Hydroject Aeration

Throughout the months of April to October our Hydroject will be seen aerating the putting surfaces on a 5 to 6 weekly basis. I feel this is ample in providing maximum effect from the operation but also in order to retain surface firmness, which is critical to the playing characteristics of links greens. Through regular topdressings down the years and growing grass types that produce little organic build up, layering is not a problem. I am also a firm believer that with desirable rootzone characteristics, fine turf species such as Fescue and Browntop Bentgrass will produce deep roots naturally in this type of environment, similar to what they do in untouched and unmanaged areas, such as rough grassland, semi roughs etc throughout links courses in general.

Through using this piece of equipment, we are able to use water from our irrigation system, which is then pushed into the machine, through a standard 1 inch diameter irrigation hosepipe. As the machine travels over the surfaces, high pressure water is injected to about 6 inches into the soil. After a few seconds the water dissipates and thousands of tiny open air channels are created, as the machine advances. 

Such channels allow soil decompaction, breaking of layers (if apparent) gas exchange and improved water infiltration. As a result of the operation, turfgrass roots will generally follow the channels deeper into the soil, creating healthy, vigorous turf, that is much better able to stand up to ongoing stresses such as mechanical and foot traffic. In conjunction with promoting deeper rooted turf from a species point of view, deeper rooting plants can withhold environmental stresses such as drought much better.

Research in the publication The Superintendents Guide to Putting green speed by Dr Thomas Nickolai refers to work carried out at Michigan State University carried out by Karcher et al (1996), proved that due to the rolling action of this machine, putting greens speeds were increased by up to 6 inches following hydroject treatments. In other trials carried out again at Michigan State University, Gibbs et al (2000), concluded that Hydroject aeration in conjunction with wetting agent applications led significant decreases in dry patch and also higher soil moisture contents.

Video link to Hydroject aerator in action: 

http://youtu.be/rC2HE837PSQ

References 

Gibbs, R.J, C Liu, M-H Yang and MP Wrightly. 2000. Effects of Rootzone composition and cultivation/aeration treatment on surface characteristics of golf greens under New Zealand conditions. Journal of Turfgrass Science (76): 37-52.

Karcher, D,E,  T,A Nikolai and P.E Rieke. 1996. The Hydroject. Not just an aerifier. Proceedings of the 66th Annual Michigan Turfgrass Conference. 25:119-121.

Nikolai T. 2005. The Superintendents Guide to controlling putting green speed. J Wiley and Sons Inc,  Hobeken, New Jersey, USA.