Maintaining Soil Physical Properties in Athletic Fields Using Alternative Technology

Cultivation practices on athletic fields reduce compaction caused by continuous traffic from sporting events; however, this cultural practice can reduce turf coverage and quality. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of combining dry injection (DI) cultivation with a traditional hollow-tine (HT) cultivation program on soil physical properties. Research was conducted from 1 May to 31 August, 2014 and 2015 on a native soil ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. ´ C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy] playing surface at the Mississippi State University practice football in Starkville, MS. Treatments included combinations of 1.27 cm diameter HT cultivation and DI cultivation. Hollow-tine treatments were applied once each year (July) with 2.54 cm spacing set to a depth of 7.6 cm. The DI treatments were applied at various frequencies during June, July, and August over the two year period with a DryJect Maximus with 15.4 x 12.6 cm nozzle spacing set to two depths 12.6 cm and 24.4 cm. Parameters evaluated included surface firmness, water infiltration rate (7.6 to 10.4 cm depth), bulk density, thatch-mat depth, organic matter concentration, volumetric water content (3.8 and 7.6 cm depth), and visual percent recovery. HT treatments significantly reduced surface firmness compared to the DI 5 (total number of DI applications over the 2-yr study) (12.6 cm depth) treatment. Incorporating HT into DI 2 (24.4 cm depth) treatment reduced surface firmness by 12% compared to DI 2 (12.6 cm depth). No differences in thatch-mat depth, organic matter concentration, chlorophyll index, normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), and percent visual recovery were observed. Results indicate DI cultivation utilized once a year over a two-year period at the 24.4 cm depth combined with HT on a native soil athletic field is an effective option to reduce VWC and soil compaction.