Soil aeration has long been recognised as a technique that will deliver improved drainage and enhanced root growth in a grassland management scenario.
These principles are equally relevant from both an agricultural and sports turf maintenance perspective.
Three months ago, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) took delivery of a Verti-Drain 7521 aerator, developed by the Dutch manufacturer, Redexim.
It’s already making a very positive difference when it comes to the management of the university’s 16 playing pitches in the Malone area of south Belfast.
The aeration is delivered by steel tines that can be pushed to a depth of 18 inches below the surface of a grass playing area.
“We are using the machine on a weekly or twice weekly basis at the present time, depending on the individual pitch,” confirmed a member of QUB’s grounds care team, John Tumilson.
“But once we get into the winter, the machine is used every day,” he added.
According to Tumilson, the machine performs three tasks: one is to aerate the soil, the second is to reduce soil compaction and the third is to improve root growth.
Rollers at the front and back of the aerator act to retain a totally level playing surface.
“The tines go into the soil vertically but can be arranged to come out of the soil at a slight tilt. This process lifts the soil and reduces compaction levels,” he outlined.
The machine is attached to a Kubota 99 HP tractor using a standard three-point linkage.
Tumilson continued: “The machine operates at a forward speed of 0.85mph.
“This means bringing the revs on the tractor right down. I don’t need to touch the accelerator, except when turning corners. The machine itself is PTO driven. It is very easy to set up.
“The tines can be set for different soil depths. So the system is also very flexible.
“We have used aeration systems in the past, but reliability was always a problem. What we have now, is a system that works consistently.”
It takes the aerator almost a full working day to cover a playing surface that is 140m in length and 70m wide.
Aeration systems are increasingly used on golf courses and other grass-based sporting surfaces.
Efficient aeration can triple the depth to which grass roots can extend below the surface. This is a direct consequence of the reduced soil compaction levels that can be achieved.
