Page 11 - Transitioning Turfgrass

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6 ETS Field Days

cessfully in the transition zone, but dorman- higher shoot density. A year-round polystand
cy occurs to some extent during the winter. of manila grass with some cultivars of Festuca
Overseeding with cool-season turfgrasses is rubra spp. could be suitable for golf tees with
necessary if winter desiccation of warm-sea- low-input management, looking forward to the
son turfgrasses is not tolerated. The increasing reduction of chemical inputs allowed on turfs by
availability of zoysiagrass cultivars has en- the European regulations (Grossi et al., 2019).
abled this genius to be considered suitable for
low-maintenance golf courses. Zoysiagrasses
have the most rigid leaves of all turfgrass spe- References
cies so turfgrass mowers need more sharp-
ening. Autonomous mowers have proved to Grossi N., Fontanelli M., Garramone E., Peruzzi A., Raffa-
produce a superior turf quality compared with elli M., Pirchio M., Martelloni L., Frasconi C., Caturegli L.,
Gaetani M., Magni S., McElroy J.S., Volterrani M., 2016.
traditional walk-behind rotary mowers, but no Autonomous mower saves energy and improves quality of tall
autonomous mower has ever been tested at a fescue lawn. HortTechnology, 26(6): 825-830.
low mowing height on an overseeded warm Grossi N., Fontanelli M., Frasconi C., Martelloni L, Raffaelli
season turfgrass. Because of this, the trial was M., Peruzzi A., Gaetani M., Magni S., Caturegli L, Volterrani
carried out to simulate a golf tee overseeded M., Pirchio M., 2019. Effects of close cutting on ground cover
with cool season turfgrasses as polystand, with and quality of a polystand of Manilagrass and cool season
low input fertilization rates and with one of the turfgrasses. Italian Journal of Agronomy 14(1):59-65; doi:
10.4081/ija.2019.1378.
most difficult turf species to mow; i.e., manila-
grass. The trial was carried out in Pisa (Italy), Pirchio M., Fontanelli M., Frasconi C., Martelloni L Raffaelli
M., Peruzzi A., Gaetani M., Magni S., Caturegli L., Volter-
from October 2016 to October 2018. After rani M., Grossi N., 2018a. Autonomous Mower vs. Rotary
a two-year period, the best turf quality was Mower: Effects on Turf Quality and Weed Control in Tall
achieved with Festuca rubra spp. cultivars. In Fescue Lawn. Agronomy 2018, 8, 15; doi:10.3390/agrono-
many cases turf quality increased after ma- my8020015.
nila grass green-up since the combination of Pirchio M., Fontanelli M., Frasconi C., Martelloni L, Raffaelli
both cool season and warm season species M., Peruzzi A., Caturegli L, Gaetani M., Magni S., Volterrani
M., Grossi N., 2018b. Autonomous rotary mower vs. ordinary
gave a higher quality to the turfgrass, espe- reel mower: effects of cutting height and nitrogen rate on ma-
cially because of the finer leaf texture and nila grass turf quality. HortTechnology, 28(4): 509-515.

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