An Alternative Approach to Aerification for a Tifway Bermudagrass Athletic Field.

Aerification practices on athletic fields reduce compaction caused by continuous traffic from sporting events; however, this cultural practice can reduce turf coverage and quality. Currently, athletes’ and viewers’ expectation create challenges for athletic field mangers to create a safe, yet aesthetically pleasing playing surface. Therefore, objectives of this research were to determine the right combination of DryJect (DJ) technology with modified traditional aerification program to achieve minimal surface disruption without a compromise in soil physical properties, safety, and playability. The research was conducted at the Mississippi State University practice football field on a native soil bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon (L.) Tifway (419) playing surface. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Treatments included a combination of 1.27 cm (HT1.27) diameter tine sizes and DJ from June to August. HT1.27 was applied once (5 July) with 2.54 cm spacing at a 5.05cm depth. DryJect treatments were applied either 1, 2, or 3 times from June to August with nozzle spacing at 15.43 x 12.7 cm and at depths of 12.7 cm and 15.24 cm. Data collection included surface firmness, hydraulic conductivity, bulk density, chlorophyll index, normalized difference vegetative index, thatch depth, thatch accumulation, volumetric soil water content (3.81 and 12.20 cm depth), and percent recovery. July DJ treatments had 100% coverage compared to HT1.27 treatments having 63% coverage 5 days after treatment (DAT).  At the final collection date (121 DAT), DJ June/July/August at a 15.24 cm depth had 25% lower bulk density compared to the control.  Compared to other treatments, the lowest thatch depth (121 DAT) was DJ June/July/August at a 12.7 cm depth. Jordan Craft