Search

A case study is presented on air quality management practices in two residential areas in Chicago, IL. Findings include a 3.2% to 3.9% decrease in carbon emissions in neighborhoods with a 33% tree cover, due to the effects of evapotranspiration, windspeed reduction and shading; benefits were highest where trees were planted densely on the north sides of buildings, and planted close to building walls on the west sides.

A vision to create a continuous network of green spaces throughout Cambridgeshire has been launched as the area gears up for significant housing growth. The infrastructure strategy maps out a [...]

Development of drought resistant, water-conserving cultivars continues to be an objective of turfgrass breeding programs. This study was conducted to determine for 15 zoysiagrasses [Zoysia japonica Steud., Z. matrella (L.) Merr., and Z. japonica Steud. x Z. tenuifolia Willd.] under greenhouse conditions (i) water relations characteristics, (ii) survival and recovery from extreme water stress, and (iii) the relationship of water relations characteristics to supplemental irrigation requirement determined in field studies. Leaf water potential at zero turgor ([Ψ.sub.L0]) ranged from -1.76 MPa to -2.52 MPa before, and from -2.18 MPa to -2.59 MPa after water stress. Though [Ψ.sub.L0] of genotypes such as Cavalier, El Toro, and Emerald decreased after stress, [Ψ.sub.L0] of genotypes such as Korean Common and DALZ8515 did not change. Osmotic potential at full turgor ([Ψ.sub.Π100]) of genotypes such as DALZ8501 and DALZ8506 was similar or increased after water stress but decreased for genotypes such as Crowne and Korean Common. The [Ψ.sub.L0] and [Ψ.sub.Π100] after stress were negatively correlated with recovery from stress and positively correlated with irrigation requirement. Zoysia genotypes with low relative water content at zero turgor ([RWC.sub.0]), bulk modulus of tissue elasticity ([Epsilon], and apoplastic water fraction (Β) demonstrated poor recovery from stress and required more supplemental irrigation. Cultivars such as Crowne, El Toro, and Palisades had the greatest recovery from stress, the least irrigation requirement, more negative [Ψ.sub.L0] and [Ψ.sub.Π100] and positive [RWC.sub.0], [Epsilon], and Β. This study demonstrates that improvements in biophysical as well as morphological traits should contribute to development of water-conserving Zoysiagrass germplasm., WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION continue to be major emphases of the turfgrass industry and turfgrass breeding programs. Water-use restrictions that limit irrigation of urban and suburban landscapes are commonplace. Therefore, [...]

Turfgrass managers in the southeastern United States often overseed `Tifway' bermudagrass [Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt-Davey x C. dactylon (L.) Pers.] with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) to provide a dense green turf during winter months. Although overseeding provides benefits, the spring transition from perennial ryegrass to bermudagrass can be troublesome and inconsistent. Perennial ryegrass may survive longer into the spring than is desired due to cool, wet conditions. The following experiment evaluated cultural methods for removal of perennial ryegrass from overseeded bermudagrass in the spring and early summer. The experiment was conducted at the North Carolina State University Turfgrass Field Center in Raleigh in the 1995 to 1996 and 1996 to 1997 growing seasons. Monocultures of `Gator' and `Derby Supreme' perennial ryegrass were overseeded into an established Tifway bermudagrass turf managed at golf course fairway conditions. It was hypothesized that various cultural treatments in the spring and summer could promote bermudagrass and/ or discourage perennial ryegrass, and that the perennial ryegrass transition would differ depending on heat tolerance of the selected overseeding monocultures. The cultural treatments were biweekly vertical mowing, scalping, core cultivation, and vertical mowing/scalping, or two application timings of [NH.sub.4][NO.sub.3]. Chemical removal of perennial ryegrass using pronamide [3,5-dichloro-N-(1,1-dimethyl-2-propynyl)-benzamide] was included as a check treatment because it is commonly used to promote transition. Bermudagrass shoot density was consistently higher in nonoverseeded plots, illustrating perennial ryegrass competition. Cultural treatments affected perennial ryegrass cover during the spring and early summer but did not hasten its ultimate disappearance. Early or late applied [NH.sub.4][NO.sub.3] enhanced bermudagrass shoot density in both years. In contrast, plots receiving core cultivation had lower bermudagrass shoot density at the end of the transition period than the nontreated plots. Pronamide did hasten transition through 7 and 13 wk after initial treatment for 1996 and 1997, respectively. Regression analysis between natural perennial ryegrass disappearance over both years and air temperature or relative humidity indicates a significant association. This implies that cultural treatments alone may not consistently enhance natural transition of perennial ryegrass to bermudagrass., TURFGRASS MANAGERS in the southeastern USA often overseed bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass to provide a dense green turf during winter months. Potential benefits of overseeding into warm-season turfgrass include a [...]

Environmental Reclamation and Landscaping Services has secured permission for the extraction of ash from a former railway cutting on Merseyside and its infilling with inert excavation waste, despite council claims [...]