Regular aeration is essential to ensure that pitch quality is maintained throughout the playing season. The impact not carrying out these operations can be high, resulting in lost training sessions or cancelled fixtures, which will impact club, members, and players, often resulting in lost revenue for the facility.
The purpose behind all aerating techniques is to maintain or increase the proportion of pore space within the soil structure. Under the influence of play and maintenance practices, pore spaces become constricted as compaction increases.
Compaction of the root zone layer leads to ponding or more extensive water logging, thatch build up and a reduction in playing days.
The surface also suffers unnecessary damage during play or training. Once such a situation is noted, deterioration in sward quality shows in rapid weed grass infestation.
In addition to maintaining free drainage, aeration has other positive benefits. An open, dry soil structure will warm more quickly in the spring promoting root extension, and will enhance the percolation of irrigation water during drought summers.
Aeration best carried out when the soil is dry enough to crack to increase the pore space. If the soil it too wet the tine will smear the sides of the hole sealing it up.
Benefits:
• Improves soil surface drainage (water infiltration)
• Increases soil pore space.
• Allows gaseous exchanges in the soil (oxygen in, carbon dioxide out)
• Improves root growth and development
• Aids integration of topdressings into the soil profile
• Aids the breakdown of thatch/organic matter
Practical Tips:
• Unless trained, volunteers should not be allowed to use the tractor-mounted equipment.
• Hand forking is best carried out by 2 to 4 people. Sharing task ensures more detailed coverage.
• Review the soil profile by taking a core.
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