Biophysical Effects and Ground Force of the Baldree Traffic Simulator

Abstract

Traffic simulators are often utilized when researching turfgrass wear tolerance and recovery. However, the availability of a durable traffic simulator capable of producing dynamic force is limited. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to: (i) evaluate a novel traffic simulator with improved durability and capable of producing dynamic force and (ii) evaluate the biophysical effects of the traffic simulator on a native soil turfgrass system. The Baldree traffic simulator is a modified Ryan GA 30 (Jacobsen, A Textron Company, Charlotte, NC) riding aerification unit, equipped with fabricated, spring loaded steel plate feet studded with screw in cleats. The effects of this unit on a ‘Tifway’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. × C. transvaalensis Burtt‐Davy] system established on a Tifton loamy sand (fine‐loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults) were evaluated at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station, Tifton, GA. Factors included location (1 and 2) and traffic rate (0, 12, and 24 passes applied over a 6 wk period). Field data included soil bulk density, turf density, and percent green turf cover. An in‐ground force plate at the McPhail Equine Performance Center, East Lansing, MI was used to quantify vertical and net shear ground reaction force produced by the Baldree traffic simulator when operated in the forward and backward direction. The Baldree traffic simulator produced more cleat marks per pass than the Brinkman and Cady traffic simulators. At the low traffic rate the Baldree traffic simulator increased soil bulk density, while turf density and percent green turf cover decreased; therefore, the tool can be used to simulate heavy traffic conditions with a minimum number of passes.

Impact of Soil Water Content on Hybrid Bermudagrass Athletic Fields

“…on a silt loam soil irrigated to saturation 24 h prior to compaction. Our study further investigated different volumetric soil moisture ranges while applying traffic stress, which combines both wear and soil compaction (Carrow and Petrovic, 1992) Soil bulk density was negatively correlated with GTC ( r = − 0.98, N = 4128) in the current study, supporting previous reports that losses in GTC were associated with changes in soil bulk density (Kowalewski et al, 2013). Increased soil bulk density can decrease rooting, water infiltration, and clipping yields and lower water‐holding capacities, all of which can lead to poor turfgrass growth (Carrow, 1980; Głąb and Szewczyk, 2014).…”

“…One pass (traffic event) using our traffic simulator applied ~678 cleat marks m −2 . This traffic is similar to the number of cleat marks that occur during one National Football League or intercollegiate football game on the highest wear area (Cockerham and Brinkman, 1989; Kowalewski et al, 2013). Traffic was applied twice per day totaling 10 times per week (Monday–Friday) from 15 Sept. to 19 Oct. 2014 and 14 Sept. to 21 Oct. 2015.…”

“…Traffic was applied to both studies using a self‐propelled core aerifier (ProCore 648, Toro) modified by replacing coring heads with six spring loaded metal plates topped with cap nuts (2.0 ×1.2 cm), similar to the Baldree traffic simulator described by Kowalewski et al (2013). One pass (traffic event) using our traffic simulator applied ~678 cleat marks m −2 .…”

‘DT-1’, a Drought-tolerant Triploid Turf Bermudagrass

“…DT-1 had superior traffic tolerance to 'Celebration', 'TifGrand', and 'Tifway' when subjected to more than 6 weeks of traffic in Tifton, GA during 2012 and 2013 (weeks indicated by stars in Fig. 2; P < 0.05; Kowalewski et al, 2013). The mechanism of DT-1's wear traffic tolerance may be its increased canopy density, particularly in the fall months, as illustrated by the percent green plot coverages that were estimated by digital image analysis in the untrafficked treatment of Fig.…”

Performance Assessment of Three Turfgrass Species, in Three Different Soil Types, and their Responses to Water Deficit in Reinforced Cells, Growing in the Urban Environment

“…Conversely, a strong and positive relationship was found between F v /F m and WUE (Muhammad et al, 2007;Marcelo et al, 2013). Extensive empirical work on grasses have been focused primarily on conventional growing conditions, in the ground (Huang and Gao, 1999;Qian and Engelke, 1999;Jiang and Huang, 2001;Kowalewski et al, 2013) with very limited empirical information available for growth within reinforcement cells, and much lesser involving drought conditions. Therefore, this study was set up to better understand how different species of turf grasses would respond to a 4-month period of drought stress, and to investigate the traits of WUE and changes in physiological parameters with drought stress.…”