Comparing Venting Technology and Aerification Practices for Managing Thatch Accumulation in Bermudagrass Putting Greens.

Rapid thatch accumulation continues to impact the management of ultradwarf bermudagrass greens.  Greater than 150 golf courses in south Texas alone use ultradwarf bermudagrasses on their greens, and superintendents have limited options for controlling excessive thatch.  A field study was conducted to evaluate new ‘venting’ technologies in comparison to industry standard practices for thatch control.  Plots were defined on an existing USGA green in College Station, TX.  Main plots consisted of ‘Tifeagle’, ‘Tifdwarf’, and ‘Mini-verde’ bermudagrasses (Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis (L.) Pers.).  Venting treatments included the PlanetAir aerator at three frequencies (weekly, biweekly, and monthly).  Industry standard practices consisted of .635 cm diameter hollow-tine coring with and without topdressing and .635 cm diameter solid tine aeration without topdressing.  Data collection included turf quality, ball roll, rooting depths, thatch thickness, soil moisture (7.62 cm and 12.7 cm depths), infiltration rates, and weed/disease pressure.  Preliminary data suggest weekly applications of the PlanetAir were too aggressive.  Thatch depths and infiltration rates varied by cultivar, but no consistent trends were apparent among treatments.  Data comparing the PlanetAir and industry standard aeration practices will be discussed.