Technical It’s been eight years since our last
in-depth look at aeration techniques and, in that time, there have been a number of technical advances, new theories and new machines that have had a significant impact.
So, Laurence Gale MSc dusts off the parchment to provide an updated article asking that age old question ...
Regular and seasonal aeration is essential to ensure turfgrass quality is maintained throughout the playing seasons of most fine and field turf facilities. The impact and cost of not carrying out these operations can be high, resulting in lost or cancelled fixtures, which will have other impacts for club members and users, often resulting in lost revenue for the facility. So, why do we need to aerate? The vast majority of turfgrass swards are grown in a medium consisting of a blend of soil and sand (in varying degrees) that provide a suitable environment for plant growth. This growing medium, commonly referred to as the rootzone, is made up of differing proportions of soil solids (mineral and organic material) and soil pores (for water and air). Maintaining the correct balance of these components is critical for sustaining healthy plant growth. The spaces between the particles of solid material are just as important to the nature of soil, as are the solids themselves. It is in these pore spaces which create the environment for the plant to obtain the necessary nutrients, air and water it requires to respire and grow. These pore spaces can vary in size and are generally classified into two sizes - macro pores (larger than 0.08mm) and micro pores (less than 0.08mm). Macro pores generally allow movement of air and the drainage of water, and are large enough to accommodate plant roots and micro-organisms found in the soil. The ability to retain a good balance of macro pores in soil structure is essential for maintaining grass plant health. It is when these macro pores are either reduced in size, or filled with water, that we see deterioration in surface playability and resistance to wear. The main contributing factor that reduces and damages pore spaces in soil is compaction, typically caused by compression forces normally associated with play and use of machinery, particularly during wet weather periods. Over time, these compression forces reduce the pore spaces so that air, water and nutrient flow through the soil profile is restricted, and leads to the many problems associated with compaction. There are two distinct types of problems on winter games surfaces; one is compaction by treading (30-
I
will begin by explaining the reasons why we need to aerate, and then go on to explain the choice of equipment we now have at our disposal, giving examples of how it can be used and on which type of playing surface.
106 PC APRIL/MAY 2012
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