Evaluating traffic stress by the Brinkman Traffic Simulator and Cady Traffic Simulator on a Kentucky bluegrass stand

The Brinkman Traffic Simulator (BTS) has been a useful tool to simulate sports field traffic. However, rate of traffic stress produced by the BTS, a pull-behind unit with two differentially connected studded rollers, has been questioned. 1 The Cady Traffic Simulator (CTS), a modified walk-behind core cultivation unit, was developed and tested to potentially produce more aggressive traffic stress. A comparison study was initiated between the BTS and CTS to evaluate these simulators on a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) stand. Playing surface data collected were surface hardness, traction soil moisture, bulk density, porosity, and plane counts. Higher surface hardness, lower traction, and lower plant count values resulted when the CTS applied 10 passes per week (PPW) compared with other treatments. Surface hardness, traction, and bulk density values were statistically similar when the CTS applied 2 PPW, and BTS applied 10 PPW.