Abstract
Autonomous mowers are battery-powered machines designed for lawn mowing that require very low human labour. Autonomous mowers can increase turf quality and reduce local noise and pollution compared with gasoline-powered rotary mowers. However, very little is known about the effects of autonomous mowing on encroaching weeds. The aim of this research was to compare the effects of an autonomous mower and an ordinary gasoline-powered mower on weed development in an artificially infested tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) turf with different nitrogen (N) rates. A three-way factor experimental design with three replications was adopted. Factor A consisted of three N rates (0, 75, and 150 kg ha−1), factor B consisted of two mowing systems (autonomous mower vs. walk-behind gasoline rotary mower equipped for mulching), and factor C which consisted of four different transplanted weed species: (a) Bellis perennis L., (b) Trifolium repens L.; (c) Trifolium subterraneum L.; and (d) Lotus corniculatus L. Of these, B. perennis is a rosette-type plant, while the other three species are creeping-type plants. The interaction between mowing system and transplanted weed species showed that the four transplanted weed species were larger when mowed by the autonomous mower than by the rotary mower. The autonomous mower yielded larger weeds probably because the constant mowing height caused the creeping weed species to grow sideways, since the turfgrass offered no competition for light. N fertilization increased turf quality and mowing quality, and also reduced spontaneous weed infestation. Autonomous mowing increased turf quality, mowing quality, but also the percentage of spontaneous weed cover.
Highlights
IntroductionIn Italy, the most widespread cool-season turfgrass is tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) [1]
In Italy, the most widespread cool-season turfgrass is tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) [1].Tall fescue is noted especially for its wear resistance, weed competition, shade tolerance, and deep root system
There was no significant 3-order interaction between factors, there was a significant interaction between mowing system and transplanted weed species
Summary
In Italy, the most widespread cool-season turfgrass is tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) [1]. Tall fescue is noted especially for its wear resistance, weed competition, shade tolerance, and deep root system. Compared to other cool season turfgrass species, tall fescue is the most resistant to drought, high temperatures, and salinity [2]. Tall fescue is not commonly used, since it has difficulty withstanding low mowing heights [3] and its leaves tend to partially wither in winter [4]. Burns [5] revealed how tall fescue is affected by mowing height, showing that the best quality was achieved at heights ranging from 2.5 to 4 cm. Several authors have studied dwarf-type tall fescue cultivars selected to withstand low mowing. Based on the lower growth rate of these cultivars, appropriate levels of fertilization and mowing are required [6,7,8]
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