Determining the Importance of Leaf Compost Topdressing When Managing Athletic Fields Organically.

Effective July 1, 2010, the state of Connecticut banned the usage of all lawn care pesticides on athletic fields at public and private schools grades pre-K through 8. Currently, the research-based information regarding compost topdressing on athletic fields is limited. Additionally, research on compost topdressing applications to soils ranging in organic matter content is very limited. The specific objectives of this research was to determine the effects of leaf compost and sand topdressing incorporated with core cultivation on soil physical properties when applied to low and high organic matter soils, and evaluate the effects of leaf compost topdressing and sand topdressing incorporated with core cultivation on the traffic tolerance of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), ‘25% Award, 25% America, 25% Alpine, and 25% Northstar’. The study is arranged in a Latin rectangle with three treatments and six replications 1) Leaf compost topdressing applied at 6.3mm in the spring and fall, 2) Sand topdressing applied at 6.3mm in the spring and fall, and 3) No topdressing applied. Plots were split by core cultivation. Traffic simulation was conducted using a Cady Traffic Simulator during the fall to simulate a fall sports season. Leaf compost treatments consistently increased turfgrass color, percent cover, volumetric soil moisture and had lower surface hardness values on the low organic matter soil. Leaf compost treatments increased percent cover, volumetric soil moisture, and organic matter, while decreasing surface hardness values on the high organic matter soil.