Traditional lawn care for suburban American households merits examination from both ecological and social perspectives. Such practices have potentially detrimental consequences on human and natural systems that will continue to grow with urbanization. Consequently, further characterization of the complex, multiscale processes in which lawn management decisions are rooted could enhance methods for encouraging the adoption of alternatives to industrialized lawn care. This study conceptualizes mesoscale, or neighborhood-level, influences on watering, fertilizing, and mowing practices in Baltimore city, through a modified grounded theory analysis of key informant interviews in Mount Washington, Westfield, and Park Circle. This study finds that mesoscale processes play a significant role in the residential lawn care of these neighborhoods. The applicable processes vary by the community’s social cohesion and tenets. As socioeconomic status and social cohesion increases within the study area, the influence of informal authority in residential lawn care increases. Results demonstrate potential policy implications. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2019. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Control of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) and other broadleaf weeds in turfgrass has been readily achieved with phenoxy herbicides, but the herbicide option has been revoked in many regions, necessitating alternative weed control strategies. One biological alternative is Sclerotinia minor, an Ascomycete fungus. The impact of S. minor on broadleaf weed dynamics and biotic interactions were studied in a turfgrass environment. The goal was to maximize effectiveness of a S. minor formulation as a biocontrol of dandelion using an ecological approach. S. minor efficacy was not affected by turf microenvironments and was similarly efficacious with spring or fall application. All accessions from a worldwide collection of dandelion and 32 turfgrass broadleaf species were susceptible to S. minor. Biocontrol efficacy was inversely correlated with dandelion age, but efficacy on all ages was enhanced in the presence of grass competition. When combined with regular mowing at 7-10 cm, the S. minor suppressive effect on dandelion was similar to the herbicide effect, particularly in the following season. Weed suppression was less with close mowing at 3-5 cm due to increased dandelion seedling recruitment. While spring herbicide application was effective to suppress dandelion population, the S. minor treatment has no residual activity, necessitating a second application to suppress seedling recruits. Root regrowth after S. minor infection was minimal and was further reduced in superior quality turf after season-long mowing, and after spring applications. S. minor infected dandelion seeds, reduced the dandelion seedbank, and reduced dandelion seedling emergence by 98%. S. minor did not affect the emergence or the total biomass of cool season temperate turfgrass species. Turfgrass quality was improved following S. minor application and populations of other broadleaf weeds were also controlled by S. minor. Understanding the biotic interactions within the turfgrass environment has rewardingly lead to successful integration of the S.minor biocontrol with the common management tools of mowing and over-seeding to achieve excellent control of dandelion and a healthy thriving turf.

Orientador: Kathia Fernandes Lopes Pivetta / Banca: Renata Gimenes / Banca: Paulo Hercílio Viegas Rodrigues / Banca: Cláudia Fabrino Machado Mattiuz / Banca: Eloiza Santana Seixas Vitória / Resumo: A implantação e manejo de gramados esportivos está entre as atividades agrícolas de mais alta tecnologia. Do ponto de vista ornamental, os gramados constituem um dos componentes paisagísticos mais importantes. A sua manutenção constante torna-se uma operação onerosa e muitas vezes, as operações de poda podem oferecer riscos de acidentes. Desta forma, é muito importante a busca de alternativas que visem diminuir a frequência das podas e uma delas é o uso de reguladores de crescimento. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de doses dos reguladores de crescimento, paclobutrazol e trinexapac-ethyl, no crescimento vegetativo de grama-esmeralda (Zoysia japonica), grama-bermudas 'Tifway 419' (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis) e grama-bermudas 'Celebration' (Cynodon dactylon) em condições de campo como alternativa ao manejo tradicional realizado por meio de podas semanais. O trabalho foi realizado em uma área de produção comercial de grama localizada na Fazenda São José, município de Jardinópolis/SP, em 2013. Foi realizado um experimento para cada grama e em todos, o delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso; foram oito tratamentos (testemunha 1: sem poda; testemunha 2: poda semanal; três doses de paclobutrazol: 70, 140 e 280 g ha-1; três doses de trinexapac-ethyl: 100, 200 e 400 g ha-1) e quatro repetições. Foi realizada uma única aplicação dos produtos. Foram efetuadas avaliações aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após a aplicação sendo avaliadas altura (cm); massa seca da parte aérea; Índice de Cor Verde Escuro (ICVE) e qualidade (notas). Verificou-se que o paclobutrazol, nas doses testadas, não foi efetivo para suprimir o crescimento de grama-esmeralda e também não afetou a qualidade do gramado; ao contrário, trinexapac-ethyl foi efetivo na supressão do crescimento desta grama, principalmente na dose de 400 g i.a. ha-1, que mostrou eficiência de redução... / Abstract: The implementation and management of sports fields is among the agricultural activities of high technology. The ornamental point of view, the lawns are one of the most important landscape components. Its constant maintenance becomes an expensive operation and often mowing operations can offer the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is very important to search for alternatives for reducing the frequency of mowing and one of them is the use of growth regulators. Thus, this study had as objective to evaluate the efficiency of doses of growth regulators, Paclobutrazol and trinexapac-ethyl on the vegetative growth of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica), bermudasgrass 'Tifway 419' (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis) and bermudasgrass 'Celebration' (Cynodon dactylon) under field conditions as an alternative to traditional management performed through cuts weekly. The experiment was conducted in a commercial production area of grass located in the Fazenda São José, municipality of Jardinópolis / SP, in the period from October to December 2013. The experimental design was a randomized block; there were eight treatments (control 1: no pruning; witness 2: pruning weekly, three Paclobutrazol doses: 70, 140 and 280 g ha-1; three trinexapac-ethyl: 100, 200 and 400 g ha-1). It was performed a single application of the product and the irrigation was conducted followed the technique used in the company which allocated the area for this experiment. Ratings were made at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after application being evaluated height (cm); dry mass of shoots; dark green color index (ICVE) and quality (notes). It was found that the Paclobutrazol at the dosages tested, was not effective to suppress the zoysiagrass growth and did not affect the quality of the lawn.On the contrary, trinexapac-ethyl was effective in suppressing growth of this grass, mainly in the dose of 400 g ai ha-1, which showed a decrease in growth efficiency up to 45 days ... / Doutor

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-01T17:54:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2015-11-09. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2016-04-01T18:00:42Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000859912.pdf: 478238 bytes, checksum: 16bf19b687231d0586e8ae04689b5bc5 (MD5) / A implantação e manejo de gramados esportivos está entre as atividades agrícolas de mais alta tecnologia. Do ponto de vista ornamental, os gramados constituem um dos componentes paisagísticos mais importantes. A sua manutenção constante torna-se uma operação onerosa e muitas vezes, as operações de poda podem oferecer riscos de acidentes. Desta forma, é muito importante a busca de alternativas que visem diminuir a frequência das podas e uma delas é o uso de reguladores de crescimento. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência de doses dos reguladores de crescimento, paclobutrazol e trinexapac-ethyl, no crescimento vegetativo de grama-esmeralda (Zoysia japonica), grama-bermudas 'Tifway 419' (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis) e grama-bermudas 'Celebration' (Cynodon dactylon) em condições de campo como alternativa ao manejo tradicional realizado por meio de podas semanais. O trabalho foi realizado em uma área de produção comercial de grama localizada na Fazenda São José, município de Jardinópolis/SP, em 2013. Foi realizado um experimento para cada grama e em todos, o delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso; foram oito tratamentos (testemunha 1: sem poda; testemunha 2: poda semanal; três doses de paclobutrazol: 70, 140 e 280 g ha-1; três doses de trinexapac-ethyl: 100, 200 e 400 g ha-1) e quatro repetições. Foi realizada uma única aplicação dos produtos. Foram efetuadas avaliações aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após a aplicação sendo avaliadas altura (cm); massa seca da parte aérea; Índice de Cor Verde Escuro (ICVE) e qualidade (notas). Verificou-se que o paclobutrazol, nas doses testadas, não foi efetivo para suprimir o crescimento de grama-esmeralda e também não afetou a qualidade do gramado; ao contrário, trinexapac-ethyl foi efetivo na supressão do crescimento desta grama, principalmente na dose de 400 g i.a. ha-1, que mostrou eficiência de redução... / The implementation and management of sports fields is among the agricultural activities of high technology. The ornamental point of view, the lawns are one of the most important landscape components. Its constant maintenance becomes an expensive operation and often mowing operations can offer the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is very important to search for alternatives for reducing the frequency of mowing and one of them is the use of growth regulators. Thus, this study had as objective to evaluate the efficiency of doses of growth regulators, Paclobutrazol and trinexapac-ethyl on the vegetative growth of zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica), bermudasgrass 'Tifway 419' (Cynodon dactylon x Cynodon transvaalensis) and bermudasgrass 'Celebration' (Cynodon dactylon) under field conditions as an alternative to traditional management performed through cuts weekly. The experiment was conducted in a commercial production area of grass located in the Fazenda São José, municipality of Jardinópolis / SP, in the period from October to December 2013. The experimental design was a randomized block; there were eight treatments (control 1: no pruning; witness 2: pruning weekly, three Paclobutrazol doses: 70, 140 and 280 g ha-1; three trinexapac-ethyl: 100, 200 and 400 g ha-1). It was performed a single application of the product and the irrigation was conducted followed the technique used in the company which allocated the area for this experiment. Ratings were made at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after application being evaluated height (cm); dry mass of shoots; dark green color index (ICVE) and quality (notes). It was found that the Paclobutrazol at the dosages tested, was not effective to suppress the zoysiagrass growth and did not affect the quality of the lawn.On the contrary, trinexapac-ethyl was effective in suppressing growth of this grass, mainly in the dose of 400 g ai ha-1, which showed a decrease in growth efficiency up to 45 days ...

Orientador: Salatiér Buzetti / Co-orientador: Regina Maria Monteiro de Castilho / Banca: Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho / Banca: Roberto Lyra Villas Boas / Resumo: O nitrogênio (N) é essencial para a nutrição e a manutenção da coloração verde intensa dos gramados. No entanto, influencia o crescimento da parte aérea e, consequentemente, a frequência de cortes, principal fator do custo de manutenção em gramados. Neste contexto, objetivou-se avaliar a adubação nitrogenada e o uso potencial de herbicidas como reguladores de crescimento em grama esmeralda (Zoysia japonica Steud.), em Argissolo Vermelho, visando manter o gramado com boa qualidade visual (verde intenso) e nutricional bem como reduzir o seu crescimento foliar. O experimento foi conduzido na Fazenda de Ensino, Pesquisa e Extensão da UNESP, Campus de Ilha Solteira/SP, de junho de 2012 a dezembro de 2013. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com 20 tratamentos dispostos num fatorial 5 x 4 com quatro repetições, sendo quatro herbicidas: glyphosate, imazaquin, imazethapyr e metsulfuron-methyl (aplicados na dose de, respectivamente, 200, 420, 80 e 140 g ha-1 do ingrediente ativo (i. a.)) e a testemunha - sem herbicida; e quatro doses de N na forma de ureia: 0, 5, 10 e 20 g m-2, parceladas em cinco aplicações durante o ano. O gramado foi irrigado por aspersão. Avaliaram-se: as características químicas do solo, o comprimento e a matéria seca das folhas, a área foliar, o índice de clorofila foliar (ICF), a análise por imagem digital e a porcentagem de fitointoxicação da parte aérea, além da concentração e do acúmulo de macro e micronutrientes pelas folhas do gramado. Doses de 10 a 20 g m-2 de N proporcionaram coloração verde intensa e concentração de nutrientes suficiente para a manutenção da grama esmeralda. Os herbicidas metsulfuron-methyl e glyphosate destacaram-se no controle do crescimento do gramado, sendo que o segundo não prejudicou a qualidade estética do mesmo, destacando-se como herbicida que possa ser utilizado como regulador do crescimento de grama esmeralda na dose de 200 g ha-1 do i. a / Abstract: Nitrogen (N) is essential to nutrition and maintenance intense green color of turfgrasses. However, increases the growth of shoots and, consequently, the frequency of cuts, the main factor in the cost of turfgrasses maintenance. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen fertilization and the potential use of herbicides as growth regulators on zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) on an Ultisol, to maintain the turfgrass with good visual quality and nutrition as well as reduce foliar growth. The research was conducted at the Experimental Station of UNESP, Ilha Solteira/SP from June 2012 to December 2013. It was used a randomized block design with 20 treatments arranged in a factorial scheme 5 x 4 with four replications, being four herbicides: glyphosate, imazaquin, imazethapyr and metsulfuron-methyl (applied at the rate of respectively, 200, 420, 80 and 140 g ha-1 active ingredient (a. i.)) besides a control and four N rates, using urea as a source: 0, 5, 10 and 20 g m- 2 split in five times during the year. The turfgrass was irrigated by sprinkler. Were evaluated: the chemical characteristics of the soil, length and dry matter of leaves, leaf area, ICF index (leaf chlorophyll), the digital image analysis, the percentage of phytotoxicity of the shoot, the concentration and accumulation of macro and micronutrients by the leaves of turfgrass. Nitrogen rates of 10 to 20 g m-2 provided intense green color and sufficient nutrients content to maintain zoysiagrass. The herbicides metsulfuron-methyl and glyphosate stand out in control of the leaf length, the second did not sacrifice esthetic quality of the turfgrass, standing out as herbicide that can be used as a growth regulator of zoysiagrass at the rate of 200 g ha-1 of a. i / Mestre

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How so many species coexist while utilizing the same resources is both of ecological interest and important for the management of wildlife communities and parks. This thesis endeavours to understand how grazing herbivores co-exist, with special emphasis on understanding the mechanisms of competition and facilitation over temporal and spatial scales. I compared the dry season use of grasslands, grass species, grass height and grass greenness by white rhino and three other ungulate species, zebra, wildebeest, and impala. I was specifically interested in the extent to which white rhinos, with their capacity to graze both short and tall grass, either competed with or facilitated other grazers. In Chapter Two, I clarify the mechanisms of facilitation and competition in terms of temporal and spatial scales, and discuss why there is little evidence in the literature to support these mechanisms. I conclude that evidence for facilitation through stimulation of grass re-growth during the growing season appears stronger than that for increased resource access through removal of obstructing grass structures during the dormant season. Facilitation may benefit the nutritional gains obtained by certain species in the short term, but these benefits do not appear to be translated into the expected population consequences. In collaboration with co-author Norman Owen-Smith, we suggested this could be due to seasonal tradeoffs between facilitation and competition, as well as to restrictions on the spatial extent of trophic overlap. In Chapter 3 Norman Owen-Smith and I compared the grass height use in relation to body size. We expected that the grass height favoured would increase with the body size of the herbivore species, as suggested from past studies of resource partitioning among large mammalian herbivores. Instead we found that the largest of these species, white rhino, concentrated on the shortest grass, while the smallest species, impala, favoured grass heights intermediate between those grazed by wildebeest and zebra. Results suggest that the scaling of mouth width relative to body size, and hence metabolic demands, is the primary factor governing grass height selection, rather than body size alone. Hence grazing successions governed by body size differences may not be a typical feature of their ecology, contrary to past suggestions. Furthermore, there was considerable overlap in grass height grazed among these four species, indicating that niche separation by grass height is inadequate alone to explain their coexistence. More attention needs to be paid to other aspects such as the grass species selected and habitat structure favoured. Chapter Four compared the overlap in grassland use and grass species use, as well as grass height and grass greenness of swards utilized by the herbivores as the dry season advances. I show that all species prefer grazing lawns during times of abundance, and that zebra leave grazing lawns before other species, and wildebeest leave grazing lawns before white rhino and impala. This suggests zebra and wildebeest may be competitively excluded from grazing lawns through a reduction in grass height, by white rhino and impala, during the dry season. However, white rhino are also potentially the ‘supreme’ facilitator increasing the availability of nutritious grazing lawns, as well as increasing the quality of those lawns through grazing in the wet season. A better understanding of the trade-off between “habitat facilitation” and competitive exclusion by white rhino, allows us to better understand how grazing herbivores co-exist.

Globally urbanization has increased to such an extent that more than half of the human population currently resides in cities. In the years to come, urban expansion will especially take place in developing countries through efforts to improve economic growth and poverty alleviation. This may have a negative effect on native biodiversity within and surrounding urban environments. However, residential areas with a high proportion of gardens form a significantly large part of urban environments and these domestic gardens contribute to the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity in cities. Although the preservation of biodiversity in these gardens is important in the overall conservation of urban green spaces, little is known about how these gardens can possibly contribute to conservation purposes in urban areas. Bearing in mind that anthropogenic activities are possible drivers of urban biodiversity, it is vital to quantify socio-economic aspects within urban ecological research. In developing countries, such as South Africa, the inclusion of socio-economic aspects are especially important because there is a wider gap between poor and wealthy households. There are also a larger number of people that are dependent on their gardens for subsistence purposes, such as vegetable gardening. In the Municipal Area of Tlokwe, South Africa, there exists a definite socio-economic gradient from the poorer western to the more affluent eastern part of the city. Five socio-economic status (SES) classes, primarily based on % unemployment, were used in this study. The ultimate aim of this study was therefore to determine the plant- and arthropod diversity within urban domestic gardens along a socio-economic gradient. Vegetable gardens within domestic gardens were selected to quantify plant- and arthropod biodiversity. Biodiversity of adjacent lawns were also sampled for comparative purposes. The study also attempted to determine to what extent socio-economic aspects of city residents may be possible drivers of biodiversity within the gardens. Various other factors that might have an effect on the plant and/or arthropod diversity were included such as soil characteristics, specific management factors of the gardens and other land-uses surrounding domestic gardens. Arthropod diversity was surveyd by means of pitfall traps and suction sampling in eight 0.25 m2 squares along an 8 m transect in each representative garden. Arthropods were identified up to morphospecies level. Vegetation was surveyed along the same transect and total species composition was determined. Plants were identified up to species level. The plant and arthropod surveys were conducted in both the vegetable gardens and lawns of all SES classes. For the soil samples a 1:2.5 water analysis was conducted. A social survey was conducted in all representative gardens by means of a questionnaire and a SPOT 5 satellite imagery was used to determine the land-use types in the areas surrounding the participating gardens. All the above mentioned factors were compared between the different SES classes. Diversity indices for the arthropods, multivariate statistical analyses and ANOVA analyses were applied to test for meaningful variables between socio-economic status classes as well as vegetable gardens and lawns. From the results it was evident that the more affluent SES classes had significantly higher arthropod diversity values, whilst the lower income classes had higher plant diversity. The factor analysis between the plants and arthropods with the surrounding land-uses revealed two significant factors. Firstly, arthropod diversity was influenced by domestic gardens in the surrounding landscape and there was a positive correlation between these two variables. This indicates that a high percentage of surrounding domestic gardens were possible drivers of arthropod diversity. No correlations were evident between plant and arthropod diversity. Secondly, the other significant factor showed that one SES class had a significantly higher percentage of woodlands and grasslands as opposed to two of the other classes that had a significantly higher percentage of built structures within the surrounding area. Differences were also apparent between the SES classes concerning management regimes, financial stability and level of education. The two more affluent SES classes had obtained a higher level of education and income and had management practices that were uncommon in the three poorer SES classes. This study proposes that domestic gardens are a means to conserve biodiversity in cities. Vegetable gardens in domestic gardens will also be able to harbour a larger diversity of plants and arthropods than the lawns. The socio-economic status of residents also had a significant effect on biodiversity and therefore it should be included in studies on urban domestic gardens. This study also provides additional knowledge to the fundamentals of the field of urban ecology and the importance of using domestic gardens as an urban green space for conservation purposes. / Thesis (Master of Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013

Globally urbanization has increased to such an extent that more than half of the human population currently resides in cities. In the years to come, urban expansion will especially take place in developing countries through efforts to improve economic growth and poverty alleviation. This may have a negative effect on native biodiversity within and surrounding urban environments. However, residential areas with a high proportion of gardens form a significantly large part of urban environments and these domestic gardens contribute to the maintenance and preservation of biodiversity in cities. Although the preservation of biodiversity in these gardens is important in the overall conservation of urban green spaces, little is known about how these gardens can possibly contribute to conservation purposes in urban areas. Bearing in mind that anthropogenic activities are possible drivers of urban biodiversity, it is vital to quantify socio-economic aspects within urban ecological research. In developing countries, such as South Africa, the inclusion of socio-economic aspects are especially important because there is a wider gap between poor and wealthy households. There are also a larger number of people that are dependent on their gardens for subsistence purposes, such as vegetable gardening. In the Municipal Area of Tlokwe, South Africa, there exists a definite socio-economic gradient from the poorer western to the more affluent eastern part of the city. Five socio-economic status (SES) classes, primarily based on % unemployment, were used in this study. The ultimate aim of this study was therefore to determine the plant- and arthropod diversity within urban domestic gardens along a socio-economic gradient. Vegetable gardens within domestic gardens were selected to quantify plant- and arthropod biodiversity. Biodiversity of adjacent lawns were also sampled for comparative purposes. The study also attempted to determine to what extent socio-economic aspects of city residents may be possible drivers of biodiversity within the gardens. Various other factors that might have an effect on the plant and/or arthropod diversity were included such as soil characteristics, specific management factors of the gardens and other land-uses surrounding domestic gardens. Arthropod diversity was surveyd by means of pitfall traps and suction sampling in eight 0.25 m2 squares along an 8 m transect in each representative garden. Arthropods were identified up to morphospecies level. Vegetation was surveyed along the same transect and total species composition was determined. Plants were identified up to species level. The plant and arthropod surveys were conducted in both the vegetable gardens and lawns of all SES classes. For the soil samples a 1:2.5 water analysis was conducted. A social survey was conducted in all representative gardens by means of a questionnaire and a SPOT 5 satellite imagery was used to determine the land-use types in the areas surrounding the participating gardens. All the above mentioned factors were compared between the different SES classes. Diversity indices for the arthropods, multivariate statistical analyses and ANOVA analyses were applied to test for meaningful variables between socio-economic status classes as well as vegetable gardens and lawns. From the results it was evident that the more affluent SES classes had significantly higher arthropod diversity values, whilst the lower income classes had higher plant diversity. The factor analysis between the plants and arthropods with the surrounding land-uses revealed two significant factors. Firstly, arthropod diversity was influenced by domestic gardens in the surrounding landscape and there was a positive correlation between these two variables. This indicates that a high percentage of surrounding domestic gardens were possible drivers of arthropod diversity. No correlations were evident between plant and arthropod diversity. Secondly, the other significant factor showed that one SES class had a significantly higher percentage of woodlands and grasslands as opposed to two of the other classes that had a significantly higher percentage of built structures within the surrounding area. Differences were also apparent between the SES classes concerning management regimes, financial stability and level of education. The two more affluent SES classes had obtained a higher level of education and income and had management practices that were uncommon in the three poorer SES classes. This study proposes that domestic gardens are a means to conserve biodiversity in cities. Vegetable gardens in domestic gardens will also be able to harbour a larger diversity of plants and arthropods than the lawns. The socio-economic status of residents also had a significant effect on biodiversity and therefore it should be included in studies on urban domestic gardens. This study also provides additional knowledge to the fundamentals of the field of urban ecology and the importance of using domestic gardens as an urban green space for conservation purposes. / Thesis (Master of Environmental Sciences)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2013