BY PHIL BROWN AND DR. BERT MCCARTY

Understanding andminimizing soil compaction

oil compaction is becoming an ever more prevalent problemwithin the turf world. With the surge of athletic events andpractice on a limited number of fields, unhealthy turf andplaying conditions are emerging. Facilities wishing to attractadditional revenue are facing the situation where the more

customers they attract, the greater the traffic on the turf and thus, the greater theamount of soil compaction.

Soil compaction is the pressing together of soil particles, resulting in a moredense soil mass with less pore space. When the soil particles push together, theyoccupy a smaller space, thus, are considered compact.

Compaction occurs in areas receiving the most traffic. Athletic training fieldsare a high compaction riskdue to the near dailyusage and the evolution oflarger and stronger partici-pants. Other areas at riskare recreational fieldsopen to almost unlimitedplay and practice. It is notjust foot traffic causingcompaction, but alsovehicular traffic. Dailymowing, periodic topdress-ing, and fertilizing requireheavy machinery to per-form, thus, additionalsources of compaction.

Soil compaction canoccur at any time, howev-er it is most acute whenthe soil is wet. This isfrom the water in the soilacting as a lubricant, moreeasily allowing the soilparticles to slide past eachother with less resistancethan when they are dry. This is amplified when soil high in silt or clay is used dur-ing construction. These soils remain wet longer following rain and the smaller sizeof these soil particles allows them to press closer together.

ing soil particles to move closer to one another, reducing pore space.These physical changes can have detrimental effects on turfgrass growth such

as decreased root growth, decreased shoot growth, reduced carbohydrate reserves,and decline in overall quality. Destruction of the soil structure also may occur.The resulting soil often becomes "hard as a brick" when dry and a "mud hole"when wet. The turf eventually thins, potholes develop, and the resulting hard sur-faces can cause player injury.

PreventionConstructing fields with sands that do not compact is the first step in prevent-

ing soil compaction. This involves replacing the existing soil with a pre-approvedsand-based rootzone mix thatbalances good water man-agement and compactionprevention. Unfortunatelysand-based athletic fields aremore expensive to build.

The most common wayof reducing compaction ofexisting soil is through theuse of soil cultivation tech-niques. Most of these tech-niques operate by physicallyaltering the soil profile insome way, be it by removingparts of the soil or by alteringthe structure of the soil. Agreat deal of diversity existsamong the cultivation tech-niques available.

The most popularmethod of reducing existingsoil compaction is hollowtine aerification. Hollow tineaerifiers are hollow tubes 1/2to 3/4-inch in diameter and

3 to 12-inches long, designed to pull plugs out of the soil, thus, reduce the amount.of soil per unit area. They operate on the principle that if less soil is present then alower mass per unit area (or bulk density) results. Note that hollow tine aerifica-tion can disrupt the surface considerably, the equipment can be expensive, andgenerally requires a medium sized tractor.

The disruption cause by hollow tines has increased the popularity of solid tineaerification. Solid tines are designed to enter the soil vertically and shatter (dis-rupt) the structure of the soil as they are retracted from it. Since solid tines do notpull out plugs of soil like hollow tines, they require very little clean up, saving onlabor costs, and helping keep the playing surface smoother. However, there is aquestion over the effectiveness of solid tines since they do not remove any soilmaterial and therefore might not be reducing the bulk density of the soil.

Adaptations to hollow and solid tine aerification include both deep tine aerifi-cation and spiking. Deep tine aerifiers are hollow and solid tine aerifiers able to

Problems causedCompaction can also cause a number of soil problems, including an increase

in bulk density, an increase in soil strength or firmness, a reduced aeration porosi-ty, and an altered pore size distribution when soils are highly pressed together.

Bulk density is a measure of mass or weight per unit area. In compacted situa-tions, due to the increase in number of soil particles in the area, the mass willincrease. This also contributes to the reduction in aeration porosity, as the closersoil particles are to one another, less pore space exists. Sufficient pore space allowsair, water, and other nutrients to enter the soil, a reduction in this eventually leadsto poor turf. Non-uniform pore size distribution also can contribute to this, caus-

16 February 2005 SPORTSTURF • http://www.greenmediaonline.com

or a series of teeth set on a rotating blade.Similar to slicing is grooming.

Grooming operates in a similar mannerbut the blades are attached to a walk-behind mower. The blades used in groom-ing are much smaller and thinner thanthose used in slicing as the technique isgenerally used in the prevention of matand grain formation on turfgrass. Theblades are powered to revolve against thedirection of machine movement. Due tothe shallow blades, grooming is unlikely tohave a great deal of effect on deep com-pact areas but helps in alleviating or pre-venting compaction in the upper soil pro-file.

Supplements to the use of machineryinclude reducing or altering the traffic pat-

tern on the turf, especially when the soil is excessively wet. On football and soccerfields concentrated practices should be performed or rotated on different parts ofthe field. Using only lightweight machinery and minimizing its use and practicewhen soils are saturated also help prevent soil compaction.

Soil compaction is a serious issue among the turfgrass community and one thathas possible legal ramifications. It can cause the deterioration of turf quality and bea danger to participants. Take steps to relieve this problem or eventually undesirableturf and soil conditions will develop.

penetrate to depths of up to 12 inches.Spiking is similar to solid tine aerificationexcept the tines are thinner and shorter.Spiking is designed where the surface ofthe turf requires as little disturbance aspossible.

The hydroject operates on a similarprinciple to solid tine aerification butinstead of a tine, high-pressured jets ofwater are used. The water is pushed intothe soil under pressures of 2000 psienabling it to reach a depth of roughly 8inches. The water not only aids in therelief of compaction but helps water pene-trate to the lower parts of the soil profile,redistributes organic matter in the soil,and wet hydrophobic (excessively dry) soil.

Another technique that operates in asimilar way to the original solid and hollow tine aerifiers is "drill-n-fill." Drillinginvolves using a piece of machinery with drill bits attached to it. The bits are drilledinto the ground, creating deep holes. As is the nature of a drill, some soil from thehole is brought up to the surface, lowering bulk density. This, however, is not in thesame quantities as conventional hollow tine aerification. Some machines allow thehole to be filled with sand and tend to cause less surface disruption than conven-tional aerifiers. Unfortunately these machines are relatively slow when compared toother aerifiers but do not disrupt the surface as much as deep-tine aerification.

Other techniques use a horizontal motion. Slicing, for example, is using arolling blade to cut slits into the soil. The slicer helps break up the soil surface,reducing surface compaction as it does so. Slicing also helps soil water and airexchange and slices algae and turfgrass runners. Slicing blades can be continuous

Phil Brown earned his Master's degree under Dr. McCarty at ClemsonUniversity and now is working on his Ph.D. in soil physics at Clemson. Hecan be reached at philipb@clemson.edu.

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18 SPORTSTURF • http://www.greenmediaonline.comFebruary 2005

Keep sof bal maintenancecosts in the ballparkBY MARK NOVAK AND PATRICK MAGUIRE

As the days grow longer, the first signs of spring bring with it the excite-ment of a new season. Yet, whatever opportunities the season may bringfor athletes, athletic fields bring their own set of management chal-

lenges: how to increase usage and improve field conditions on limited budgets.With the unique combination of skinned infields, turf areas and other facility ele-ments, softball fields are some of the most difficult athletic facilities to properlymaintain. Attention to detail and creative athletic field design can help to reducescheduling headaches and keep annual maintenance costs in the ballpark.Following are several cost-effective techniques that will help to improve playingconditions and increase the life span of softball facilities:

Customize the infield mix. Composed primarily of sand, silt and clay, the"skinned" area of a softball field might be the most delicate and maintenanceintense component of all athletic field surfaces. In fact, many high-level facilitieshave staff dedicated solely to the upkeep of softball (and baseball) facilities.

Determining the composition of an infield mix directly influences both theplayability of the field, and how well it will respond to various weather conditions.Across the country there is an enormous variety in climatic conditions and just asmany variations in infield mix design. In New England, weather ranges from coldand wet months in the spring and fall, to hot and dry during the summer. A typicalratio for an infield mix in the northeastern portion of the country also reflects thearea's climatic conditions: 60-75% sand, 9-25% silt and 16-25% clay. The high per-centage of sand helps keep the infield mix playable in the spring and fall while thepercentage of clay helps maintain the skinned area's moisture during the dry sum-mer months. Each softball field is unique and the design of the infield mix shouldbe considered the same.

Water efficiently. Watering the skinned areas is necessary to maintain a consis-tent infield mix. Water is the glue that holds the components of the infield mixtogether. During the softball season and the hot, dry months of summer, skinnedareas can require water up to three to four times daily.

Springfield College in Springfield, MA, last year experienced an extremelydusty softball infield. The college's president called in a design consultant to assess

20 February 2005

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SPORTSTURF • http://www.greenmediaonline.com

and recommend renovation methods for the softball facility. Tests of the infield mixat the softball field showed a high percentage of silt. Dusty conditions on an infieldcan often be attributed to an infield mix that is high in silt and is not wateredenough.

Many natural grass athletic complexes have in-ground, head-to-head irrigationsystems. Instead of hand watering the field three to four times per day, considerinstalling a separate irrigation zonethat waters the infield mix at a differ-ent time and rate than the turf areas.High-speed irrigation heads shouldbe used in this type of application.Standard irrigation heads provide aslower, more thorough wateringwhich is required for turf areas. Thehigh-speed heads allow sports turfmanagers to initiate a quick irriga-tion cycle that will moisten theinfield mix without saturating theskinned areas. The incorporation ofa high pressure water hook-up nearthe infield is also advisable to aid inthe lip removal process at the borderof the infield surfaces and turf areas.Watering efficiently will save timeand dollars.

Cover up and support high-useareas. Keep maintenance at a mini-mum by purchasing a cover.Watering and then covering theskinned areas of a field when thefield is not in use will help theinfield mix retain its moisture andthereby prevent it from drying upand becoming concrete-like. Oncean infield mix is allowed to dry up, itrequires a significant amount ofman-hours and dollars to return it toa playable condition. Also considerinstalling clay bricks underneath theinfield mix to fortify batters boxesand pitcher's mounds.

Think about the following: Whatis the first thing a batter does whenhe/she steps into the batter's box?What is the first thing a pitcher doeswhen he/she takes the mound? Theydig themselves a firm foothold. Claybricks are installed approximately 2inches underneath the top layer ofinfield mix and prevent deep rutsthat will require repair after everygame or practice.

Test the infield mix. Infield mixtests are an essential component inthe renovation and maintenance ofskinned athletic surfaces. Considerthe constantly evolving nature of thenatural grass portions of softball (andbaseball) fields. Soil tests should beconducted a few times a year to ana-lyze the chemical and physical prop-erties of the turf's rootzone. Muchlike natural grass, the composition ofinfield mixes evolves over time andshould be tested annually. Annualmaintenance of skinned infield areastypically requires the addition ofamendments such as calcined clay.

Play on the infield, water and wind born erosion, and amendments will change theproperties of the infield mix. Annual tests help determine what the skinned areasneed to keep their composition in synch with the properties of the original designmIX.

Improve drainage. Under perfect conditions, skinned infields with qualityinfield mixes are exceptional playing surfaces. Unfortunately, perfect conditions

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green sCience

cannot be guaranteed over thecourse of a softball season. Poor sur-face drainage is usually the primaryreason why a skinned infield areafails. Internal drainage is poor evenin the best-designed infield mixes.Considering subsurface drainage haslittle or no effect under skinnedinfield surfaces, facilities are bettersuited spending money and time dur-ing design and construction to main-tain positive surface drainage awayfrom the infield.

When possible, design swales tointercept water from surroundingareas before it has a chance to crossthe infield mix or any of the playingsurfaces. Insufficient drainage willonly create additional maintenanceheadaches for athletic and facilitydepartments. If an infield does notdrain properly, the condition of thefield will deteriorate immediately when used during or shortly after inclementweather. Use of drying agents can help to keep a field playable during a light rainbut proper design, intricate grading of the infield during construction and regularmaintenance is the best way to ensure your field will be suitable for play in a shortperiod of time after inclement weather.

Make the grade. How the infield is graded (the way the ball rolls) significantlyaffects the playability of the field and thus the potential safety of the athletes. TheNCAA provides recommendations and guidelines on how fields should be graded

with emphasis on consistencythroughout the entire field(www.ncaa.org). Other softball orga-nizations, such as the ASA, also pro-vide design standards that all fieldsshould strive to at least meet.Working with a design consultant tomeet and exceed standards willavoid jeopardizing player safety andenhance field playability.

Involve the team. The mainte-nance required for softball (andbaseball) infields can be staggering,especially for understaffed mainte-nance crews. Consider involving theteams that use your field. Teams tak-ing an active role in maintenancecan unload a considerable burdenfrom the staff. Involving the athletesin weeding, raking, watering down,and covering the field can helpthem get to know the field better, as

well as instill a sense of pride in the facility.Softball fields are dynamic facilities that will always require the attention of a

skillful and creative maintenance staff. For programs working with limited funds,good design decisions can improve playing conditions and reduce the chances forserious renovations in the near future.

Patrick Maguire is the president and Mark Novak is a project manager ofGeller Sport, a division of Geller DeVellis Inc., a Boston-based landscape

22 February2005

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Preventing winterkill with data loggersver the past few winters, turf in the northeast United Stateshave been subjected to some of the most extreme weatherconditions seen in decades. Steve Thys, superintendent ofthe Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts, says that twowinters ago, he did a routine check of one of his greens after

snowfall on an already covered ground. According to Thys, "Everything looked aslush green as it had in November because it had not hardened off by the time thefirst snowfall fell." Just a little over a week later, he checked the green again, onlyto find winterkill.

"Something happened during those ten days, but it was impossible for us topinpoint any specific weather occurrence," Thys says. "Nevertheless, we had a bigproblem on our hands, and it was a race against time to get the damage repairedsince our members flock to the course the minute the snow melts."

Thys' story is so common in the Northeast that that he and other superinten-dents are beginning to monitor greens in the off-seasons with battery-powered dataloggers.

Data loggers are compact instruments that incorporate built-in micro process-ing, high-accuracy temperature sensing, and battery power in an enclosuredesigned for long-term deployment outdoors. Loggers can be placed under turfcovers during the winter months, where they will collect temperature data at user-defined intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes) and store it digitally into logger memory.

Data loggers are perhaps one of the simplest and most straightforward of PC-based technologies. Using them involves four basic steps: logger set-up, deploy-

ment, data retrieval, and analysis.Setting up a logger is typically done by connecting the device to a PC and

using accompanying logger software to make a number of point-and-click selec-tions. These include how often the logger should take a turf temperature measure-ment, and the specific date and time the logger should start recording.Deployment involves determining optimal placement of the logger on the greenand physically installing the logger under its covering. Data retrieval can beaccomplished manually, where the turf manager offloads the collected data onto aPC, laptop or data shuttle, or, in certain cases, automatically, where the loggertransmits the data to a PC via wireless communications.

Analysis of the data is typically performed using the accompanying data loggersoftware to translate the data into time/date-stamped graphs that show spikes anddrops in turf canopy temperature over the given data collection period.

Peter Hasak, superintendent of Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead, MA, hasbeen experimenting with data loggers and various types of greens covers to under-stand the differential temperatures above and below the cover surfaces and to cor-relate that data with potential damage to the greens.

"While we've typically been using translucent covers that let a lot of sunlightin, we are looking at making the change to solid white covers in some areas," hesays. "The idea of bringing solid white covers into this part of New England is rela-tively new, but it's an idea worth considering in certain situations." ST

This article was supplied by Onset Computer Corp., www.onsetcomp.com.

http://www.sportsturfmanager.com • STMA

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SPORTSTURF 23

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TURFACE PRO LEAGUETURFACE Pro League from Profile Products is designed to increase safety, playability and drainage for base-

ball and softball infields at any level. Manufactured with smaller, uniform particles, Pro League is the onlypatented calcined clay infield soil conditioner on the market. Pro League conditions infield soils for exceptionalsliding and fielding surfaces.Profile Products/800-207-6457For information, circle 091 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/4570-091

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24 February2005

PRO'S CHbIC.EPSoilmaster Select soil condition-

er from Pro's Choice gives youthe look of a professional ball-park. Its uniformly sized particleblend makes it the perfect infieldtopdressing. Pro Mound, a bluegumbo packing clay, bonds toform a solid subsurface player'scan really dig into and holds upseason after season.OilOri/80o-648-1166For information, circle 095 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/4570-095

GAME-ONGAME-ON is a new sports field

soil conditioner that will not breakyour budget. The lightweight,expanded shale product absorbsmore than 20% of its weight inwater, and can be more durablethan clay products and tends notto break down and blow away.Available both bagged and bulkdirect from the manufacturer.Distributors wanted.Haydite/888-593-0395For information, circle 092 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca!4s·/0-092

SPORTSTURF • http://www.greenmediaonline.com

TURF PREPPioneer's TURF PREP sports field conditioner helps eliminate standing rainwater on baseball and soft-

ball fields. Apply Turf Prep at the beginning of the season to create a more porous soil composition thathelps improve drainage and reduce drying time. It also helps reduce the risk of injury and by minimizingslippery conditions 'and by acting as a cushion on the field surface. Available in green for turf applications.Pioneer Manufacturing!8oo-S'77-1500For information, circle 093 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca!457o-093

BEAM CLAYPartac/Beam Clay makes special

mixes for infields, pitcher's mounds,home plate areas, red warning tracks,infield conditioners, drying agents,plus more than 200 other infield prod-ucts, including regional infield mixesblended for every state and climatefrom bulk plants nationwide.Partac/BeamFor information, circle 094 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/457o-094

MAR-CDCia, Products Inc.

MAR-CO CLAYMar-Co has developed four con-

centration amendments targetingmajor causes of poor infields. Sendtest sample of your playing surfaceto Mar-Co to establish the correctamendment. Then Mar-Co deliversin 1.5 ton super sacks. Apply theconcentrated amendment yourself,and you're ready to play.Mar-Co Clay!800-800-950-2555For information, circle 097 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/4570-097

o I nne ever,see e uniqueaeration and subsurface injection of DryJect®.

Nobody has ever seen before the unique, dynamicpattern of three dimensional channels that arecreated by a typical DryJed application, The aggressivesubsurface changes created allow for air, water andnutrients to feed the root zone like no other systemon the market today without disrupting the surface,DryJect has been used on some of the nation's topgolf venues including Oakmont, Winged Footand Merion. Also, the Dallas Cowboys TrainingCenter uses DryJect,

Over two dozen Contracting ServiceCenter franchises nationally,DryJect has a location near you.

Contact details for authorized DryJect contractors(franchises) are listed on the web. Interested franchisecandidates contact the Administrative Offices at800-270-8873 or email info@dryject.com.

© Advanced Agro Technologies, Inc; DryJect LLC. 2005

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Only DryJect Contractors give you this3 dimensional, dynamic effect.DryJect does two unique functions at once. First, as an aerator. Most aeration equipmentpunches, drills or slits; some pull plugs. Only DryJect aerates three dimensionally-side to side,front to back and even connects hole to hole. There's no glazing of hole walls, broken tineson buried rocks, changing tines or depth concerns of cracking drainage or other buried lines.It's a revolutionary concept using powered water - a patented Venturi process - to open thesoil for air, water and amendments in high volume without disturbing the surface.

Secondly, it's the only machine that can inject while aerating. Following a water blastinto the turf, it instantaneously injects a selection of flowable dry amendments - sand, peat,diatomaceous earth, calcine clay, zeolites, top dressing, seed, wetting agents, insecticides, orbiological products, you selectthe mix, For root zone modification, DryJect can use about oneton of material per green.

DryJect Service Center Contractors eliminate the traditional need for a crew to drag, filland remove cores; saving a tremendous amount of labor and time. Some have calculatedsavings into six figures for a year. What's more, DryJect allows you to start a soil modificationprogram even as part of your regular aeration,

Why own equipment when you can contract for it with an authorized, experiencedDryJect Service Center Contractor? With over two dozen territories nationally, there's adependable DryJect contractor near you. Check out the full animation on our website orphone today for more details, pricing.

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SPORTSTURF 25

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surfactants designed for in-line hose applica-tions. Specially formulated to provide a rescuetreatment for localized dry spot (LOS), EZ Tabsare packaged in a disposable, container that eliminates the need for handlingtablets. EZ Tabs is the latest product addition to the Precision Zone Surfactantproduct portfolio that includes Cascade(tm} Plus, Magnus(tm} and Duplexttrn).Used alone or in conjunction with a comprehensive water management program,each EZ Tab container covers approximately 12,000-18,000 square feet of turfand lasts up to 40 minutes in conventional in-line hose applicators.Precision Labs/800-323-6280For information, circle 099 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/457o -099

MAR MIXMar Mix is a natural product that is screened, red in

color, percolates water; sand/silt/clay blend makes foran excellent choice of infield materials. Processed bySouthern Athletic Fields and used on professionalfields, colleges and universities, high schools and parksand recreation departments. Photo is the Hoover MetStadium, Hoover, AL, and site of the SEC BaseballTournament.Southern Athletic Fields/80o-837-8062For information, circle 096 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/4570-096

VITA-AERVita-AER is a natural organic and mineral treatment that

optimizes the soil environment. It recharges and replenishesessential biological characteristics, thereby creating a dynamicequilibrium. Complex organic compounds flocculate the soilstructure to produce 100% aeration, added moisture capacity,and enhanced root growth. Unlike traditional plant health prod-ucts, Vita-AER works from the soil up, not from the plant down.GreenPro Services/8oo-645-6464For information, circle 098 orsee http://www.oners.ims.ca/457o-098

Hilltopper® Infieldsare Unbeatable!

The Premier Softball Infield, Waterless, Mudless, ~When you visit a Hilltopper Infield you're seeing the best in play along with unbeatablylow maintenance. After rain, a properly graded field will drain and be quickly ready for play.In dry conditions, the field plays and acts consistentlyas though it has been watered and worked. Find outwhy the move is to Hilltopper Infields.

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26 February 2005

AerWays start at under $3,500

Aerate All Year Long!Aeration needs changewith the seasons -from earlyestablishment and growth, tomaintenance midseason,and then to topdressing andoverseeding as circumstancespermit.

Design Your Own Aerator!Only AerWay® lets youchoose a frame size and styleto suit your power unit, andadd any of our quick-changetined rollers (Shattertine",Sportstine", Finetine", CoringTine) that suit the seasonalrequirement.

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