Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (58)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = turf management

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
30 pages, 2532 KiB  
Article
Ownership Patterns and Landscape Diversity: Conservation Implications in Maryland
by Luke Macaulay, Yashwanth Reddy Pinnapu Reddy and Evan Griffiths
Land 2025, 14(7), 1342; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071342 - 24 Jun 2025
Viewed by 576
Abstract
Land management decisions and conservation value are heavily influenced by land ownership, land cover, and land use. Our research aimed to examine ownership and land cover distribution, classify landowners based on land cover composition, and evaluate the ability of land cover clustering to [...] Read more.
Land management decisions and conservation value are heavily influenced by land ownership, land cover, and land use. Our research aimed to examine ownership and land cover distribution, classify landowners based on land cover composition, and evaluate the ability of land cover clustering to be predictive of landowner motivations and behaviors in Maryland, USA. We tabulated a high-resolution land cover map against ownership boundaries, applied hierarchical clustering, and identified five landowner types characterized by a dominant land cover: (1) forest, (2) turf grass, (3) developed, (4) hay/pasture, and (5) crops. We analyzed a landowner survey of 3344 respondents to reveal how clusters predicted recreation, conservation, income, and other motivations. We found a skewed ownership distribution: 95.3% of smaller ownerships (<5 acres) cover 27.3% of the land, while 4.7% of larger owners hold 72.7%. Ownership patterns vary by cover, with forests and wetlands showing bimodal distributions, unimodal for cropland and hay/pasture, and turf grass concentrated in smaller properties. Survey analysis showed that crop, hay/pasture, and forest clusters had income percentages increasing with property size, with crop and hay/pasture accelerating more; conservation interest rose with size for forest and crop, but not hay/pasture; hunting motivation was highest in forest but increased with size similarly across clusters; non-hunting recreation motivation was highest in smaller hay/pasture properties, but decreased with size for all. Although each landowner has unique motivations and goals, our results reveal trends mediated by size of property and land cover that can be used to target outreach and improve conservation outcomes across Maryland’s diverse landscape. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Land Use, Impact Assessment and Sustainability)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1807 KiB  
Article
Monitoring the Status of Mesophotic Biogenic Reefs in the Northern Adriatic Sea: Comparing a Biotic Index and Multivariate Community Patterns
by Gregorio Motta, Verdiana Vellani, Manuela Piccardo, Matteo De Luca, Saul Ciriaco, Marco Segarich, Lisa Peratoner, Maurizio Spoto, Antonio Terlizzi, Monia Renzi and Stanislao Bevilacqua
Environments 2025, 12(4), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12040124 - 17 Apr 2025
Viewed by 469
Abstract
Coralligenous bioconstructions are priority habitats crucial for the protection of Mediterranean marine biodiversity. Among these bioconstructions, the mesophotic biogenic reefs of the northern Adriatic are of particular concern due to their ecological relevance and the high levels of human pressure in the region. [...] Read more.
Coralligenous bioconstructions are priority habitats crucial for the protection of Mediterranean marine biodiversity. Among these bioconstructions, the mesophotic biogenic reefs of the northern Adriatic are of particular concern due to their ecological relevance and the high levels of human pressure in the region. Thus, effective monitoring strategies are vital for the conservation and management of these fragile environments. In this study, we investigated the multivariate spatial and temporal patterns of sessile macrobenthos on biogenic reefs within two areas of a Natura 2000 site in the northern Adriatic over a four-year period. We also classified the ecological status of reefs based on the NAMBER index, specifically tailored for these peculiar bioconstructions. Our findings revealed that temporal trajectories of assemblages significantly differed between the two investigated areas, mostly due to larger fluctuations in algal turf abundance in the area closest to the coast, which is putatively more exposed to human impacts. In this area, the index identified a “Moderate” status during the period of peaking turf abundance, while the reef status consistently remained “Good” in other periods and in the area located further from the coast. This highlights the index sensitivity in reflecting actual changes in assemblages potentially associated with reef degradation. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

21 pages, 5087 KiB  
Article
Modeling Nitrogen Migration Characteristics in Cool-Season Turf Grass Soils via HYDRUS-2D
by Rui Li, Yueying Du, Longfei Liu, Wangxin Su, Ke Tu, Yonghua Li and Yang Liu
Water 2025, 17(7), 943; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17070943 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 268
Abstract
In order to study the leaching of exogenous nitrogen during green space management and maintenance, the parameters of the model were calibrated through field monitoring and grow box simulation experiments, and the Model for Studying Nitrogen Transport in Green Space Ecosystems was established [...] Read more.
In order to study the leaching of exogenous nitrogen during green space management and maintenance, the parameters of the model were calibrated through field monitoring and grow box simulation experiments, and the Model for Studying Nitrogen Transport in Green Space Ecosystems was established by using HYDRUS-2D software. Results showed that the model is highly reliable for simulating nitrogen transport in microtopography, with R2 values greater than 0.9 and RMSE values below 5. Slope gradient was positively correlated with horizontal nitrogen differences (ammonium and nitrate nitrogen) and negatively correlated with vertical differences (p < 0.05), while nitrogen application was positively correlated with both horizontal and vertical differences in nitrate nitrogen and negatively correlated with ammonium nitrogen (p < 0.05). The vertical differences of soil ammonium nitrogen exhibited a significant negative correlation with slope (−0.837 to −0.851), while the horizontal differences of nitrate nitrogen showed a significant positive correlation, with correlation coefficients of 0.965 and 0.967 for surface and subsurface soils, respectively. The increasing nitrogen application rate exacerbated these discrepancies, with the highest nitrogen treatment (0.312 g) exhibiting the most pronounced differential effects. Notably, the horizontal variation in nitrate nitrogen reached 6.9-fold that of ammonium nitrogen, while the vertical discrepancy demonstrated a 7.0-fold magnitude relative to ammonium nitrogen levels. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3373 KiB  
Article
The Distribution Characteristics of Trichoderma in Turf and Its Inhibitory Effect on Rhizoctonia solani
by Qichen Niu, Lu Gan, Shuxia Yin, Ning Zhang, Xin Suo, Guanfang Jin, Ruoyi Tang and Man Liu
Agronomy 2025, 15(3), 733; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15030733 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 490
Abstract
Effective disease management is crucial for maintaining healthy turf. Trichoderma agents have emerged as a promising strategy for controlling turf diseases while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. However, the distribution, diversity, and biocontrol potential of Trichoderma in turf ecosystems remain poorly understood. This [...] Read more.
Effective disease management is crucial for maintaining healthy turf. Trichoderma agents have emerged as a promising strategy for controlling turf diseases while reducing reliance on chemical fungicides. However, the distribution, diversity, and biocontrol potential of Trichoderma in turf ecosystems remain poorly understood. This study investigated Trichoderma strains isolated from rhizosphere soil of turf under different environmental and management conditions. Genetic distances were used to assess diversity, while co-culture assays evaluated inhibitory activity against Rhizoctonia solani. The Wilcoxon test was used for comparing diversity and antagonistic potential across environmental factors. The study identified Trichoderma brevicompactum and Trichoderma harzianum as the dominant species in turf ecosystems. Trichoderma diversity was highest in healthy turf under moderate management. However, strains from diseased turf showed stronger inhibitory effects on Rhizoctonia solani, suggesting that pathogen pressure and plant stress responses may enrich antagonistic Trichoderma. These findings provide valuable insights for the isolation and screening of Trichoderma species for effective biocontrol in turf management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research Progress on Pathogenicity of Fungi in Crops—2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 9864 KiB  
Article
Evaluating Remote Sensing Resolutions and Machine Learning Methods for Biomass Yield Prediction in Northern Great Plains Pastures
by Srinivasagan N. Subhashree, C. Igathinathane, John Hendrickson, David Archer, Mark Liebig, Jonathan Halvorson, Scott Kronberg, David Toledo and Kevin Sedivec
Agriculture 2025, 15(5), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15050505 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 703
Abstract
Predicting forage biomass yield is critical in managing livestock since it impacts livestock stocking rates, hay procurement, and livestock marketing strategies. Only a few biomass yield prediction studies on pasture and rangeland exist despite the need. Therefore, this study focused on developing a [...] Read more.
Predicting forage biomass yield is critical in managing livestock since it impacts livestock stocking rates, hay procurement, and livestock marketing strategies. Only a few biomass yield prediction studies on pasture and rangeland exist despite the need. Therefore, this study focused on developing a biomass yield prediction methodology through remote sensing satellite imagery (multispectral bands) and climate data, employing open-source software technologies. Biomass ground truth data were obtained from local pastures, where Kentucky bluegrass is the predominant species among other forages. Remote sensing data included spatial bands (6), vegetation indices (30), and climate data (16). The top-ranked features (52 tested) from recursive feature elimination (RFE) were short-wave infrared 2, normalized difference moisture index, and average turf soil temperature in the machine learning (ML) model developed. The random forest (RF) model produced the highest accuracy (R2=0.83) among others tested for biomass yield prediction. Applications of the developed methodology revealed that (i) the methodology applies to other unseen pasters (R2=0.79), (ii) finer satellite spatial resolution (e.g., CubeSat; 3 m) better-predicted pasture biomass, and (iii) the methodology successfully developed for a combination of Kentucky bluegrass and other forages, extended to high-value alfalfa hay crop with excellent yield prediction accuracy (R2=0.95). The developed methodology of RFE for feature selection and RF for biomass yield modeling is recommended for biomass and hay forage yield prediction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Management of Grasslands)
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1664 KiB  
Review
Research Progress and Prospects of Molecular Breeding in Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)
by Xiaoyang Sun, Qiang Fu, Yuxiao Song, Xinjie Deng, Yinruizhi Li, Ke Wu, Shuning Li and Jinmin Fu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(24), 13254; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252413254 - 10 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1187
Abstract
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is a warm-season grass species of significant ecological and economic importance. It is widely utilized in turf management and forage production due to its resilience to drought, salt, and other environmental stresses. Recent advancements in molecular breeding, particularly [...] Read more.
Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is a warm-season grass species of significant ecological and economic importance. It is widely utilized in turf management and forage production due to its resilience to drought, salt, and other environmental stresses. Recent advancements in molecular breeding, particularly through genomics technology and gene editing, have enabled the efficient identification of key genes associated with stress tolerance and turf quality. The use of techniques such as overexpression and CRISPR/Cas has enhanced resistance to drought, salt, cold, and heat, while the application of molecular markers has accelerated the development of superior varieties. The integration of multi-omics, such as genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics, provides deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms of bermudagrass, thereby improving breeding efficiency and precision. Additionally, artificial intelligence is emerging as a powerful tool for analyzing genomic data, predicting optimal trait combinations, and accelerating breeding processes. These technologies, when combined with traditional breeding methods, hold great potential for optimizing bermudagrass varieties for both turf and forage use. Future research will focus on further integrating these tools to address the challenges of breeding posed by climate change to breeding climate-resilient turf and forage crops. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Plant Sciences)
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3459 KiB  
Article
Performance of Different Cool-Season Species and Cultivars Overseeded on Bermudagrass and Managed with Autonomous Mower
by Giuliano Sciusco, Lisa Caturegli, Simone Magni, Tommaso Federighi, Marco Fontanelli, Noemie Robert, Stephen R. Alderton and Marco Volterrani
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2611; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112611 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 732
Abstract
With global warming, the cultivation area of bermudagrass is moving northwards in the Mediterranean area despite its winter dormancy and loss of green color. The most common solution is overseeding with perennial ryegrass, which can be complicated to remove in spring. DLF breeders [...] Read more.
With global warming, the cultivation area of bermudagrass is moving northwards in the Mediterranean area despite its winter dormancy and loss of green color. The most common solution is overseeding with perennial ryegrass, which can be complicated to remove in spring. DLF breeders have released a new cultivar of annual ryegrass that is stress tolerant and easy to transition in spring. A trial was carried out on a sod farm in Pisa, Italy. Twenty-nine varieties of cool-season grasses, encompassing both forage and turf species, were overseeded on a hybrid bermudagrass variety ‘Tifway’ (Cynodon dactylon x transvaalensis). The aim of this trial was to compare the overseeding potential of various cool-season turfgrass species and cultivars and to identify which ones perform best in terms of cleanness of cut when overseeded on hybrid bermudagrass in autumn and maintained at a mowing height of 25 mm. Moreover, the following parameters were also assessed: actual turf height (cm); cumulated height (cm); turf visual color and quality (1–9 scale); and visual ground cover (%). Plots were managed with an autonomous mower, which adopted a daily mowing frequency and was set to work with systematic trajectories. The results showed differences between cultivars, and the annual ryegrass showed the best spring transition (scoring a mean value of 96% green cover in July 2023) compared to the other entries. The best result of CoC was measured for rough-stalked meadow grass ‘Sabrena 1’ and tall fescue ‘Turfway’ with 0.9 mm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Weed Science and Weed Management)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1614 KiB  
Article
Allelopathic Effects of Soil Extracts from Rhus typhina Plantations on Common Turfgrass Species in Northern China
by Jiahao Li, Liang Fang, Liping Li, Yuxin Dong, Lingsu Chen and Xiaoxi Zhang
Agronomy 2024, 14(11), 2561; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14112561 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 986
Abstract
The allelopathic plant Rhus typhina (Rt) has a shallowly distributed root system with a high density of secretory canals, which may allow it to exhibit indirect allelopathic effects through the soil on an understory turf species in a plantation. However, how these effects [...] Read more.
The allelopathic plant Rhus typhina (Rt) has a shallowly distributed root system with a high density of secretory canals, which may allow it to exhibit indirect allelopathic effects through the soil on an understory turf species in a plantation. However, how these effects occur is still not well understood. For this study, the soil from the root zone of Rt was extracted via distilled water, and extracts at different concentrations (25, 50, and 100 g L−1) were used to treat six commonly planted turfgrass species, including Medicago sativa (Ms), Lolium perenne (Lp), Trifolium repens (Tr), Medicago falcata (Mf), Festuca arundinacea (Fa) and Coronilla varia (Cv), during a continuous germination–seedling culture experiment via the sand culture method. The germination, physiological, and growth indicators of the turfgrass seedlings were analyzed. The allelopathic effects of the soil extract at different concentrations on the six receivers were evaluated to provide a scientific basis for managing plantations with multilayer structures. The results indicated that, in general, the extracts of the soil from the root zone of Rt inhibited the germination and seedling growth performance characteristics of the mentioned turfgrasses; the inhibitory effects on Ms, Lp, and Mf increased with increasing concentrations of the Rt soil extracts, whereas those on Fa tended to decrease. In addition, the inhibitory effect on Tr obviously weakened at 50 g·L−1 relative to that at 25 g·L−1, whereas it became more obvious at 100 g·L−1; however, it exhibited the opposite trend for Cv. Generally, Mf and Cv were more sensitive to Rt allelochemicals at relatively low concentrations, and these species should be avoided when planting in Rt plantations at low densities. In contrast, Lp and Tr were more sensitive than those at relatively high concentrations and should be avoided when planting in Rt plantations at high densities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Grassland and Pasture Science)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1855 KiB  
Article
Kitchen Waste Digestate and Digestate Biochar Fertilizer for Turfgrass Management and Nutrient Leaching
by Qianlin Deng, Baohua Chu, Sangyuan Hu, Zhaolong Wang and Yanbang Li
Agriculture 2024, 14(11), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14111928 - 30 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1198
Abstract
Slow-release fertilizer is generally used in turfgrass management to maintain quality turf without inducing excess vertical growth, to avoid frequent mowing. This study was designed to verify whether kitchen waste digestate and digestate biochar could serve as slow-release fertilizers to promote turf quality [...] Read more.
Slow-release fertilizer is generally used in turfgrass management to maintain quality turf without inducing excess vertical growth, to avoid frequent mowing. This study was designed to verify whether kitchen waste digestate and digestate biochar could serve as slow-release fertilizers to promote turf quality and reduce nutrient leaching risk in two turfgrass species over two years in controlled pot experiments. The results showed that the nutrient release of granular fertilizers made from kitchen waste digestate and digestate biochar was a two-phase process (an initial rapid phase, followed by a slow-release phase). The kitchen waste digestate showed higher nitrogen and phosphorus release ratios than the biochar and sheep manure. Compared to the reference sheep manure, fertilization with kitchen waste digestate and biochar increased the leaf chlorophyll content by 48.6% and 27.9%, and reduced senescent leaves by 15.6% and 11.1%, respectively, at 23 d after fertilization, leading to higher turf quality. Fertilization with kitchen waste digestate biochar significantly reduced the nutrient leaching risk compared to fertilization with kitchen waste digestate and sheep manure. Our results demonstrated the potential of reusing kitchen waste digestate and digestate biochar as slow-release fertilizers for promoting turf quality in turfgrass management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Turfgrass Management and Physiology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 1318 KiB  
Review
Molecular Genetic Insights into the Stress Responses and Cultivation Management of Zoysiagrass: Illuminating the Pathways for Turf Improvement
by Lanshuo Wang, Yueyue Yuan and Jeongsik Kim
Agriculture 2024, 14(10), 1718; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14101718 - 30 Sep 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) and its hybrids are known for their low maintenance requirements and are widely utilized as warm-season turfgrass, which offers considerable ecological, environmental, and economic benefits in various environments. Molecular genetic approaches, including the identification and genetic engineering of valuable [...] Read more.
Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp.) and its hybrids are known for their low maintenance requirements and are widely utilized as warm-season turfgrass, which offers considerable ecological, environmental, and economic benefits in various environments. Molecular genetic approaches, including the identification and genetic engineering of valuable gene resources, present a promising opportunity to enhance the quality and performance of zoysiagrass. This review surveys the recent molecular genetic discoveries in zoysiagrass species, with a focus on elucidating plant responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses. Furthermore, this review explores the notable advancements in gene function exploration to reduce the maintenance demands of zoysiagrass cultivation. In addition, we discuss the achievements and potential of contemporary molecular and genetic tools, such as omics approaches and gene editing technologies, in developing zoysiagrass cultivars with desirable traits. Overall, this comprehensive review highlights future strategies that may leverage current molecular insights to accelerate zoysiagrass improvement and further promote sustainable turf management practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Genotype Evaluation and Breeding)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3995 KiB  
Article
Nitrogen Rate Assessment for Greenhouse Gas Emission Mitigation and Quality Maintenance in Sustainable Turf Management
by Leonardo Verdi, Lisa Caturegli, Simone Magni, Marco Volterrani, Anna Dalla Marta, Simone Orlandini and Ada Baldi
Agriculture 2024, 14(8), 1244; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture14081244 - 27 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1646
Abstract
Turfgrass systems hold significant climate change mitigation value, but their management often negates the beneficial effects due to the intense adoption of external inputs. The research objective in this paper was to assess the nitrogen fertilization rate able to maintain the ideal esthetic [...] Read more.
Turfgrass systems hold significant climate change mitigation value, but their management often negates the beneficial effects due to the intense adoption of external inputs. The research objective in this paper was to assess the nitrogen fertilization rate able to maintain the ideal esthetic characteristics of Zoysia turfgrass, reducing the environmental impacts associated with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. A two-year open field experiment was conducted. Nitrogen was added to the soil at six rates (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg ha−1). The GHG emissions were monitored using a portable gas analyzer and the static chamber methodology. Cumulative environmental impacts were calculated from the inclusion of CO2, CH4, and, N2O using the Global Warming Potential (GWP). The quality assessment of the turf was assessed through a visual and instrumental approach. Higher CO2 and N2O fluxes were linked to high nitrogen rates, ranging from 83.55 to 87.50 and from 0.046 to 0.047 g N-N2O ha−1 day−1 for 200 and 250 kg N ha−1, respectively. CH4 emissions were not correlated to nitrogen rates. Higher GWP impacts were linked to high N rate treatments. A rate of 100 kg N ha−1 is recommended as the best strategy to reduce GHG emissions while maintaining high turf quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecosystem, Environment and Climate Change in Agriculture)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 626 KiB  
Article
Practice of Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries in Coastal Fishery Management in China: A Case Study of the Island Reefs Fishery Lease Policy from Shengsi County in Zhejiang Province
by Minsi Xiong and Zuli Wu
Fishes 2024, 9(7), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9070292 - 22 Jul 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1369
Abstract
Coastal fisheries are vital for food supply, employment, and social stability. However, overfishing is a common problem, often attributed to open access. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) have gained popularity as a tool to improve the sustainability of coastal fisheries, but research [...] Read more.
Coastal fisheries are vital for food supply, employment, and social stability. However, overfishing is a common problem, often attributed to open access. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) have gained popularity as a tool to improve the sustainability of coastal fisheries, but research on TURFs in China is limited. This paper examines the island reef fishery lease policy implemented in Shengsi County, Zhejiang Province, within the Ma’an Islands National Marine Special Reserve. The policy leases the use of island reefs to a collective, aiming to address overfishing and resource degradation by establishing fishing area boundaries and limiting the number of users and usage time. Technically, it is an application of TURFs, and it represents a shift from traditional fishing licenses to collective compliance. This experience has disrupted the existing top–down fishery governance structure and signifies a transition to a rights-based fishery management system in China. Through a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the policy’s implementation, this research identifies the factors contributing to its flaws. These include the inadequate provision of national and local government policies, insufficient support for policy implementation from fishery management authorities, and the limited involvement of fishermen’s organizations. To enhance coastal fishery management, we propose that the Chinese government should build upon existing foundations by clarifying fishing rights through central and local laws and policies. Additionally, there is a need to strengthen data monitoring of coastal fisheries, conduct multidisciplinary research to improve the allocation mechanism of fishing rights, adopt diverse fishery management approaches to enhance supervision capabilities, establish a collaborative governance mechanism, and foster coordination and cooperation between grassroots fishermen’s organizations and government departments. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1142 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Wildflower Habitat on Insect Functional Group Abundance in Turfgrass Systems
by Laura E. Hamon, Lauren D. Kilpatrick and Terri L. Billeisen
Insects 2024, 15(7), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects15070520 - 11 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1583
Abstract
Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, [...] Read more.
Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, increasing numbers of land managers are choosing to partially convert turf habitat to wildflower habitat using commercially available seed mixes. However, the population dynamics of arthropod groups in these systems are poorly known, with consequentially little information on best long-term practices for managing wildflower habitats in turfgrass systems. To address this gap, we sampled insects using pan traps in turfgrass systems pre- and post-implementation of wildflower habitats and examined the change in abundance of several insect families and functional guilds. Insect groups had variable responses to wildflower habitat implementation, with some groups such as sweat bees and skipper butterflies showing a decline two years post-implementation. Other groups, such as predatory flies, were relatively more abundant one and two years post-implementation. These variable responses point to the need for more research on the long-term effects of wildflower habitats on beneficial insects in turfgrass habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pollinator Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 3021 KiB  
Article
Possible Roles of Carbohydrate Management and Cytokinin in the Process of Defoliation–Regrowth Cycles in Rice
by Yuki Sakashita, Hikaru Kurashima, Mika Fukuda, Haru Hirano, Sagar Lamsal, Naoki Katayama and Takeshi Fukao
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(10), 5070; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25105070 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1258
Abstract
Defoliation is an inevitable abiotic stress for forage and turf grasses because harvesting, grazing, and mowing are general processes for their production and management. Vegetative regrowth occurs upon defoliation, a crucial trait determining the productivity and persistence of these grasses. However, the information [...] Read more.
Defoliation is an inevitable abiotic stress for forage and turf grasses because harvesting, grazing, and mowing are general processes for their production and management. Vegetative regrowth occurs upon defoliation, a crucial trait determining the productivity and persistence of these grasses. However, the information about the molecular regulation of this trait is limited because it is still challenging to perform molecular analyses in forage and turf grasses. Here, we used rice as a model to investigate vegetative regrowth upon defoliation at physiological and molecular levels. This study analyzed stubble and regrown leaves following periodic defoliation using two rice varieties with contrasting regrowth vigor. Vigorous regrowth was associated with maintained chlorophyll content and photosystem II performance; a restricted and promoted mRNA accumulation of sucrose synthase (SUS) I and III subfamilies, respectively; and reduced enzymatic activity of SUS. These results suggest that critical factors affecting vegetative regrowth upon defoliation are de novo carbohydrate synthesis by newly emerged leaves and proper carbohydrate management in leaves and stubble. Physiological and genetic analyses have demonstrated that the reduced sensitivity to and inhibited biosynthesis of cytokinin enhance regrowth vigor. Proper regulation of these metabolic and hormonal pathways identified in this study can lead to the development of new grass varieties with enhanced regrowth vigor following defoliation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Abiotic Stress Tolerance)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2463 KiB  
Article
Effects of Biochar and Compost on Turfgrass Establishment Rates
by Jonathan Montgomery, David Crohn, Marco Schiavon, Jaime Barros Silva Filho, Bernd Leinauer and Milton E. McGiffen
Agronomy 2024, 14(5), 960; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14050960 - 2 May 2024
Viewed by 2194
Abstract
Organic soil amendments are a sustainable option for modifying soil structure and improving plant performance in the face of abiotic stressors such as drought and soil salinity. Of these amendments, biochar and compost have the added benefits of carbon sequestration and waste recycling. [...] Read more.
Organic soil amendments are a sustainable option for modifying soil structure and improving plant performance in the face of abiotic stressors such as drought and soil salinity. Of these amendments, biochar and compost have the added benefits of carbon sequestration and waste recycling. Establishment studies were conducted on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (syn., Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort and Lolium arundinaceum (Scop.) Holub) to assess the potential inhibition of establishment by compost and biochar products. Both green waste and biosolid compost impaired establishment rates, while biochar did not. In the field study, the green waste treatments were slower to reach 50% coverage than the untreated control or when biochar was added to the soil, but all treatments reached 75% and final coverage at a similar rate. Field application of compost had a positive effect on final root length and volume but a negative effect on tall fescue roots in the greenhouse. The negative effect of higher salts and volatiles in the biosolids compost was reduced when biosolids and biochar were incorporated into the soil simultaneously. This work represents one of the only large-scale field studies on turfgrass establishment comparing the impact of biochar and compost products on turfgrass establishment. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop