Early fall aerification and topdressing effects on Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.].

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of fall topdressing and aerfication treatments on spring dead spot,  bermudagrass turf quality, and bermudagrass spring green-up in the transition zone.  Quickstand’ bermudagrass plots were aerified and topdressed with sand the last week of September, 2006.  Plots were 1.83 m X 3.05 m in size.  Core aerification times were 1.59 cm X 17.78 cm, solid aerification times were 1.27 cm X 25.40 cm, and linear aerification resulted in a 1.27 cm width and 7.62 cm depth.  Plots receiving topdressing were topdressed with sand to a depth of 0.64 cm.  Plots were rated visually for turf quality and visually for percent bermudagrass green-up and percent bermudagrass cover in the spring of 2007.  The experimental design was a randomized complete block and means were separated in SAS using LSD.  Plots receiving topdressing alone showed improved green-up (55% greenup) compared to the control (30% green-up) in April following a spring freeze event.  Plots that received aerfication treatments along with topdressing did not differ significantly from the control.  Plots receiving linear aerification alone did have slower green-up on May 3 (58% green-up) compared to the control (80% green-up).  Fall turf quality was significantly higher in all plots receiving topdressing treatments compared to the control.  In addition plots receiving topdressing alone had significantly higher turf quality in the spring compared to control and all other treatments.  Turf quality was not significantly different in the spring between the control and plots receiving aerification and topdressing.  Plots receiving linear aerification only were significantly lower in turf quality in the spring compared to the contol.   Aerification and topdressing effects on the incidence of spring dead spot could not be evaluated due to the lack of disease in the spring of 2007.  However, quicker bermudagrass green-up in plots receiving topdressing treatments may aid in recovery of bermudagrass from spring dead spot.  Also, solid tine aerification did not reduce quality or spring green-up.  Late season solid tine aerification may be a viable option for reducing spring dead spot.  Linear aerification should not be done late in the growing season.  Solid tine aerification in conjunction with topdressing late in the season could be a useful option for turfgrass managers to extend bermudagrass growing season in the fall and speed up green-up in the spring along with the possibility of reducing spring dead spot