Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
Turf Cultivation, Compaction
and Thatch
In agriculture, the term
cultivation
refers mainly to the tilling of soil, but in
turf-grass management, it refers to the mechanical processes used to
loosen the soil, break up undesired soil layers, remove thatch, stimulate
turf growth, as well as to modify the soil surface. Cultivation is usually
conducted on higher-quality turfs and involves techniques such as cor-
ing, slicing, spiking, forking, water injection, verticutting, top-dressing
and rolling. Cultivation, although necessary, also causes a certain amount
of stress, temporarily worsens turf appearance and may create conditions
favourable for invasion by pests.
Soil Compaction
Compaction is defined as reduction in soil volume. Compressing forces
from vehicular and foot traffic presses individual soil particles closer
together, resulting in a denser soil mass. Compaction does not directly
reduce turf-grass activity but rather affects its growth by influencing soil
properties. The primary effect of soil compaction is reduction in pore
volume and redistribution of pore sizes. These changes influence many
other physical properties of soil, such as aeration, water retention, drain-
age and mechanical impedance to root growth. A reduced ratio of macro-
pores to micropores may result in higher soil moisture content, but the
water may be held so tightly that its availability to plants is limited.
