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Field surveys were conducted on golf courses reporting the inability of imidacloprid to control white grubs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) when applied preventively. Surveys of five sites with significant past imidacloprid use (>10 years) revealed significantly greater white grub populations in rough‐mown turf following imidacloprid treatment than that of adjacent short‐mown fairways. Additionally, spatial analysis by distance indicEs (SADIE) analyses demonstrated a positive correlation between white grub and thatch spatial patterns. To investigate the impact of thatch on imidacloprid efficacy and translocation throughout the turfgrass plant, greenhouse experiments were conducted using turf with differing thatch levels. Imidacloprid concentrations in soil and plant tissues were measured with high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and compared to values obtained through an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to determine if the latter could be a cost‐effective alternative in future studies. ELISA provided reliable estimates of concentrations of imidacloprid compared to HPLC, with only minor discrepancies noted across different types of treatments and assessment timings. Despite finding higher imidacloprid levels in leaf tissues compared to roots and some differences in concentration across thatch treatments, there was no clear pattern showing that thatch thickness significantly affects imidacloprid penetration or accumulation in plant tissues or soil over time. These findings suggest that factors other than thatch thickness may contribute to the observed field failures of imidacloprid in controlling white grubs. Further research is necessary to identify these factors and optimize the use of imidacloprid in turfgrass pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoysia japonica Steud. (zoysia grass), with its high drought, shade, and salt tolerance, it is an excellent choice for green areas. However, in regions with subtropical climates, it goes into winter dormancy with a loss of green color and functionality, which is a main barrier to its widespread use. The application of silicon and nitrogen in fall was hypothesized to enhance winter color retention of Z. japonica. This study assessed the impact of fall (late-season) nitrogen (0, 2.5, or 5.0 g/m2 ammonium sulfate) and foliar silicon (0, 3, or 6 mL/L potassium silicate) applications on the winter color retention of Z. japonica grown in the field. The experiment was conducted over two consecutive growing seasons in Antalya, Türkiye. Turfgrass quality, color, chlorophyll content, shoot density, and winter dormancy were all improved by late-season nitrogen application. Overall, two sequential nitrogen applications at 5 g/m2 in fall provided 65% to 100% green coverage with acceptable turfgrass quality during fall and winter, indicating the possibility of maintaining the year-round green color of Z. japonica in subtropical climates. However, the silicon treatment did not affect the winter color retention of Z. japonica. The apparent lack of a beneficial response of Z. japonica to the silicon application might be due to the dose, application methods, and silicon source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turfgrass research based on inoculations with commercial products containing nitrogen‐fixing endophytes as an alternative to synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizers has yielded inconclusive results, indicating a lack of understanding of the colonization and stability of diazotrophic endophytes in turfgrasses. Potential factors influencing these results are turfgrass traditional management practices. In this study, we identified and compared endophytic diazotrophic communities and their associated soil counterparts using amplicon sequencing of the nitrogenase iron protein (nifH) of 36 surfaced sterilized CitraBlue St. Augustinegrass cultivar [Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze] sprigs and 12 aggregated soil samples. Samples were collected from a CitraBlue cultivar mowed either at 5 or 10 cm, with and without thatch removal, and fertilized at 98, 195, or 293 kg N ha−1 year−1. The different communities of endophytic diazotrophs were correlated to turfgrass quality related parameters such as normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference red edge index (NDRE), N leaf content, and visual quality as affected by management practices. CitraBlue endophytic and soil diazotrophic communities were significantly different for alpha diversity (p < 0.0001) and beta diversity (p < 0.001). Both mowing height (p < 0.001) and N fertilization rate (p < 0.05) had a significant effect on the diversity of endophytic diazotrophs. According to the redundancy analysis, turfgrass quality related parameters explained 14.3% of the variance in the endophytic diazotrophic communities. Findings from this research demonstrate that the evaluated management practices alter the endophytic diazotrophic communities of CitraBlue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Different approaches are known to face this problem, for example, dieting, surgery, or drug interventions. It has also been shown that placebos may help to reduce weight and hunger feelings, but the use of placebos is linked to problems with respect to the patient-healthcare-provider relationship. However, recent studies demonstrated that even placebos without deception (open-label placebos) affect symptoms such as pain, anxiety, or emotional distress. Here we aimed to examine whether an open-label placebo may help to lose weight in obesity. Our study included fifty-seven overweight and obese patients who aimed to lose weight using a combination of diet and sports. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Participants in the open-label placebo group received two placebos each day. A treatment-as-usual group received no pills. Primary outcome included changes of body weight. Secondary outcomes were change of eating behavior and self-management abilities. After 4 weeks we found that participants in the open-label placebo condition lost more weight than the treatment-as-usual group. Furthermore, OLP treatment affected eating behavior. No effects for self-management abilities were found. Although further research is necessary, open-label placebos might help individuals to lose weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relative to soluble N sources, enhanced-efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) support steady turfgrass growth and dense canopy quality while abating N loss as nitrate, ammonia, and/or N2O from turfgrass systems. Modern EEFs provide turfgrass managers greater operational effect and versatility in their nutrient management efforts and compel field characterization of their temporal response. Likewise, field confirmation of commercial EEF nutrient recovery helps stakeholders select the appropriate EEF for their specific application. Our research objective was to quantify the temporal response of Kentucky bluegrass growth/yield, canopy density and color, and fertilizer N recovery to a practical application of conventional urea or an enhanced-efficiency granular fertilizer. In May 2014 and June 2018, Kentucky bluegrass plots were fertilized by granules of conventional urea, N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT)-, and dicyandiamide (DCD)-stabilized urea, or polymer-/sulfur-coated urea (PSCU) at a N rate of 43.9 kg ha−1 (0.9 lbs/1000 sq. ft.). The dependent variable response over the two growing seasons was highly affected by efficiency enhancement. Following the repeated 16.5-week evaluations, the mean percent of fertilizer N recovered from conventional urea, stabilized urea, and PSCU totaled 57.5, 68.4, and 89.1%, respectively. In the 23 to 51 days from treatment (DFT), recovery of PSCU-N significantly exceeded that from conventional or stabilized urea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Carex breviculmis is a perennial herb with good resistance and is widely used for forage production and turf management. It is important in ecology, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, but faces several challenges due to human activities. However, the absence of genome sequences has limited basic research and the improvement of wild plants. Methods We annotated the genome of C. breviculmis and conducted a systematic analysis to explore its resistance to harsh environments. We also conducted a comparative analysis of Achnatherum splendens , which is similarly tolerant to harsh environments. Key Results The assembled the genome comprises 469.01 Mb, revealing 37 372 genes with a BUSCO completeness score of 99.0 %. The genome has 52.03 % repetitive sequences, primarily influenced by recent LTR insertions that have contributed to its expansion. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that C. breviculmis diverged from C. littledalei ~6.61 million years ago. Investigation of repetitive sequences and expanded gene families highlighted a rapid expansion of tandem duplicate genes, particularly in areas related to sugar metabolism, synthesis of various amino acids, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Additionally, our analysis identified crucial genes involved in secondary metabolic pathways, such as glycolysis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism, which have undergone positive selection. We reconstructed the sucrose metabolic pathway and identified significant gene expansions, including 16 invertase, 9 sucrose phosphate synthase and 12 sucrose synthase genes associated with sucrose metabolism, which showed varying levels of expansion. Conclusions The expansion of these genes, coupled with subsequent positive selection, contributed to the ability of C. breviculmis to adapt to environmental stressors. This study lays the foundation for future research on the evolution of Carex plants, their environmental adaptations, and potential genetic breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation practices that conserve water use have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but may adversely affect turfgrass appearance. The purpose of this study was to identify irrigation practices and N fertilizers that will decrease carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4,), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions while evaluating turfgrass color and quality. In both years, supplemental rainfall (SRF) soil moisture content was higher than business as usual (BAU) irrigation and syringing (SYR). Higher soil moisture led to increased fluxes in both soil CO2 and soil N2O. In 2017, the SRF fluxed lower soil CO2 as soil moisture reached levels that restricted respiration. Soil moisture was also an important predictor of soil N2O flux with BAU and SRF having higher soil N2O fluxes. SRF produced the greenest turf from May to July, whereas SRY and SRF produced the greenest turf from August to October in 2016. Both BAU and SRF had the greenest turf in 2017. BAU had the highest turfgrass quality ratings in 2016 followed by SRF and SRY, respectively, whereas in 2017 SRF and SRY had higher turfgrass quality ratings. When adopting water conservation practices to reduce GHG emissions, soil moisture content and site-specific rainfall should be closely monitored to prevent overwatering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the effectiveness of fine‐tuning a semantic segmentation model to identify and quantify dollar spot in turfgrasses, the most extensively managed and researched disease of turfgrasses worldwide. Using the DeepLabV3+ model, recognized for its capability to segment complex shapes and integrate multi‐scale contextual information, the research leveraged a diverse dataset comprising various turfgrass species, disease stages, and lighting conditions to ensure robust model training. The trained model is able to identify and segment disease instances accurately and precisely, and the results indicate the potential for model‐based assessment to outperform traditional visual assessment methods in speed, accuracy, and consistency. The development of deep learning models on extensive datasets like ImageNet requires significant computational resources. However, by fine‐tuning a pretrained semantic segmentation model, we adapted it for disease segmentation using only a standard personal computer's graphics processing unit. This approach not only conserves resources but also highlights the practicality of deploying advanced deep learning applications in turfgrass pathology with limited computational capacity. The proposed model provides a new tool for turfgrass researchers and professionals to rapidly and accurately quantify this important disease under real‐world growing conditions. Additionally, the findings suggest the potential to apply deep learning algorithms to other turfgrass diseases to support data‐driven decisions. This could enhance disease management practices and improve decision‐making processes for fungicidal treatments, thereby improving the economic and environmental sustainability of turfgrass management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the development of a new hybrid zoysiagrass cultivar called Suzhi 5, which has been officially authorized and registered in China. The researchers conducted hybrid breeding to combine desirable traits from different parent species and developed Suzhi 5, which exhibits high turf quality, stress tolerance, and low maintenance requirements. The article provides data and information on various traits and characteristics of zoysiagrass hybrids, including measurements of shoot density, turf height, leaf length and width, stolon length and diameter, and reproductive traits. Field trials were conducted to compare the performance of the hybrids with their parents and a commercial zoysiagrass cultivar, and the data analysis revealed significant differences among the cultivars in terms of various traits. The document also describes the methods used for measurement and cultivation of the turf, and concludes that the 'Suzhi 5' cultivar has excellent cold resistance, a long green period, and is suitable for use on athletic fields, golf courses, and home lawns. [Extracted from the article]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both natural turfgrass and synthetic turf fields have distinct advantages and disadvantages and present unique challenges. The challenges evolve over time because of climate change, players' ever-changing needs, and the development of technologies. It is imperative to identify these challenges and devise effective solutions to overcome them. We conducted a survey of 97 administrators and managers from various organizations in the United States who were responsible for managing community sports fields. Our findings identified budget constraints as the biggest challenge for natural turfgrass field management, followed by issues related to use/scheduling and weather/climate. For synthetic turf field management, the top three challenges included budget constraints, use/scheduling, and other challenges (mainly safety issues). Additionally, administrators and managers consistently indicated increased funding as a solution for addressing challenges of both natural turfgrass and synthetic turf field management. We discuss the implications of these findings and provide potential ways to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Devastation from hurricanes can cause multiple problems for turfgrass managers, sod producers, and homeowners. Damage may include visible factors such as prolonged periods of standing water, uprooted trees, shading and obstruction from demolished structures, deposition of silt or mud, and damage to irrigation systems. Less visible problems may include damage to root systems resulting from compacted soil from heavy equipment used during cleanup and recovery, reduced drainage, and injury resulting from effects of saltwater intrusion. Suggested guidelines for correcting these problems are included in the text.

The EFSA Panel on Plant Health performed a pest categorisation of Popillia quadriguttata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), following a commodity risk assessment of bonsai Pinus parviflora grafted onto P. thunbergii from China, in which P. quadriguttata was identified as a pest of possible concern for the territory of the European Union. This is a univoltine polyphagous pest that occurs in eastern Asia from Vietnam northwards through eastern China and Taiwan, South Korea and into Far East Russia. Hosts include species of fruit trees within the genera Malus and Prunus, trees of forestry and environmental importance such as Quercus and Ulmus, shrubs such as Wisteria, soft fruit such as Rubus, grasses, including amenity turf and field crops such as potatoes, maize and soybean. Adults feed on host leaves, tender stems, flower buds, flowers and fruits; larvae feed on host roots. In northern China P. quadriguttata is a major pest of soybean; in South Korea, P. quadriguttata is one of the most serious insect pests of golf course turf. P. quadriguttata could enter the EU on various pathways including infested soil and growing media accompanying host plants for planning. Biotic factors (host availability) and abiotic factors (climate suitability) suggest that large parts of the EU would be suitable for establishment. Local spread would be mainly via natural dispersal of adults. Long distance spread would be facilitated by the movement of eggs, larvae and pupae infesting soil especially with plants for planting; adults could spread on plants for planting without soil. Economic and or environmental impacts would be expected on a range of plants if P. quadriguttata were to establish in the EU. Phytosanitary measures are available to reduce the likelihood of its introduction. P. quadriguttata satisfies all of the criteria that are within the remit of EFSA to assess for it to be regarded as a potential Union quarantine pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR/Cas9-based targeted gene editing has emerged as a versatile tool for deciphering gene function and improving traits in plants. However, this technique has not been applied to Zoysia japonica, a prominent warm-season turfgrass widely used for green spaces. Leaf senescence, a vital process affecting crop quality, occurs in Z. japonica during late growth, diminishing its aesthetic value and performance. In this study, we adeptly employed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing to create Z. japonica exhibiting delayed leaf senescence by targeting the ZjEIN2 gene, a crucial regulator of ethylene-mediated senescence. Precise gene editing, which generated knockout mutations in ZjEIN2, led to delayed leaf senescence in both dark and ethylene treatment conditions. This provided strong evidence for ZjEIN2's role in leaf senescence regulation. These findings highlight the potential of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing as a biotechnological strategy to enhance anti-senescence traits in Z. japonica and potentially other crops. This study carries significant implications for sustainable agriculture and turfgrass management, offering promising avenues for future applications and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to predict and manage physical injuries caused by gym equipment and facilities using the SVM algorithm. Method: This study was of a developmental-applied type. The snowball method was used to select the subjects. Subjects were asked to answer the questionnaire online and send it to friends and acquaintances of athletes. The validity of the instrument was confirmed through the opinions of university professors and convergent validity. Cronbach's alpha was used to check reliability. The sample questionnaire included 612 athletes in the age group of 18 to 60 years. 158 people were healthy, 54 people had head injuries, 211 people had leg injuries, and 189 people had hand injuries. The SVM algorithm was used to classify people. In addition, MATLAB software version 2022 was used for data analysis. The evaluation was conducted based on the clutter matrix and accuracy criteria. Results: The results showed that the SVM algorithm can predict head, arm and leg injuries with 74.6% accuracy and 73.2% accuracy, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that by discovering hidden patterns and relationships in the data, this algorithm can probably be used correctly to improve the quality of sports facilities management to prevent physical injuries of athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gaining information on the impact of lawn management with autonomous mowers on the floristic composition is crucial to improve their plant biodiversity. In this study, an autonomous mower with a reduced mowing frequency and a more sporadic mowing management system with a ride-on rotary mower were compared in terms of the effect on three dicotyledonous species (Phyla nodiflora, Lotus corniculatus and Sulla coronaria) transplanted onto stands of Bermuda and Manila grass. Regardless of the management system, P. nodiflora achieved the best results in terms of survival for both lawns (74.92 and 58.57% in Manila and Bermuda grass, respectively). In Bermuda grass, a higher percentage of surviving individuals was observed for the ordinary mower management system (42.59%), rather than with the autonomous mower (9.10%), while no differences emerged on Manila grass. On both Manila and Bermuda grass, a higher average percentage of coverage for single individual was observed for the ordinary mower management system (1.60 and 0.37%, respectively) compared to the autonomous mower system (0.55 and 0.08%, respectively). P. nodiflora had a higher percentage of individuals with flowers with the ordinary management system rather than with autonomous mower system both on Manila (60.73% and 33.90%, respectively) and Bermuda grass (48.66 and 3.32%, respectively). Despite a lower impact on the planted species being observed for the ordinary mower management system, encouraging results were obtained with the autonomous mower, for instance regarding the percentage of surviving individuals for P. nodiflora (33.95%) and L. corniculatus (22.08%) on Bermuda grass and the percentage of individuals with flowers for the same two species (33.90 and 13.59%, respectively) on Manila grass. Furthermore, the autonomous mower management system's primary energy consumption over the year was lower compared to that of the ordinary system both on Manila (200.4 and 614.97 kWh ha−1 year−1, respectively) and Bermuda grass (177.82 and 510.99 kWh ha−1 year−1, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shade stress is a common problem encountered in turfgrass management situations worldwide. Shade reduces photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), alters light quality, reduces air movement, and may introduce tree root competition. As a species, Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) possesses relatively poor shade tolerance, which limits its use in reduced light environments. However, genetic alteration of the gibberellic acid enzyme pathway has shown promise in some plant species for improving growth in shade. The objective of this 2‐year field study was to determine the comparative performance under reduced PPF and determine minimal daily light integral (DLIm) requirements for acceptable quality of a conventional (CONV) Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) blend and gibberellic acid 2‐oxidase (GA2ox) transformed "ProVista" (PV) KBG. A 2‐year field study was conducted under neutral density shade treatments producing monthly daily light integrals averaging from ∼5.8 (90% shade) to 48 mol m−2 day−1 (full sun) for mid‐June through October study periods. Based on nonlinear regression of mean monthly DLI during the study period versus turfgrass quality (TQ) at the end of each study period, DLIm was found to range from 7.5 to 10 mol m−2 day−1 for PV and from 22.5 to 26.2 mol m−2 day−1 for CONV KBG. Improved TQ of PV under low light intensities may be associated with reduced rates of leaf elongation, greater stand density, higher chlorophyll concentrations, and darker green color compared to CONV KBG. Although shade duration did not exceed 4 months, the results suggest that GA2ox‐transformed PV KBG possesses improved tolerance to reduced PPF compared to CONV KBG. Core Ideas: Limited data are available on minimal light requirements of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars.ProVista shows improved turf quality and color and reduced vertical regrowth relative to conventional under low photosynthetic photon flux.ProVista required minimal daily light integral of 7.5–10 mol m−2 day−1, while conventional Kentucky bluegrass requires 22–26 mol m−2 day−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing N use efficiency (NUE) is desirable in turfgrass management. Traditional definition of NUE in turfgrass is essentially the inverse of nitrogen concentration in the clippings and is often evaluated once in a growing season. In this experiment, we followed the Brenderse and Aerts' definition of NUE as the product of mean residence time (MRT) and nitrogen productivity (NP). The objective of this experiment was to identify NP changes over time in Kentucky bluegrass cultivars at different N levels under deficit irrigation. Nine Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and two hybrid bluegrass cultivars from 10 phenotypic classes were tested under N rates of 10 and 40 g m−2. Deficit irrigation at 60% of the evapotranspiration was imposed. The results showed interaction effects on NP from N level, irrigation, and cultivar. Low‐N treatment resulted in higher NP values as compared to high‐N for 'Merit' and 'Martha'. No NP difference existed between N or irrigation levels for 'Blue ghost', 'Geronimo', 'Heidi', 'Bandera', 'Impact', 'Fielder', 'Jackrabbit', and 'Park'. 'Rhythm' showed lower NP values in high‐N combined with full irrigation compared to other treatments. In general, increasing N levels resulted in lower NP, but higher nitrate reductase activity (NaR) and higher net photosynthesis. No N by irrigation interaction effect was detected for effective quantum yield or NaR. In conclusion, leaf‐level NP was shown to be an effective parameter for in‐season monitoring of the above‐ground NUE of Kentucky bluegrass, which provided more dynamic information than clipping yields or a one‐time NUE calculation based on traditional definition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impacts of long‐term fertilization and cultivation were evaluated on nematode communities associated with tall fescue turfgrass following 11 years of treatment applications. Fertilizer treatments of biosolid, synthetic, and plant‐based fertilizers and cultivation treatments of 0×, 1×, and 2× aerification passes were applied to randomized and replicated tall fescue plots at the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass facility in College Park, Maryland. Free‐living and plant‐parasitic nematodes were identified, enumerated, and categorized into functional groups. Nematode count data were compared using generalized linear mixed modeling with negative binomial distribution and two‐way ANOVA was used to compare nematode ecological indices. Biosolid treatments resulted in lower omnivore‐predator densities than plant‐based fertilizer treatments (p ≤.001) and significantly greater Hoplolaimus densities than plant‐based fertilizer plots (p ≤.05). Synthetic fertilizer applications resulted in the greatest Eucephalobus (p ≤.05) and total bacterivore densities (p ≤.001) of all fertilizer treatments. Plant‐based fertilizer‐treated plots had the largest Maturity Index cp 2‐5 and Structure Index (p ≤.05). Cultivation of 1× resulted in fewer total bacterivore densities than 2× (p ≤.01) while omnivore‐predator densities were greater in 1× than 0× (p ≤.001). Plant health, as measured by NDVI, was lowest in biosolid‐treated turfgrass (p ≤.05). These findings suggest that long‐term turfgrass management practices can have variable impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue and provide insights into ecological impacts of turfgrass management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most widely used species for sports fields in temperate climates because of its high wear tolerance. However, wear tolerance of cultivars may vary according to local environmental conditions and turfgrass management. In this study, we evaluated the wear tolerance of six perennial ryegrass cultivars (Adagio, Apple SGL, Equate, Firebird, Principal 2, Tetradark) under two fertility treatments (100 or 200 kg N-ha21-yr21) over 2 years. The field trial was performed at the Experimental Agricultural Farm at the University of Padova in northeastern Italy in a silty loam soil. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications and subjected to three traffic events per week using a sports field wear simulator. Turfgrass quality (TQ), percent green cover (PGC), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were recorded every 2 weeks and averaged over each month. Although perennial ryegrass cultivars responded differently to wear stress, the higher nitrogen (N) rate positively affected the TQ of them all. 'Tetradrak' and 'Equate' had the lowest TQ, especially during the active growing seasons (spring and autumn). However, 'Tetradark' was particularly negatively affected during the cool fall months. The impact of a higher N fertilization rate on PGC and NDVI appeared to be more pronounced in spring than in fall. Furthermore, slight differences among cultivars and treatments were observed in summer and winter when temperatures were a limiting growth factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centipedegrass is a commonly grown, low input turfgrass used in landscapes throughout the state of Florida. This factsheet provide science based information on the culture and management of centipedegrass including mowing, irrigation, pest control, and cultural practices.

Physical fitness is of great significance to athletes in both single-player and team sports. The countermovement jump (CMJ) is one of the most commonly applied jump tests for assessing the mechanical capacities of the lower extremities. The KForce Plates system is a portable force platform that sends action-time audio and visual biofeedback to a smartphone or tablet through the KForce application, making it a suitable instrument for assessing the CMJ. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability and validity of the portable force platform (KForce Plates) in the evaluation of the CMJ in collegiate athletes compared to a validated application, My Jump 2. Thirty-four collegiate professional athletes, deriving from various sports backgrounds, participated in the present study. The CMJs were reported with the portable KForce Plates and the simultaneous use of the 'My Jump 2' application using an iPhone 13 between days 1 and 7. Our findings revealed high test–retest reliability (ICC = 1.00 and ICC = 0.99) in-between measurements. High correlations were monitored amongst the portable KForce plates and the My Jump 2 application for measuring the CMJ (r = 0.999, p = 0.001). The Bland–Altman plot exhibits the limits of agreement amongst the portable KForce plates and the My Jump 2 application, where the bulk of the data are within the 95% CIs with an agreement of ≈1 cm. Our findings suggest that the portable KForce Plates system is a reliable and valid instrument and, therefore, can be used by experts in the sports field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warm season turfgrasses are fast growing and require frequent mowing, which increases maintenance cost. Various plant growth retardants are used to reduce the growth and required amount of mowing of turfgrasses. Therefore, the present study was planned to explore the impact of paclobutrazol (PBZ) and maleic hydrazide (MH) on the growth rate and quality of warm season turfgrasses. Four turfgrasses were grown in pots at research area, MNS-University of Agriculture, Multan. Paclobutrazol (PBZ) and Maleic Hydrazide at 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.04% levels were applied through foliar application with three repeats in CRD arrangement. The data of growth, quality and anatomical attributes were evaluated. The results showed significant differences in growth and the quality of turfgrasses in response to different levels of plant growth retardants. PBZ application at 0.04% maximum reduced fresh (26%, 35%, 25%) and dry (45%, 54%, 34%) weights of shoot, root and clippings respectively in Fine Dacca turfgrass. Additionally, PBZ application decreased the amount of mowing (40%) compared to control. Fine Dacca also produced the highest visual quality turf with maximum Chlorophyll a (46.87%) and Chlorophyll b (60%) in comparison to nontreated turfgrasses. The minimum number and density of stomatal and mesophyll cells by 45%, 47% were also recorded in Fine Dacca at PBZ (0.04%) with respect to control. It is concluded that PBZ at 0.04% could be used to reduce the amount of mowing in warm season turfgrasses, which will decrease the cost of lawn maintenance and support the landscape industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Color is commonly regarded as the primary symbol that elicits customers' attraction, interest, or aversion. This research examines brand characteristics concerning color: Brand Commitment and Brand Equity. Methodology: The statistical population consisted of all customers of sports shopping stores in Jahrom City. Due to the uncertainty of the number of the statistical population, 384 questionnaires were distributed by convenience sampling, 300 of which were analyzable. The Color questionnaires based on Haji Hassani et al. (2018), the Brand Equity questionnaire (Aaker & Keller, 1990), and the Brand Commitment questionnaire (Momen, 2014) were used for data collection. The face and content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by sports management professors who were experts in sports marketing, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient confirmed the reliability of the questionnaires. Cronbach's alphas of questionnaires achieved 0.89 for color, 0.92 for brand equity, and 0.87 for brand commitment. PLS software was used for fitting and testing the hypotheses using structural patterns. Findings: The results showed that color directly and significantly affects brand equity and commitment (Path coefficient = 0.50, t-value = 7.96). The mediating role of brand equity value on the role of color in brand commitment in sporting goods buyers is also confirmed (Path coefficient = 0.84, t-value = 6.50). The model fit analysis also showed that the proposed model has a goodness of fit (GOF = 0.57). According to the research findings, manufacturers and sports executives must always consider the importance of color, which is far more than its aesthetic aspect, in choosing a practical and comprehensive brand strategy. Originality: Color in sports is presented as a unique symbol that often affects the biases of sports fans and excites them. According to this issue, the effect of color on the brand of sports goods was investigated in this research, which has been given less attention in the reviewed literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is homogenizing residential developments and soils across a wide climate gradient of the United States. Land development practices commonly install landscapes on low-quality compacted fill material. While previous research shows that soil quality beneath urban lawns improves over time, studies used golf courses to represent lawns or sampled across variable development and management styles. Limited data on sandy soil quality within residential landscapes in subtropical climate warranted investigation. To evaluate the effect of age on residential soil characteristics, two residential developments from Central and Southwest Florida were selected based on known lot ages up to 31 years. Soil samples (0 to 30 cm) were collected from landscape beds and lawns, along with lawn of common areas, to evaluate bulk density and organic matter over time. Though landscape beds typically require less management, soil characteristics were similar between lawns and landscape beds, suggesting similar processes. Bulk densities decreased by 22–34% and 9–20% within the upper (0–15 cm) and lower (15–30 cm) soil depths, respectively. Upper layer soil carbon accumulation rates ranged from 0.060 to 0.156 kg C m−2 yr−1, comparable to previous studies but did not exceed 0.021 kg C m−2 yr−1 or were not significant for greater depths. The results of this study are representative of past chronosequence studies conducted in cooler climates with fine soil texture. Sandy soil texture and warm climate do not govern carbon sequestration rates, but instead vegetation type and landscape management practices overcome these conditions. Article Highlights: Soil quality improves similarly over time within landscapes on sandy soils in separate developments.1 Bulk densities decrease within the top 30 cm while soil organic matter increases only within upper 15 cm. Results align with similar studies suggesting common drivers across broad spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

Gaining information on the impact of lawn management with autonomous mowers on the floristic composition is crucial to improve their plant biodiversity. In this study, an autonomous mower with a reduced mowing frequency and a more sporadic mowing management system with a ride-on rotary mower were compared in terms of the effect on three dicotyledonous species (Phyla nodiflora, Lotus corniculatus and Sulla coronaria) transplanted onto stands of Bermuda and Manila grass. Regardless of the management system, P. nodiflora achieved the best results in terms of survival for both lawns (74.92 and 58.57% in Manila and Bermuda grass, respectively). In Bermuda grass, a higher percentage of surviving individuals was observed for the ordinary mower management system (42.59%), rather than with the autonomous mower (9.10%), while no differences emerged on Manila grass. On both Manila and Bermuda grass, a higher average percentage of coverage for single individual was observed for the ordinary mower management system (1.60 and 0.37%, respectively) compared to the autonomous mower system (0.55 and 0.08%, respectively). P. nodiflora had a higher percentage of individuals with flowers with the ordinary management system rather than with autonomous mower system both on Manila (60.73% and 33.90%, respectively) and Bermuda grass (48.66 and 3.32%, respectively). Despite a lower impact on the planted species being observed for the ordinary mower management system, encouraging results were obtained with the autonomous mower, for instance regarding the percentage of surviving individuals for P. nodiflora (33.95%) and L. corniculatus (22.08%) on Bermuda grass and the percentage of individuals with flowers for the same two species (33.90 and 13.59%, respectively) on Manila grass. Furthermore, the autonomous mower management system’s primary energy consumption over the year was lower compared to that of the ordinary system both on Manila (200.4 and 614.97 kWh ha−1 year−1, respectively) and Bermuda grass (177.82 and 510.99 kWh ha−1 year−1, respectively).

A healthy lawn is an important component of an urban landscape. Not only do lawns increase the value of a property, but they also reduce soil erosion, filter stormwater runoff, cool the air, and reduce glare and noise. A healthy lawn effectively filters and traps sediment and pollutants that could otherwise contaminate surface waters and groundwater. This publication is intended for those who maintain their own lawns and landscapes.

The areas under turfgrass increase with the increase in rapid urbanization rate. Therefore, accounting for their contribution to greenhouse gas emission to atmosphere is needed. Information in this area is rather limited. This study aimed to quantify and model two years long term (2016–2017) temporal variations in soil CO2 emissions from newly established turfgrass area under semiarid conditions and to assess the influence of irrigation on the soil CO2 respiration. The measurements were obtained from irrigated and non-irrigated plots with respect to meteorological variables (air temperature, soil temperatures at different depths, rainfall and relative humidity) and the field soil moisture data using classical and Stepwise MLR models. Potential use of available auxiliary meteorological and field soil moisture data for the estimation of future CO2 emissions were also investigated using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models whose accuracy was tested using independent data sets. Two years of continuous measurements revealed that CO2 emissions highly varied seasonally from 318 to 2621 kg ha–1 week–1 for irrigated and from 390 to 1711 kg–1 ha–1 week–1 for non-irrigated plots, respectively, with 31% more emissions from irrigated plots compared to non-irrigated ones. Inclusion of the soil field moisture data did not significantly impact the results. ANN models were able to moderately successfully estimate CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gesture recognition, as a core technology of human–computer interaction, has broad application prospects and brings new technical possibilities for smart homes, medical care, sports training, and other fields. Compared with the traditional human–computer interaction models based on PC use with keyboards and mice, gesture recognition-based human–computer interaction modes can transmit information more naturally, flexibly, and intuitively, which has become a research hotspot in the field of human–computer interaction in recent years. This paper described the current status of gesture recognition technology, summarized the principles and development history of electromagnetic wave sensor recognition, stress sensor recognition, electromyographic sensor recognition, and visual sensor recognition, and summarized the improvement of this technology by researchers in recent years through the direction of sensor structure, selection of characteristic signals, the algorithm of signal processing, etc. By sorting out and comparing the typical cases of the four implementations, the advantages and disadvantages of each implementation and the application scenarios were discussed from the two aspects of dataset size and accuracy. Based on the abovementioned discussion, the problems and challenges of current gesture recognition technology were discussed in terms of the biocompatibility of sensor structures, wearability and adaptability, stability, robustness, and crossover of signal acquisition and analysis algorithms, and the future development directions in this field were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic solutions and technological advances for turf management demonstrated excellent results in terms of quality, energy, and time consumption. Two battery-powered autonomous mowers (2 WD and 4 WD) with random patterns were evaluated according to different trampling levels (control, low, medium, high) on a typical warm season turfgrass at the DAFE, University of Pisa, Italy. Data on the percentage of area mowed, the distance traveled, the number of passages, and the number of intersections were collected through RTK devices and processed by a custom-built software (1.8.0.0). The main quality parameters of the turfgrass were also analyzed by visual and instrumental assessments. Soil penetration resistance was measured through a digital penetrometer. The efficiency significantly decreased as the trampling level increased (from 0.29 to 0.11). The over-trampled areas were mainly detected by the edges (on average for the medium level: 18 passages for the edges vs. 14 in the central area). The trampling activity caused a reduction in turf height (from about 2.2 cm to about 1.5 cm). The energy consumption was low and varied from 0.0047 to 0.048 kWh per cutting session. Results from this trial demonstrated suitable quality for a residential turf of the Mediterranean area (NDVI values from 0.5 to 0.6), despite the over-trampling activity. Soil penetration data were low due to the reduced weight of the machines, but slightly higher for the 4 WD model (at 5 cm of depth, about 802 kPa vs. 670 kPa). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance is a common performance but nevertheless an essential part of performance analysis investigations in ski. Many skier pay attention to the training of balance ability in training. Inertial Measurement Unit, as a kind of Multiplex-type human motion capture system, is widely used because of its humanized human-computer interaction design, low energy consumption and more freedom provided by the environment. The purpose of this research is to use sensor to establish a kinematics dataset of balance test tasks extracted from skis to help quantify skier' balance ability. Perception Neuron Studio motion capture device is used in present. The dataset contains a total of 20 participants' data (half male) of the motion and sensor data, which is collected at a 100 Hz sampling frequency. To our knowledge, this dataset is the only one that uses a BOSU ball in the balance test. We hope that this dataset will contribute to multiple fields of cross-technology integration in physical training and functional testing, including big-data analysis, sports equipment design and sports biomechanical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]