Golfdom, April 2016

and further tests are being completed to quantify the organic matter in the top of the soil profile Moreover soil penetrometer tests confirmed that rolled plots have higher resistance to penetration The soil profile alterations may lead to increased breakdown of the thatch layer or explain anecdotal reports from superintendents of increased driving distance on rolled fairways In addition the researchers say future studies will examine ball roll in an attempt to quantify these observations At Michigan State University Thomas Nikolai Ph D has been looking at the effects of rolling greens since the 1990s and he along with graduate assistant Thomas Greene have about three years of fairway rolling research under their belts However those studies were hampered by not actually having a fairway roller and having to use a greens roller instead Nikolai is now looking at three courses that are using Smithco rollers on fairways I know of all the benefits on a golf course green because were rolling Nikolai says I know the difference in weight and how it impacts the green The fairways we dont know the answers to yet and what we want the footprint of that roller to be However there are answers on some advantages Rolling on a green actually changes the microbial population in the soil over time he says The change is probably the biggest reason why we see a reduction in disease Research done by Paul Giordano here at Michigan State shows that we increased bacteria populations Most bacteria are beneficial to our plant and antagonistic to fungi Thats why rolling has that impact and rolling more leads to greater water retention in Continued on page 22 April 2016 Golfdom 21 Golfdom com PHOTO COURTESY EPIC CREATIVE According to Salsco founder Sal Rizzo the benefits of rolling fairways including reducing dollar spot are well understood