Selecting Turfgrasses and Mowing Practices that Reduce Mowing Requirements

Abstract

Mowing remains one of the most energy‐intensive cultural practices in maintaining a turf sward. Turfgrass systems can become a larger net C sink if mower emissions are reduced. Establishing slow‐growing turfgrasses has been proposed to reduce mowing requirements. Traditional recommendations for home lawns are to mow by the “one‐third rule” and return grass clippings. However, their impact on annual mowing requirements remains largely unknown. This study aimed to determine (i) the number of required mowing events when mowing weekly versus using the one‐third rule; (ii) the influence of returning grass clippings on mowing requirements, dry matter yield (DMY), and leaf tissue N (LTN); and (iii) how turfgrasses with differing growth rates influence mowing requirements, DMY, and LTN. The one‐third rule decreased mowing requirements by 31% (approximately eight mowing events yr−1) and returning grass clippings added approximately two additional mowing events yr−1. Tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Durmort., nom. cons.; Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] required more annual mowing events than Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)(nine and three more in 2012 and 2013, respectively). Tall fescue had a greater 2‐yr cumulative DMY than Kentucky bluegrass (875 vs. 522 g m−2). Growth rate (i.e., cultivar) also affected annual mowing requirements and yield: the faster the growth rate, the more annual mowing events. Leaf tissue N concentrations were higher when clippings were returned and with slower‐growing cultivars. Mowing by the one‐third rule and selecting slower‐growing cultivars of turfgrass species adapted to a particular location can reduce annual mowing requirements and subsequent mower emissions.

Zoysiagrass (Zoysiaspp.) History, Utilization, and Improvement in the United States: A Review

“…Within zoysiagrass, ‘Cavalier’, ‘Diamond’, Meyer, and ‘Zorro’ have lower clipping yields than bermudagrass, with ‘El Toro’ and Palisades having clippings yields similar to bermudagrass (Trappe et al, 2010, 2011b). The advantage of a cultivar with low clipping yield is that it will require less frequent mowing and consequently less fossil fuel consumption (Law et al, 2016). Likewise, turf managers using plant growth regulators will note that fewer applications are required on zoysiagrass.…”

Greenhouse gas fluxes from turfgrass systems: Species, growth rate, clipping management, and environmental effects

“…Nitrous oxide flux is influenced by N availability and mineralization in turfgrass systems (Braun & Bremer, 2018b). However, despite increased soil N concentrations and grass clipping tissue N content measured in a companion study (Law et al, 2016) from returning grass clippings, there were no recorded differences in N 2 O flux between the grass clipping management treatments. Similarly, others have reported inconsistent results with clipping management (Bremer, 2006;Li et al, 2013).…”

“…Air temperature, soil temperature (5.1 cm depth), and volumetric soil water content (7.6 cm depth with FieldScout TDR 300 Soil Moisture Meter [Spectrum Technologies, Inc.]) were measured in order to relate GHG emissions with environmental factors on each measurement date. For Experiment 2, annual clipping yield and soil C and N were measured in both turfgrass species and are reported elsewhere (Law et al., 2016, 2017).…”

“…Experiment 2 (NTEP, 2006a(NTEP, , 2006b(NTEP, , 2011(NTEP, , 2012. For more information on these cultivars, see companion papers of Law et al (2016), , and . This experiment was arranged as a 2 (turfgrass species) × 3 (growth rate) factorial in a randomized, complete-block design with four replications, and it was repeated over time (six sampling dates).…”

Estimating economic minimums of mowing, fertilizing, and irrigating turfgrass

“…Turfgrass growth is determined by species/variety and height of cut, which therefore have the greatest influence on mowing requirements (Law, Bigelow, & Patton, 2016). When maintained at increased heights of cut, slow‐growing species can require up to 70% less mowing than a rapidly growing low‐cut turfgrass (Kopp & Guillard, 2002).…”