Maintaining Soil Physical Properties in Athletic Fields Using Alternative Technology

Abstract

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 Aug. 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 field in Starkville, MS. Treatments included a combination of HT cultivation, DI cultivation at three frequencies and two depths (12.6 and 24.4 cm), and HT combined with three DI cultivation programs. Hollow‐tine treatments were applied once each year (July). The DI treatments were applied at various frequencies during June, July, and August over the 2‐yr study with a DryJect Maximus. Hollow‐tine treatments significantly reduced surface firmness compared with five DI 12.6‐cm‐depth applications over 2 yr. Incorporating HT into two DI applications to the 24.4‐cm depth reduced surface firmness by 12% compared with two DI applications to the 12.6‐cm depth. No differences in thatch‐mat depth, organic matter concentration, chlorophyll index, normalized difference vegetative index, and turfgrass recovery were observed. Results indicate that DI cultivation used once per year over a 2‐yr period at the 24.4‐cm depth combined with HT on a native soil athletic field is an effective option to reduce soil compaction.