AERATION
SISIS model for all occasions Aeration is a key process to improve drainage, reduce turf compaction and thatch build up. With three models in the SISIS range, with different working widths and varying maximum depths to suit any tractor and most applications – the Multislit, Maxislit and Megaslit are tractor mounted deep slitters which offer deep, clean penetration with minimal surface disturbance. The Multislit is available in 1.2 (Multislit 1200) and 1.5 (Multislit 1500) metres wide options featuring a choice of interchangeable slitting tines to suit different ground conditions. This machine produces excellent underground cultivation (working depth of 6 or 8 inches) due to the angle of the tines and spiral design of tine shaft which assist penetration. Recommended tractor power requirement is 15-25hp. The SISIS Maxislit is a 1.8 metre wide tractor mounted deep slitting aerator suitable for golf course maintenance, with deep, clean penetration. It can also be used for football, rugby and cricket pitches, with a working depth of seven or nine inches. The Maxislit comes complete with a set of heavy duty tines. Recommended tractor power requirement is 25-35hp. The SISIS Megaslit is a tractor
42 | Turf Matters | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018
mounted deep slitting aerator which gives deep, clean penetration – ideal for golf course fairways. This machine can also be used for football, rugby and cricket pitches. It has a working depth of 9 or 12 inches. The 2.5m wide deep slitter, featuring 32 heavy duty tines, achieves maximum underground cultivation due to the angle of the tines and spiral design of the tine shaft assists penetration. Recommended tractor power requirement is 40hp and comes complete with a set of heavy duty tines. These machines are simple in their design and low maintenance. Their thin sharp blades cut through the turf and root zone leaving only a slit on the surface while giving a deep optimum sub soil disturbance. Regular slitting encourages strong, healthy root growth of the grass plants, improving tolerance to drought conditions and promoting more rapid recovery after damage in play – that’s why SISIS deep slitters are used on golf courses around the world including The Belfry. Angus Macleod, Course Manager at The Belfry, has experience of working with SISIS for over 30 years which prompted the purchase of a SISIS Megaslit and Multislit machines. Following a demonstration,
the decision was made to add the two SISIS machines to the extensive turf maintenance fleet of over 200 machines that look after the manicured PGA courses. “I’ve used SISIS equipment at all of the courses I’ve worked at for the past 30 years,” said Angus. The Megaslit and Multislit are great pieces of kit and both do a great job. They are efficient, quick and work in tandem with the other piece of aeration equipment we use. Because of the volume of land we have here, we needed something that would do a good job and do it quickly. Both machines immediately ticked all of our boxes giving us a clean slitting motion for quick root pruning, slicing the fibre and controlling thatch. “We will use the machines from November through to January. We use them from two inches right up to 10 inches – as long as we don’t have any issues with wiring or irrigation pipes and they give us very little surface disturbance,” said Angus. “We see slitting as an important operation at The Belfry and these machines are great because you can vary the depth for thatch control and root pruning. They’ve proven their worth at the last four golf courses I have been at so why change something if it works so well?”