When sand-based athletic fields are renovated with sod, soil textural discontinuity between the sod and the underlying soil is often an issue. Core cultivation can address this issue, but when immediate use of the playing surface is required this practice is often delayed. One possible solution is pre-harvest core cultivation of the sod. Objectives of this study were to determine if pre-harvest core cultivation of Poa pratensis L. sod would decrease strength and weight of sod at harvest, and secondly, if pre-harvest core cultivation can be performed without being detrimental to sod establishment. Pre-harvest and post-establishment core cultivation treatments, both conducted to affect 6% and 12% surface area, plus non-cultivated controls were imposedon sod harvested with conventional (small rolls) and big roll methods at three sites. Pre-harvest core cultivation reduced sod weight up to 18% and strength up to 48% at harvest. Stability of the turf at 40 to 48 days after installation (DAI) was reduced with all core cultivation treatments, regardless of timing based on shear vane strength. However no differences in stability were measured at 72 DAI. Rooting strength and turf shear test strength of pre-harvest core treatments were not affected after 40 and 48 DAI respectively.
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