STRI Reports, ‘Imants SandCat Promotes Healthy Growth’

Surface drainage is essential for promoting strong, healthy growth in turf. The STRI are currently trialling and collating scientific evidence on using the Imants SandCat. This approach is looking at how to improve both the soil structure and drainage of a golf green using an aerator while simultaneously applying sand into slits. The Imants SandCat has been designed to perform these essential tasks in a single pass. It combines an aerator and sand slitter in one lightweight, compact, PTO driven, machine.

The objective of the STRI on going investigation is to determine the impact of using the SandCat on putting surfaces, measuring the effects of this operation on turf quality and health, surface compaction, water retention and ball roll characteristics. Additionally, a measurement of rate of turf recovery after the SandCat operation was assessed, in conjunction with the use of Vision Pro turf pigment.

Findings from the author of the interim report; STRI report researcher Dr Christian Spring concludes; “The overall trend showed turf treated with the SandCat to have significantly lower total penetration depth, in comparison to the untreated turf. The main reason identified for these differences was the drier soil conditions in the plots treated with the SandCat.

Figures to date clearly indicates that using the SandCat results in a consistently drier, firmer and truer playing surface. Water infiltration rates measured on turf treated with the SandCat were double those of the untreated turf after only two passes. These results show the real benefit of using the SandCat on soil-based surfaces that have agronomic issues.”

Consequently the SandCat is perfect for greens and tees. It moves quickly over the turf, completing a 500²m green with up to 3tonne of kiln-dried sand in only 2.5hours.

The seven aeration blades, set at 15cm spacings, break through the thatch or hard pan to a depth of approximately 15cm. The sand is injected into the slits creating the necessary pathways for drainage and for healthy root growth and drier putting surface.