Application: $150 • Self-Study Materials: $50 • Exam Fee: $50
Curriculum and Exam: urriculum covers nine core areas: Turfgrass CharacterisC tics; Establishing Turfgrass; Soils & Nutrient Management; Cultural Practices; Pests & Integrated Pest Management; Pesticides & Plant Growth Regulators; Landscape Safety & Pesticide Use; Calculations & Calibration; Turfgrass Business & Economics. Candidates have six months from the date of their enrollment acceptance to complete the NCCTP exam. Candidates have six hours to complete the exam and must score 80% or more on each section to receive the NCCTP designation. Exams can be taken at the TCNC office in Raleigh during normal business hours, or arrangements can be made at your local NC State Extension location. Exams will not be graded if any application information is missing or if TCNC membership status cannot be confirmed. Please allow two to three weeks for exam grading and reports. Upon successful completion of the exam, candidates will receive communication with their results and either next step options or their graduation packet.
Maintenance Requirements: aintain a current TCNC membership as a means of M demonstrating ongoing support for the industry. Submit an annual $50 renewal fee, which supports the NCCTP program and related promotional activities. Designation year is the same as the TCNC membership year, from July 1st to June 30th. Hold a current NC Pesticide Applicator’s License. Subscribe to, actively support and uphold the TCNC Certification Code of Ethics. The NC Certified Turfgrass Professional designation (NCCTP), the NCCTP logo and related programs materials are the trademarked property of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and cannot be used without TCNC’s written permission. For additional information, contact TCNC at (919) 459-2070.
May/June 2020
NCCTP Certification Program
ENROLLMENT APPLICATION Name___________________________________________________________________ Phone_____________________________________________________ Address_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________________________________ State____________ Zip_____________________________________ E-Mail_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ TCNC Membership #*____________________________________________________ Pesticide Applicator License #_______________________________
QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS Please read the items below and check each one that is true for you.
MEMBERSHIP: I am now, or I am applying here to be, a member in good standing of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. PESTICIDE LICENSE: I hold a current North Carolina Pesticide Ground Applicator License with subclass L, turf, and ornamental (or equivalent from another state). EXPERIENCE: I have completed a minimum of one full year of turfgrass industry professional work experience. EXAM: Upon acceptance into the program, I plan to complete my study and take the required exam within six months. DUTY: I have initialed the following page of this application to show that I strongly support and willingly subscribe to the Certified Turfgrass Professional Code of Ethics, and I pledge to uphold the credibility and integrity of the program. CONTINUING EDUCATION: I agree to successfully complete additional future curriculum materials or sections that may be required as a result of new technology or regulation. Company________________________________________________________________ Title______________________________________________________ Supervisor_______________________________________________________________ Supervisor’s Phone_________________________________________ Supervisor’s E-Mail___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company’s Address__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________________________________ State____________ Zip_____________________________________ Work Experience_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Describe your turfgrass industry professional work experience; one full year is required to apply.
NCCTP Application Fee: $150, Study Materials: $50, Exam Fee: $50, TCNC Dues (call for amount, based on date) TOTAL $____________________
Check Number__________________ (payable to TCNC) Credit Card:
AMEX
Visa
MC
Discover
Billing Zip Code____________________
Credit Card #____________________________________________________________ Exp. Date______________________ Sec Code____________ Name on Card___________________________________________________________ Signature______________________________________________ By signing this application, I verify that all the information is true and correct, I acknowledge and assume full responsibility for the charges on this application, and I agree to honor and abide by the terms of this non-refundable payment.
Signature__________________________________________________________________________________ Date____________________________________
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NCCTP Program | continued
CERTIFIED TURFGRASS PROFESSIONAL
CODE OF ETHICS Please read and initial each section below that you support and commit to uphold.
DUTY TO THE PUBLIC Conduct service first and foremost with regards to the safety, health, and welfare of the general public. Provide service, recommendations, and information based upon honest experience, and scientifically accurate and factual knowledge.
I AGREE
DUTY TO THE ENVIRONMENT Operate in such a manner to protect and preserve our environment. Use and monitor all equipment, products, and materials in a manner consistent with the label and safe for the environment.
I AGREE
DUTY TO THE LAWS OF OUR LAND Abide by all laws and regulations affecting the turf industry and support the enforcement of these laws.
I AGREE
DUTY TO OUR FELLOW PROFESSIONALS Refrain from the use of false, misleading, or deceptive marketing and advertising practices. Practice and insist upon sound business management practices. Maintain the highest standard of personal conduct to reflect credit and add stature to the turf industry. Recognize the importance of strong relationships within the industry. Abstain from untruthful debasement, or encroachment upon, the professional reputation or practice of another turfgrass professional.
I AGREE
DUTY TO THE ASSOCIATION Participate in association activities and events to help further the profession. Abstain from any unfair exploitation of my association, industry, or profession.
I AGREE
By signing this Code of Ethics, I agree to follow the duties and intentions outlined above, and I commit to supporting and upholding these ethics with consistency and integrity.
Printed Name________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature__________________________________________________________________________________ Date____________________________________ Please Return Entire NCCTP Application To TCNC Via: email: info@ncturfgrass.org fax: (919) 459-2075 or mail: TCNC, 110 Horizon Dr. Ste 210, Raleigh, NC 27615 14 North Carolina Turf gr a ss
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May/June 2020
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A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 15
Cover Story
Turfgrass Cultivation U Tools:
By Barry Stewart, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Sports Turf Science, Mississippi State University
nlike most other crops, turfgrass soils are rarely exposed to tillage and therefore many turfgrass soils become compacted due to traffic. Our cultivation program is our best defense against soil compaction and the myriad of problems it can cause.
WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO USE THEM IN YOUR CULTURAL PROGRAM FIGURE 1: An old school rolling aerifier. Still working but the technology has improved greatly over the years.
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In turfgrass, nearly everything we do — mowing, fertilizing, topdressing, rolling, playing games, etc. — happens on the horizontal plane. Turfgrass cultivation is one of the few things that happens on the vertical plane (I borrowed this from Dr. Trey Rogers at Michigan State). As we maintain and use turf soils, downward forces are applied and soil particles are pushed closer together. Soil pores, particularly macropores, are eliminated and the bulk density of the soil increases. If we think of an “ideal soil” we think of one that has 50% pore space and 50% solid space. When we consider that quartz is the dominant mineral in soils, then our ideal soil would have a bulk density of 1.33 g/cm3 given that the density of quartz is 2.65 g/cm3 (83 lbs/ft3). A bulk density range of 1.2 to 1.5 g/cm3 is a good working range for healthy turfgrass. Once bulk densities creep above 1.6 g/cm3 root growth begins to be affected and at bulk densities above 1.9 g/cm3 root growth nearly stops. Roots are not drills, they grow in the pore space, and compacted soils have less and less pore space, particularly macropore space and therefore limited root growth. The second benefit of cultivation is the control of thatch and organic matter accumulation. In cultivation we break up the organic material accumulating at the turf surface. Sometimes the material is removed when we harvest the cores after aerifying or sweep up the clippings after we vertical mow or fraze mow. By keeping the rootzone in a favorable state of aeration, organic matter accumulation will be kept to a minimum as oxidation will proceed at its maximum rate. As organic matter accumulates and compaction happens, the rootzone is less wellaerated and organic matter decomposition slows down and organic matter accumulation increases. This leads to more moisture being held in the soil making it more vulnerable to compaction, and we begin on a downward spiral in which turf cover is lost. Topdressing is another tool in this battle with organic matter accumulation and will be the subject of a future article. This article is written with warm season grasses in mind. The need for cultivation will vary with grass type and soil type. In general, native soils have a greater need for cultivation than sand-based soils. It is ironic that sand-based turf is more likely to receive cultivation than a native soil, but this is probably not surprising given the cost to establish and maintain grass on sand construction. Bermudagrass and zoysiagrass make up the vast majority of sport turf surfaces and require more cultivation. Some St. Augustine and centipede grass that receives traffic may also need occasional cultivation, but this should be done carefully. To ensure rapid recovery from any cultural practice mowing, make sure we have temperatures favorable for turf growth, 70 degree nights or 150 days with plenty of water available.
May/June 2020
Core Cultivation / Hollow Tine Cultivation Hollow tine cultivation is the cornerstone of any cultivation program. It should be a “showstopper” in that it should be a scheduled event. My mind’s picture of the benefit of core cultivation is that as our turfgrass soil becomes compacted, the elevation of our surface would decline. When we pull cores, we create a new large pore (the hole) and bring material back to the surface. As the cores are broken up and drug back into the holes not all of the material will fit into the holes and some will remain on the surface adding elevation to the surface. If the cores are collected and new material is topdressed onto the site, it is likely that enough material will be added to provide an increase in surface elevation. Core cultivation equipment has come a long way since John Mascaro introduced the first vertical overhead aerifier in the 1940’s. Prior to this the tool of choice was a rolling aerifier (Figure 1). Modern aerification equipment works smoothly and feature a wide range of tine diameters to choose from. Core diameter can range from 5 mm to 25 mm. Working depths can range from 25 mm to 250 mm (Figure 2). Depths longer than about 4 inches (100 mm) are considered to be “deep tine” aerification. After the introduction of aerifiers it was found that compacted cultivation pans began to form after several years of aerification at the same depth. Incorporating deep tine aerification into a program occasionally breaks up this pan and keeps it from becoming problematic. Hole spacing can range from 1 inch x 1 inch (25 mm x 25 mm) to 6 inch by 6 inch (150 mm x 150 mm) and is determine by spacing on the machine and ground speed. In general as tine size decreases so does tine spacing. It would be reasonable to pull 3/8 inch (9 mm) cores on 1 inch centers but unreasonable to pull then on 6 inch centers, likewise pulling 3/4 inch cores on 1 inch by 1 inch centers is unreasonable. FIGURE 2: An aerifier working on at the MSU Golf Course.
Solid Tine Cultivation Solid tine cultivation produces a hole but does not remove a core. As the walls of the hole created slough off and fill the hole with time, compaction is relieved and a zone of better aeration is created. Solid tine cultivation can be a very valuable tool in loosening up severely compacted areas to allow hollow tine coring. Solid tine cultivation improves soil aeration but does not remove any material from the profile therefore it has a minimal effect on thatch and organic matter accumulation. It does break up layering and improves infiltration and drainage. The larger the tine the longer lasting the effect will be. Solid tining has the advantage of no cores to process and no clean up. The fields or greens are immediately playable. It is debatable whether or not topdressing should follow solid tining. Topdressing will smooth out the surface and fill the holes which could aid playability, however we are also adding material to our soil profile which means we increased our soils density. Perhaps as a once in a while practice this may be allowable but this should not be an every time practice. Also some hollow tining must be incorporated into this process to remove some material. We did an experiment to examine aerification frequency on the MSU Golf Course in 2002 (Table 1). We used six
TABLE 1: Results of a study on golf greens at the MSU Golf Course in 2002.
TREATMENT
MEAN HARDNESS VALUE * (Values decrease moving down the table)
Solid tine 1 x year
112 a
Solid tine 2 x year
103 ab
Hollow tine 1 x year
102 ab
Solid tine 1 x monthly
100 ab
Solid tine 2 x monthly
93 bc
Solid tine 2 x monthly 2 directions
86 c
*m ean hardness values followed by the same letter are not different at the 0.05 level of significance
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Cover Story | continued
treatments and replicated each on three greens. We used 6 inch (L) x 1/2 inch tines. We found solid tining twice monthly in two directions reduced greens hardness the most. There was not a great amount of separation among these treatments.
Vertical Mowing Vertical mowing is a cultivation tool that is more focused on thatch and organic matter accumulation than on improving the physical condition of the soil, although it does have an effect on breaking up layering near the surface. Vertical mowing equipment ranges from greens equipment with thin blades and narrow spacing to larger area models with thicker blades and wider spacings. Think of circular saw blades. These blades spin into the canopy and remove material as well as severing stolons and rhizomes (Figure 3). Working depths can range from a surface tickle to about 1 inch in depth. Deep depths generate more material that must be removed to make our surface playable again. Vertical mowing is often followed by topdressing to smooth out the surface. During the growing season some golf greens are lightly vertically mown and topdressed weekly to control grain and organic matter accumulation. Fairways and athletic fields would benefit from vertical mowing once or twice during the growing season. To ensure rapid recovery from vertical mowing, make sure we have temperatures favorable for turf growth, 70 degree nights or 150 days with plenty of water available.
FIGURE 3: A fairway / athletic field vertical mower ready to go to work.
Fraze Mowing Fraze mowing is much like vertical mowing except that fraze mowing completely removes all surface materials to a set depth. Fraze mowing can be used to just remove the verdure and the thatch/mat layer or as deep as 2 inches below the soil surface. The material removed flows onto a conveyor belt and is deposited in a debris wagon for disposal (Figure 4). In many cases the material removed is a fantastic source of springs that could be used to plant or renovate a nearby field. Fraze mowing generates large amounts of clippings/spoils that must be disposed and planning for that should be part of the process. Fraze mowing will remove surface layering, thatch and accumulated soil organic matter. The regrowth from fraze mowing can take as little as 21 days to as long as six weeks. In Matt Carpenter’s research (Carpenter, 2019) on fraze mowing at MSU we found that fraze mowing was very effective in removing overseeding in the month of May. Fraze mowing was also found to be an effective way to establish overseeding in the fall, with a mid-October date being most effective. Keep in mind that a field will not be playable for at least 3 weeks following fraze mowing. Fraze mowing may not be an everyyear tool but certainly one to consider occasionally as a field renovation. Fraze mowing produces a clean new surface that is free of senescent leaves for a few weeks and during that time the field looks outstanding. Fraze mowing has proven to be very effective in removing a dead surface in the renovation process. Some fraze mowing equipment such as The Turf Plane have the ability to level while they fraze mow. These machines have great utility in removing lips on baseball and softball fields as well as helping to maintain field smoothness (Figure 5).
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FIGURE 4: A fraze mower removing dead bermudagrass for the resurfacing of Davis Wade Stadium at MSU
FIGURE 5: Leveling fraze mower removing a lip from an infield.
May/June 2020
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FIGURE 7: Driject machine working at the MSU Golf Course.
FIGURE 6: The knives of a Redexim Shockwave. This machine makes continuous slits in the soil while quaking the soil in between the knives.
Rotary De-compaction I think of these machines as being the parabolic plows and deep ripping subsoilers that are used to remove compaction pans from agricultural fields. These machines
are beginning to be used more to remove compaction from fairways and athletic fields. A blade that is 10 to 12 inches long is rotated into the soil and the arrangement of the blades along the shaft produces a quaking action as the machine
moves forward (Figure 6). The result is a continuous slit in the soil on 8 to 12 inch spacings. They do very little to remove thatch but do loosen up a surface. Research is needed to document the compaction relief achieved and the longevity of this relief. Some companies have equipped these machines to a sand hopper to inject sand into the slits. This will allow the slits to stay open for a longer period of time and remain effective longer. Using one of these machines perpendicular to the crown on an athletic field may be a way to enhance internal drainage.
Sand Injection These machines (such as the Dri-ject) have the old Toro Hydroject in their lineage. High pressure water is used to create a hole and the hole is then filled with dry sand or other dry soil amendments (Figure 7). These machines are mostly used on golf greens but larger models are available for athletic field and fairway use. Although these devices do offer some compaction relief, the sand injection is also used to tighten up golf greens after hollow tine aerification. The sand injection also offers a small amount of thatch/ soil organic matter control via dilution. Similar to solid tine aeration followed by topdressing, a hole is being made and filled with material and no material is being removed. Frequent use of this tool without pulling a core at some point should lead to an increase in bulk density. In a Dryject study on athletic fields done at Mississippi State, Drijection five times per season and hollow tining
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FIGURE 8: An example of a slicer / spiker machine.
two times per season increased bulk densities compared to hollow tining alone (Craft, 2015).
Slicers and Spikers These machines produce small holes or slits in the soil in a linear pattern. They do not have much effect on removing compaction or removing thatch. They do create holes and slits that allow the soil to breathe a bit until they are closed by traffic (Figure 8). These machines can be used frequently and there is often little to no recovery time or disruption in play. They are a good tool in the spring transition to do some “venting” and can also be used in the establishment of overseeding. The MSU Campus landscape department has an Aerovator that is often used ahead of fall overseeding. The first seeds to germinate are usually the ones in the holes created by this implement. They are also a good tool to use to open up the canopy. These machines cover a lot of ground quickly and can be used fairly frequently. To reiterate, hollow tine coring is the backbone of a cultivation program and at least one if not two coring events should take place most years. Make this event a “showstopper.” In addition to the coring event there are many other cultivation tools that are less disruptive and can be used more frequently. If thatch and organic matter are a problem, then vertical mowing or fraze mowing should be considered. If compaction is the main problem solid time aerification or rotary decompaction may be of benefit. Develop a
program that works for you and stick to it. The results will be healthier soils and healthier turf.
References Craft, J.M. 2016. Maintaining soil physical property integrity in turfgrass management
systems. MS Thesis, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS Carpenter, Matt, 2019. Fraze mowing for overseeding establishment and removal of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) MS Thesis, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
A P u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e T u r f g r a s s C ou n c i l of Nor t h C ar ol i n a 21
NC State Turf Team
Index of Advertisers Buy Sod, Inc........................ Inside Back Cover www.buysod.com
CROP AND SOIL SCIENCES Dr. Richard Cooper Professor 919.515.7600 rich_cooper@ncsu.edu
Dr. Susana Milla-Lewis Associate Professor 919.515.3196 susana_milla-lewis@ncsu.edu
Emily Erickson Lecturer 919.513.2034 emily_erickson@ncsu.edu
Dr. Grady Miller Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5656 grady_miller@ncsu.edu
Dr. Thomas Rufty Jr. Professor 919.515.3660 tom_rufty@ncsu.edu
Dr. Charles Peacock Professor 919.515.3667 charles_peacock@ncsu.edu
Dr. Wei Shi Professor 919.513.4641 wei_shi@ncsu.edu
Dr. Rongda Qu Professor 919.515.7616 rongda_qu@ncsu.edu
Dr. Fred Yelverton Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5639 fred_yelverton@ncsu.edu
Dr. Travis Gannon Assistant Professor 919.515.2647 travis_gannon@ncsu.edu Matt Martin Extension Associate, Turfgrass 910675.2314 matthew_martin@ncsu.edu
ENTOMOLOGY AND PLANT PATHOLOGY Dr. Terri Billeisen Extension Associate 919.515.7464 tlhoctor@ncsu.edu
Lee Butler Extension Coordinator 919.513.3878 elbutler@ncsu.edu
Dr. Rick Brandenburg Wm. Neal Reynolds Professor 919.515.8876 rick_brandenburg@ncsu.edu
Dr. James Kerns Associate Professor 919.513.4820 jpkerns@ncsu.edu
Dr. Rob Richardson Associate Professor & Extension Specialist 919.515.5653 rob_richardson@ncsu.edu
HORTICULTURE SCIENCE Dr. Danesha Seth Carley Director, Southern IPM Center & Associate Professor 919.513.8189 danesha_carley@ncsu.edu
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The Turfgrass Council of North Carolina (TCNC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, North Carolina Turfgrass, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or TCNC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright Š 2020 by the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina. North Carolina Turfgrass is published bi-monthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of TCNC. Presorted standard postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: North Carolina Turfgrass allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to TCNC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, 615.790.3718, Fax 615.794.4524.
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The Turfgrass Group.......... Inside Front Cover www.theturfgrassgroup.com Turf Mountain Sod, Inc.................................11 www.turfmountain.com Vandemark Farms...........................................7 www.vandemarkfarms.com
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