Lawn Mower Research Articles

No Mow May and Leave The Leaves: The impact of social campaigns on turf quality

AbstractThe No Mow May and Leave The Leaves social media campaigns, both of which advocate for a minimalist approach to turf management in various settings including home lawns, parks, and urban greenspaces, have gained momentum in the public consciousness. No Mow May encourages homeowners and municipalities to refrain from mowing the grass in May, and Leave The Leaves recommends refraining from raking and removing fallen tree leaves in the autumn. The underlying goal is to support biodiversity, particularly pollinators, by either allowing wildflowers to flourish or providing an overwintering habitat for insects and other small creatures. This study examined each of these campaigns and the combination of both on turf quality and weed establishment. By avoiding lawn mowing until June, the unintended consequences were increased weed invasion and decreased turf quality. Regardless of Leaf treatment, flower number did not differ between mowed and unmowed treatments except when counting immediately followed mowing. Thick leaf litter over turf in the winter led to turf death followed by weed invasion. The challenges we observed associated with No Mow May and Leave The Leaves initiatives could be addressed by integrating science‐backed practices and considering regional variations in climate and grass species. This would ensure that both environmental conservation and turf health are considered.

Epidemiological Analysis of Upper Extremity Amputations From Lawn Mower-Related Injuries.

Lawn mower-related injuries (LMIs) represent a complex spectrum of pathology with significant public health ramifications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological factors associated with lawn mower upper extremity amputations. The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database was queried from 2014 to 2023. National case estimates were established for upper extremity amputation events secondary to lawn mowers using diagnostic and injury-specific coding parameters. Documented cases from NEISS-participating hospitals were evaluated and injury data surrounding individual amputation events were analyzed. An estimated 17 509 upper extremity amputations occurred from 2014 to 2023 secondary to LMI in the United States. Annual case estimates and incidence rates remained relatively uniform across the 10-year study period. Most injuries were estimated to occur in 50- to 59-year-old patients. Case record review from pooled participating NEISS hospitals yielded 469 cases of upper extremity amputation directly associated with LMI from 2014 to 2023. Ninety-one percent of cases occurred in men, and most events involved the amputation of a finger (97%). Most cases of lawn mower-associated injury involved the amputation of the middle digit (41.6%) in isolation (64% of cases involved amputation of 1 digit). Despite advances in product safety and consumer education, the estimated frequency and incidence rate of upper extremity amputations secondary to LMI has remained largely unchanged over the past 10 years. When these events did occur, 40- to 60-year-old men were most often involved, most commonly leading to amputation of the third finger in isolation.

Smart Grass Cutter and Pesticide Sprayer Robot with Mobile Control

Smart Grass Cutter and Pesticide Sprayer Robot with Mobile Control

Design of smart and self-controlled Solar Grass Cutter with Lawn Coverage

In this paper, we design a piece of equipment called the "Variable Head Automatic Solar Grass Cutter.” The system comprises basic components, including a motor drive circuit, control circuit, and solar panel. The overall operation is controlled by an Arduino microcontroller. The proposed system can automatically cut the lawn while adjusting the cutting height according to the surface needs, making it suitable for different types of lawns. The machine's cutting system consists of a DC motor, which drives and controls the rotating edge along a nylon cord, enabling the machine to cut grass with precision and speed. A primary concern of the machine's operation is the safety of the user. To avoid collisions, an ultrasonic sensor is installed on the front of the machine, allowing it to detect and avoid obstacles in its path. This project utilizes solar panels and rechargeable batteries, reducing energy consumption and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. This makes the machine eco-friendly and cost-effective. Consequently, this machine provides an opportunity to promote progress in innovation and maintenance.

Why mow?: A review of the resulting ecosystem services and disservices from mowing turfgrass

AbstractTurfgrasses are those grasses that tolerate frequent mowing. The act of mowing turfgrasses, primarily lawn mowing, has received much negative attention primarily due to its labor requirement and the resulting mower emissions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the benefits and drawbacks of mowing grasses, specifically turfgrasses used on lawns, parks, golf courses, and sports fields, using an ecosystem services and disservices framework. Discussed is the challenge of creating a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach to selecting the best mowing management practices and sociocultural tensions that exist related to lawn mowing. Discussion also includes the benefits and value gained from mowing turfgrass and strategies to mitigate ecosystem disservices that result from mowing.

Robust adaptive event-triggered control for unmanned surface vessel–unmanned aerial vehicle: Application to sea–air synchronized lawn mowing search operation

This paper investigates a robust adaptive event-triggered control algorithm with a consideration of the synchronized lawn mowing search guidance for a heterogeneous system comprising both an unmanned surface vessel (USV) and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). For ensuring a cooperative global search navigation of the USV–UAV, a synchronized lawn mowing search guidance is developed with two key elements: the L1-based virtual ship (L1VS) and L1-based virtual aerial (L1VA), where the former can generate the smooth reference path for a USV according to the search task scope, while the latter can program the reference path for a UAV on the basis of its search requirements (search speed, detected capacity and communication distance). In the control loop, a robust adaptive path following control law is designed by utilizing an event-triggered mechanism and a minimal learning parameter (MLP) technique. In particular, the event-triggered mechanism has a potential role for a reduction of the unnecessary transmission resource usage for the channel of the controller to the actuator. Besides, only one learning parameters on each channel by introducing the MLP technique, implying a lower computational burden. Through the Lyapunov theorem, the semi-global uniform ultimate bounded (SGUUB) stability properties of the proposed control system. Finally, two numerical simulations are carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy and the advantages compared with existing techniques.

Factors affecting the adoption of farm mechanization in Rupandehi, Nepal

Agricultural mechanization is pivotal in farmer’s fields as it functions more efficiently and helps increase farm productivity. Despite the massive involvement of people in agriculture, farm productivity is relatively low. One main reason for this is the staggered implementation of farm mechanization. This paper aims to explore the factors affecting the adoption of farm mechanization using the Chi-square test and identify the major problems using relative frequency values. A total of 112 respondents, 28 each from 4 municipalities of Rupandehi district were interviewed based on stratified random sampling technique. The results showed that the adoption rates of various farm machinery were notably high, with tractors, cultivators, mills, and sprayers being universally employed by 93.75 % of the surveyed individuals. The government subsidies to only 7% of farmers facilitate machinery procurement. The size of the total cultivated land was found to be significant over the use of harvester, grass cutter, and power tiller, and owing of milling machine. The availability of subsidies and owning of mills were found inter dependent. The annual expenditures of farmers and their access to theCusto m Hiring Centre were found to be significant. Lastly, with index values of 0.402 and 0.393, the high costs of farm machinery and small land holdings were major problems in the adoption of farm mechanization. Therefore, addressing the high initial costs of modern farm equipment, providing targeted subsidies, innovative institution formation to provide better services to marginalized farmers, and expanding extension services are essential steps to promote the adoption of farm mechanization.

Pengaruh Pemberian Pupuk Bokashi Feses Ayam Dan Daun Kirinyuh Dengan Level Yang Berbeda (0, 15, 30 Dan 45 Ton/Ha) Terhadap Pertambahan Panjang Daun, Produksi Berat Segar, Dan Komposisi Fraksi Serat Pada Pertumbuhan Ketiga Rumput Odot

This research aims to see the increase in leaf length and fresh weight production as well as the fiber fraction content in odot grass plants given chicken feces bokashi fertilizer and kirinyuh leaves in each bed plot at different levels. The research was conducted in Kuta Village, Kanatang District, East Sumba Regency. The main research material used was odot grass cuttings, with soil beds and using chicken feces bokashi fertilizer. The experimental design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 4 replications where each replication consisted of 9 odot grass seedlings/cuttings so that there were a total of 144 experimental units. Treatment P0: no fertilizer (control); P1: fertilizer application 15 tons/ha; P2: fertilizer application 30 tons/ha; P3: fertilizer application 45 tons/ha. The results of the study showed that the application of chicken feces bokashi and kirinyuh fertilizer at doses of 0, 15, 30 and 45 tons/ha in the second week had an effect on leaf length growth, but in the fourth to the eighth week it had no real effect because it was most likely The effect is reduced availability of nutrients in the soil. The fresh weight production results of odot grass had a significant effect on the fertilizer treatment compared to without fertilizer where P3 (923.75g) gave the best results compared to all treatments. Meanwhile, the analysis of fiber content shows that the value for each fiber fraction is good with an average NDF (76.274%); ADF (43,915); Cellulose (30,696); Lignin (3,419); Hemicellulose (32,359); and Silica (0.578). It can be concluded that by administering chicken feces bokashi fertilizer at a level of 45 tons/ha, it is still able to provide the best results for growth and third harvest of odot grass plants.

Pengaruhi Pemberian Pupuk Bokashi Feses Ayam dan Daun Chromolaena Odorata Dengan Level Yang Berbeda (0; 7,5; 15; Dan 22,5 Ton/Ha) Terhadap Pertambahan Panjang Daun, Produksi Berat Segar Dan Komposisi Fraksi Serat Pada Pertumbuhan Ketiga Rumput Odot

This research was conducted in Kuta Village, Kanatang District, East Sumba Regency. The tools used include drum plates, thermometers, measuring tape, tarpaulin, books, pens, plastic samples, scales and ovens. The materials used are odot grass cuttings, chicken feces bokashi fertilizer and kirinyuh leaves. The experimental design used in this research was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of 4 treatments and 4 replications and each replication consisted of 9 odot grass cuttings, so there were 144 experimental units. This research is a follow-up research on the growth of three odorata grasses (Pennisetum purpureum Cv. Mott) by applying chicken feces bokashi fertilizer and kirinyuh leaves (Chromolaena odorata) at levels of 0, 7; 5, 15 and 22.5 tonnes/ha. The results of this research show that there is a significant difference in the leaf length variable at 2 weeks of age but not a significant difference at 4-8 weeks of age between odot plants given or without bokashi fertilizer. The research results also showed that there were significant differences in the fresh weight production variable between fertilizer treatment (P1: 731 grams; P2: 732 grams; P3: 736 grams) compared to no fertilizer treatment (P0: 656 grams). The fiber fraction test results showed good results where the average cellulose content was 30.26%; hemicellulose 31.39%; and lignin content is only 3.5%. It was concluded that applying fertilizer up to the level of 7.5 tons/ha was still able to provide good results for odot grass plants in the third growth and harvest.

Phenological Analysis of Grasses (Poaceae) in Comparison with Aerobiological Data in Moscow (Russia).

Grasses (Poaceae) produce large amounts of pollen and are among the main causes of pollinosis worldwide. Despite their morphological similarity, pollen grains of different grass species may have different allergenicities. Therefore, quantification of the roles of individual species in airborne pollen is an important task. There are very few studies on this topic, and none of them have been conducted in a temperate continental climate. Our study was carried out for three years (2020-2022) in the urban territory of Moscow (Russia) and aimed to understand what grass species contribute the most to the total pollen load of the atmosphere. The comparison of aerobiological and phenological data was based on calculating the phenological index, which is a combination of phenological parameters, pollen productivity of individual species, and their abundance. Our data showed that the decomposition of pollination curves based on the phenological index was sometimes very efficient but not always possible in temperate continental climates. The main reasons for disagreement between aerobiological and phenological data were weather conditions and lawn mowing. Not all grasses were equally important as sources of allergenic pollen. The greatest contribution to the pollen load at the beginning of the season in Moscow was made by Dactylis glomerata, and to a lesser extent by Phleum pratense and Festuca pratensis. These are the most common species, which are widespread throughout Europe. The contribution of minor components is insignificant.

Customized Plant Growth Promotion with Soil- and Cultivar-Compatible Microbial Biofertilizers

Organic fertilizers and microbial biofertilizers are now widely recognized to effectively complement traditional mineral fertilizers for plant growth. The present study shows that bio-organic fertilizers can be enhanced by the addition of functional plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) that provide additional benefits to plants. We hypothesized that not all beneficial soil bacteria are functional in different farm soils and plant varieties; hence, the most effective PGPR that are suitable to each farm’s individual cropping conditions were selected. Five different field soils and their respective crops were tested for compatibility with six microbial biofertilizers (including three new bacterial strains) to supplement a commercially available bio-organic fertilizer. In pot trials with lucerne plants, four out of the six microbial treatments led to significant (p < 0.05) growth promotion benefits (up to 79.8% more leaves and dry weight) compared to mock-treated or bio-organic fertilizer-only-treated control plants. A trial with industrial hemp demonstrated that compatibility with PGPR occurs in a cultivar-specific manner, leading to growth promotion ranging from −3.4% to 68.9%, with each cultivar displaying a preference for a different PGPR. Finally, pot trials with Rhodes grass and two different soils demonstrated high yield increases compared to control plants, with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens 33YE being most effective for one soil and Bacillus velezensis UQ9000N/Pseudomonas lini SMX2 for the other soil. Yield advantages reduced after several cuts of grass, but a repeat biofertilizer treatment at 69 days after the initial treatment restored high yield advantages, with the same PGPR again being most effective. These results demonstrate the importance of customization of microbial inoculants to identify the most compatible PGPR–cultivar–soil interaction. The customization of microbial biofertilizers to soils and plant cultivars, combined with complementary fertilizer applications, can potentially lead to more reliable and more sustainable agricultural practices.

基于S-TEB算法的果园割草机人局部路径规划研究

This paper proposes a local path planning algorithm method named S-TEB (Smooth Time Elastic Band), aimed at fulfilling the requirement of full coverage for ORLMs (Orchard Robotic Lawn Mowers) during mowing operations. Firstly, by analyzing the tracking control mode of ORLMs in operational scenarios, control points are selected reasonably. Subsequently, utilizing B-spline curves, the path is optimized to generate the optimal trajectory and speed for ORLMs that satisfy multiple objectives and constraints. Finally, multiple simulations and field experiments were conducted in actual operational environments, with a speed of 0.6 m/s. Experimental results show that in scenarios involving obstacle avoidance, the minimum distance between the automatic lawnmower and the outer contour of obstacles is 4 cm. Compared to the traditional TEB planning algorithm, there is a 4.23% increase in mowing coverage area. These findings provide theoretical and technical support for local path planning in the operational scenarios of ORLMs.

Sustainability of athletic field turf comparing organic and synthetic practices under two heights of cut

AbstractLong‐term comparisons over several years between organic and synthetic management are lacking in sports turf research. Our objective was to investigate playing surface qualities and soil properties over an 8‐year period. For this trial, Kentucky bluegrass (KBG, Poa pratensis L.) sod was established and annually inter‐seeded with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and KBG. Factors included height of cut (3.2 and 6.4 cm) and management systems (MSs; synthetic and organic) with three replicates. Synthetic practices included chemical fertilizers and pesticides, while the organic system used hand‐weeding and biological fertilizers (leaf compost and naturally derived organics) with biological controls. In all years, wear was simulated in the fall using a slip‐wear machine and evaluated for playing qualities including visual wear tolerance, ball bounce (BB), surface hardness, and traction. Soil properties were evaluated in some years including pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil bulk density, soil aggregate stability (SAG), and soil available P. Both MS received the same total N of 196 kg ha−1 year−1 but P applied varied with the MS (synthetic, 7.6 kg ha−1 year−1; organic, 23.2 kg ha−1 year−1). Synthetic practices provided acceptable visual wear tolerance (1–9, ≥6 acceptable) in 4 of 8 years compared to only 1 year for organic practices. Shorter cut grass (3.2 cm) consistently provided better visual wear tolerance (average = 5.6), harder surfaces (average = 51 g), and higher BB (average = 35.8%) consistent with accepted player standards. Synthetic practices afforded better tolerance to wear compared to organic practices in 5 of 8 years but little difference was observed in the other surface properties. Organic practices were consistently above 6.0 in soil pH (higher by 12%), 20% higher in soil available P, 25% higher in SOM, and with lower soil bulk density. SAG was higher following 8 years of simulated traffic by the last year of the test under organic practices. Results suggest competing benefits with synthetic practices affording better wear tolerance while organic practices promote better soil health.

EFFECT OF FEEDING DIETS OF DIFFERENT PROTEIN SOURCES ON CARCASS AND OFFAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GRASS CUTTER (Thrynomys swinderianus)

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding three legumes a soyabean (Glycine max, locus bean (Parkia biagosis), and melon seeds (Citrullis lanatus) of different protein values on carcass and offal characteristics of grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus). 20 were grass cutters, 4 families with 4 males and 16 females were used for this study. They were purchased and remain allocated to 4 treatment diets: TO: Cassava flour meal (CFM) Control, T1= CFM+ soya beans meal (SBM), T2= CFM+ locust bean meal (LBM), T3- CFM+ Melon seeds meal (MSM). Data collected were analysed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) at P=-0.05. The result showed that treatment 2, CFM+LBM furnished highest (p<0.55) carcass and offals characteristics of the three diets used compared with the control diet (TO). Diet T2 (CFM+LBM) was therefore, recommended for grass cutter farmers for optimums carcass attributes in grass cutter kept in captivity.

Adding a mosaic mowing regime to urban lawns is the key to city biodiversity management for pollinators

City populations are growing rapidly, with built-up areas occupying ever-larger areas within the cities. One of the last green places in a city is urban lawns. Our study aimed to investigate how lawn management changes can contribute to improving insect pollinator biodiversity at the city scale. Over two years, we studied dozens of urban lawns in Prague (Czech Republic) that were partially left unmown, and we selected three major groups of pollinators: Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. This study showed that leaving unmown lawn areas has a strong positive effect on insect biodiversity. The high intensity of lawn flowering through the vegetation season was also crucial. Our research showed that leaving unmown parts of urban lawns is one of the key amendments to maintain or even increase pollinator biodiversity in cities. It also appears to be the best way to attract red-listed species. A significant reducing mowing frequency to achieve a higher flowering intensity should be a positive solution. So-called insect gardening by reducing urban lawn mowing frequency or leaving parts of lawns completely unmown can help not only pollinators but also other animals that find food or shelter in them. This management will also enable the propagation of flowering plants. Additionally, biodiversity measures coincide with reducing evapotranspiration and thus cooling urban heat islands.

Assessing the Evolution of Stability and Maturity in Co-Composting Sheep Manure with Green Waste Using Physico-Chemical and Biological Properties and Statistical Analyses: A Case Study of Botanique Garden in Rabat, Morocco

Organic waste utilization stands as a pivotal approach to ecological and economic sustainability. This study aimed to assess the stability, maturity, and evolution of co-composts comprising various blends of green waste (GW) and sheep manure (SM). Employing a diverse array of physico-chemical and biological parameters, we investigated the co-composting process over 120 days. Three types of garden waste (mixture of green waste (MGW), fallen leaves (FL), and grass cutting (GC)) were utilized. The results revealed significant compost transformation, evident by odor and insect absence and a shift to dark brown coloration, indicating maturation. The compost C2, derived from FL, exhibited superior soil amendment potential. Significantly, it exhibited a pH level of 6.80, an EC of 2.45 mS/cm, and an OM content of 55%, along with a C/N ratio of 16.15. Analysis of the macronutrients revealed values of 1.98% for TN, 3.22% for TP, and 0.61% for K. Crucially, the compost showed no phytotoxic effects and boasted a high GI of 94.20% and a low respiration rate of 4.02 mg/50 g, indicating its stability and appropriateness for agricultural application. Our findings underscore compost’s potential as an eco-friendly soil amendment, offering valuable insights for sustainable agricultural management and supporting the circular economy.

Characterization of First Cut Alfalfa and Grass Silage Management Practices on Canadian Dairy Farms

Characterization of First Cut Alfalfa and Grass Silage Management Practices on Canadian Dairy Farms

Development of a Solar-Powered Robotic Lawn Mower

Lawn keeping has been a major issue in campus environment due to rising cost of diesel fuel and lack of man power to operate both tractor-mounted and motorized lawn mowers. An automated solar-powered robotic lawn mower was developed in this research work to solve this problem. The components of the mower include a frame, three caster wheels, two gear motors which provide the forward motion, a 12v DC cutter motor which rotates the cutting blade, 2202mAH limpo battery for power supply, a 16W solar panel for charging the battery, a charge controller, a Raspberry Pi 3 B+ microcontroller which controls the motors, and a VNC mobile app for setting inputs for control. The mover was locally fabricated at the Agricultural Engineering workshop of The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, and it was tested in an open field. The effective field capacity and field efficiency of the machine were found to be 0.13 m2/s and 88% respectively. The total cost of producing the mower was 185,800 naira. The mower is recommended for large scale production and for usage on campuses.

Smart Lawn Bluetooth Mower with Sprinkler and Time Tracker

Abstract: This abstract outlines the development of a multifunctional lawn care device that amalgamates a traditional lawn mower with an integrated water sprinkler, hence revolutionizing lawn care. It not only cuts down on manual labor in one but many ways. This lawn mower simultaneously supports the irrigation of lawns, enhancing convenience. What comes to more ease is the control of the machine via Bluetooth module, which can be operated with a smartphone through an application. It also shows the estimated mowing time and brushes off the residue to make the mowing activity more organized. Using ESP32 for Bluetooth control, it manages to move in the right direction and start and stop when required. This device merges the conventional task of mowing with an innovative sprinkler system in order to irrigate the lawn as and when required. The built in time tracker allows users to schedule and automate lawn care routines optimizing maintenance efforts and promoting healthier greener laws while saving both time and resources. This integration of lawn care functionalities aims to enhance convenience and effectiveness in maintaining outdoor spaces, manage to cut down on labour and cost and give a user-friendly experience.

Active Disturbance Rejection Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on RPLESO

In view of the problem of the low-speed jitter of household lawn mowers driven by a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) at low speeds and high torque, and the complicated parameters of traditional non-linear active disturbance rejection controllers, a partially optimized linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) driving PMSM strategy is proposed. First, the linear extended state observer (LESO), which bears a significant burden in terms of speed and load estimation in active disturbance rejection control, is optimized by reducing its order to improve the anti-disturbance performance of the active disturbance rejection controller within a limited bandwidth. Secondly, the reduced-order parallel linear extended state observer (RPLESO) is obtained by optimizing the parallel structure of the order-reduced LESO, which improves the control precision and robustness of the system. Through a simulation and experimental verification, the optimized LADRC control of the PMSM system is shown to improve the parameter adjustability, speed estimation precision and system robustness.