SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/113699
Tools&Equipment | Aeration WIEDENMANN'S WILL WOLVERTON ON AERIFICATION healthy field is goal of every sports turf manager. To get that superior field, one very important requirement is a high number of plants per square inch. To achieve this you need soil conditions of approximately 45% minerals, 25% air pores, 25% water pores, and 5% organic matter. Quite often the number of air pores is reduced due to compaction and poor water infiltration, which causes saturation, meaning that the roots of the grass cannot breathe as they are literally drowned in water. Aerification, especially at deeper depths, can resolve this issue by punching through any "black layer or hard pan," thus reducing compaction which increases water, air, and nutrient exchange to the roots. As a result, root depth will increase causing healthier leaf production and improved resistance during stress conditions. This can be accomplished with either solid tines or coring tines. One advantage of using coring tines is the ability to reduce thatch while reducing de- A compaction. The downside is the mess that is left on the field from the cores. There are some new machines on the market that help with this clean-up process. One particular machine collects the cores and transfers them into four rotating screens that separate the sand from the organic material (thatch). The sand is then returned to the field and the thatch is collected. This saves time, labor, and the cost of sand or topdressing material. Aerifiers and complementary machines continue to advance to make the aerification process easier and faster while creating great results. GreenSlicer for aeration GreensGroomer WorldWide, Inc. presents the GreenSlicer for cost-effective aeration needs. Developed and launched in 2006 for the golf course market, it provides the ability to spike or aerate without all of the complex machinery. The GreensSlicer is an affordable alternative to motorized methods, a ground-driven, well-engineered performer that satisfies the needs of sports turf professionals. It's a low disruption tool that opens up the upper turf profile, allowing for improved water and oxygen infiltration. Strictly a tow-behind unit, the GreensSlicer doesn't require hydraulics, PTO, or separate power source. It's easy to adjust cutting depth with its simple water tank ballast and the split-tine shafts prevent turf tearing when cornering. GreensGroomer WorldWide, Inc. Redexim's Verti-Drain "Bullet" The new model Verti-Drain "Bullet" has working widths of 60" and 80" and can be used with tractors of 35-50 hp. It has working speeds near 3 mph hence making it easily the highest production aerator ever built. All models are equipped with maintenance free, self lubricated sealed bearings on all pivot points, three speed gearbox, and the patented parallelogram action. These Verti-Drain models are fast and strong, penetrating nine inches into the soil. Depth adjustments are done from the tractor seat as adjustments of the front and rear rollers are done hydraulically. Redexim North America Toro's ProCore 648 Toro's ProCore 648 is the most productive walk greens aerator with a 48" coring swath. Its innovative wheels-behind design eliminates crushed cores and hole damage. The TrueCore ground following system maintains consistent coring depth and consistently round holes are achieved through elastomer RotaLink geometry. The ProCore 648 is also easy and safe to operate: a single switch on the handle controls the tine head and a handle ball engages forward and reverse. The Toro Company Turfco expands TurnAer XT5 product line Turfco revolutionized aeration with the patented and patent-pending TurnAer™ XT5 steerable and reversible aerator. Now with engine options, increased speed and a new weight system, the XT5 is more efficient and performs better on hills. The XT5 aerator is now available with an optional one-gallon-tank Subaru engine or a Briggs & Stratton engine. With a new gear ratio system, the aeration speed is increased by 14%. More ground can be covered in less time without sacrificing quality or the ability to turn while aerating. The new weight system allows operators to adjust the weight in the back of the aerator, improving hill performance and control on hills. Operators can take advantage of the enhanced speed on hills, while still maintaining control. Turfco Direct John Deere Aercores The Aercore 1500 is tractor-mounted with a heavy-duty frame, tine rams and adjustable hole spacing and increases productivity while providing flexibility needed on the job. The 1500 can pull as many as 30 cores per square foot, depending on the ground speed of the tractor, and is compatible with the John Deere Twenty Series compact utility tractors. The Aercore 2000 has an 80-inch coring swath, produces good quality coring holes up to 4 inches deep, and can cover 100,066 square feet per hour. Operators have a choice of two coring patterns, a 2.4-inch pattern or a 3.2-inch pattern, depending on the speed of movement. John Deere 38 SportsTurf | March 2013 www.sportsturfonline.com