How to relieve golf course turf soil compaction?

When the soil is compacted, it is necessary to use the corresponding technology to remove the compaction. The methods of de-tightening used in golf course lawns include punching, cutting and puncturing.

?

A.?Turf Aeration

Turf aeration is the most effective way to relieve the tightness of the golf course lawn, generally divided into two types: hollow and solid.

The so-called hollow tine aeration is also called hole punching or core aeration, which is completed by a turf aerator. Hollow metal tines or hole-core tines are carried on the aerator. When these hollow tines?are pressed into the soil and lifted up, they will bring out the wedge-shaped soil blocks of the lawn, and at the same time leave some holes in the soil. The density of the holes , Diameter and depth vary depending on the type of machine. At present, the hole spacing of the core aerators is generally 5.1-15 cm, the diameter ranges from 8.3 to 19.1 mm, and the maximum hole depth is 7.6 to 10.2 cm. Generally speaking, the deeper the hole, the better the effect of core aeration?and the longer the holding time.

The solid tine aerator is a solid multi-head metal with the hole needle of the aerator. These solid needles are mechanically pressed into the soil to make holes. Since the holes are to squeeze the soil tightly without being dug out, the bottom and sides of these holes are also extremely tight. The depth of the solid hole is generally about 5cm in the green area, and its ventilation effect is far worse than that of core aeration.

Someone studied the two tasks and found that the effect of one hollow tine task is equivalent to the effect of four solid tine tasks. However, solid tine work has minimal damage to the surface of the lawn and will not have much impact on the normal operation of the stadium.

?

Pay attention to the relevant issues in aeration operations:

First, when the soil is too dry or too wet, aeration operations should not be carried out. The reason is that the soil is too dry to be compact and difficult to penetrate, and the tines are worn too much; the soil is too wet and the lawn is seriously damaged.

Second, in hot seasons, aeration operations are prone to dehydration of the lawn. The operation chain should be shortened as soon as possible and irrigated as much as possible.

Third,?the best time for warm-season lawns to carry out core aeration work is late spring and early summer; cold-season grasses are late summer and early autumn.

Fourth, for the greens, the core aeration operation is about once every three months. If the flow of people is too large, the ventilation effect may only be 2 months.

Therefore, the greens with frequent activities require several aeration operations during the year. If the soil compaction is severe, the aeration operation can be carried out across the lawn in several directions, so that a larger number of holes can be produced, and the aeration effect can be greatly improved. Solid tine aeration should alternate with hollow tine aeration. Solid tine punching can work at a time that is not conducive to hollow punching.

B. Verticutting and puncture

Verticutting and puncture are also a way to break soil compaction and increase air and water permeability. Verticutting is an operation that pierces the lawn with the help of slices installed on a disc to improve the aeration and water permeability of the lawn. The process of puncture is similar to that of verticutting, except that the length of the blade is different. The penetration depth of the former can reach about 5-10cm, and the latter is only 3cm. Of course, the depth of the two varies greatly depending on the degree of soil compaction. In addition, the incision is a continuous incision, and the puncture is a discontinuous incision, depending on the density of the V-shaped blade installed on the disc.

Although cutting and puncturing are a series of soil operation techniques used to reduce soil compaction like aeration operations, the effects of cutting and puncturing are temporary compared with turf aeration operations, unlike aeration, especially hollow tine operations. However, cutting and piercing do not need to be like core aeration operations to remove grass wedges. Therefore, the damage to the lawn is minimal. Dehydration also occurred in the midsummer hot season, but to a lesser extent.

Cut and puncture can be used on fairways or other lawns that are severely trampled on, which makes the soil too hard for core aeration operations. Another benefit of cutting and puncturing is to renew the lawn and prevent lawn aging and decline. After the lawn grows for many years, the underground root system flocculates together. At this time, this operation can cut off the stolons and rhizomes, which will help the production and growth of new shoots. Cutting and puncture can be done at any time. The number of operations depends on the development of the lawn, and is usually performed alternately with operations such as aeration. A small slicer is used on the green and a large slicer is used on the fairway. It is best to follow the cross-shaped direction during operation.