Effects of Lightweight Rolling Frequencies on Athletic Field Surface and Subsurface Conditions.

Over the past decade lightweight rolling has become a frequently employed mechanical practice often performed daily on golf course putting greens. The increase in popularity can be traced to benefits discovered through research, including the reduction of several turfgrass pests without causing detriment to the plant or soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to review and evaluate the proven benefits of lightweight rolling on golf course  greens and investigate the practicality of those benefits in an athletic field setting at varying frequencies between 2 and 16 times per week. Simulated traffic was also looked at as a factor. Turfgrass characteristics evaluated throughout the research include turf color and quality, shear strength, surface hardness and smoothness, as well as soil moisture content. Upon completion of each year, root mass and saturated hydraulic conductivity were measured. After one season, evidence of improved surface smoothness was observed on plots that were rolled five times per week compared to the non-rolled check plots. Additionally, no evidence of detrimental effects have been observed due to rolling treatments.