Effect of Snowmobile Traffic on Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)

Abstract Varying snowmobile traffic was imposed on established bluegrass (Poa pratensis) areas at Arlington and Lancaster, Wisconsin for three winters. The effect on the stands, recovery, and vigor the following summer was monitored by close observations and the yield of frequent clippings. No reduction in bluegrass stands occurred following snowmobiling. Early spring recovery and growth was slower in snowmobile track areas than in nontract areas. However, by early summer, traffic and nontraffic areas showed no differences in vigor, color, or growth as measured by clipping weights. Soil bulk density determinations did not differ between snowmobile track and nontrack areas.