Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 8.4. Rotating flat tines slice vertically through the turf and soil, reducing
compaction and improving aeration.
Subsoil
(or simply 'sub')
aerification
is a cultivation method in which
bullet-shaped devices are forced through the deeper soil zones to break
up compacted layers below the surface. Sub aerification is usually per-
formed on moderately dry soil and requires a tractor generating a sub-
stantial amount of mechanical power.
Forking
is a cultivation method in which a fork or similar solid-tine
device is used to make holes in the turf. Forking is performed on high-
maintenance turfs such as golf greens and some sport fields, especially
those that have developed localized dry spots. The holes are usually
slender and deep, up to 20 cm, and the surface is not disrupted.
Water-injection aerification
is very effective, but also quite expensive to
carry out. A special machine injects 'bullets' of water, under very high
pressure, into the turf surface. The drops or streams of water relieve soil
compaction without any disruption to the surface.
Thatch Control
The second most important reason to cultivate turf-grasses is thatch
control. Thatch is a layer of living and dead grass stems, roots and
