Herbert Philley, Barry Stewart, Gregg Munshaw, Wayne Wells, John Layton, and Craig Kleinmann. PO Box 9555, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State University, 117 Dorman Hall, Mississippi State, MS 39762
Numerous bermudagrass cultivars are presently used on athletic fields. Field hardness is a concern in relation to playability and athlete injury. The objectives of this study were to measure the surface hardness of bermudagrass cultivars and observe the relationships of factors that affect hardness. Plots were established in 2002 and mowed 3 times weekly at 12.7 mm height throughout the test. Nitrogen was applied at 49 kg ha-1 growing month-1. No traffic was applied during the evaluation and no thatch was removed. Hardness of 21 cultivars was measured at weekly intervals during fall of 2005 and 2006 using the 2.25 Kg Clegg impact soil tester hammer. Soil moisture content was determined at the time of each measurement. Thatch accumulation was measured in late winter of 2007. Cultivars differed significantly for surface hardness each year. There was a significant cultivar x year interaction. Soil moisture content and thatch accumulation were significantly correlated with surface hardness.
