Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1960. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

Fraze mowing offers a new tool used in both overseeding establishment and removal of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Research objectives were to determine the most effective timing of fraze mowing in overseeding establishment and removal, as well as to compare fraze mowing to other establishment and removal methods. Fall overseeding studies suggest that fraze mowing and scalping in mid-October provides the fastest establishment of ryegrass. However, by mid-March all treatments led to visually similar results. When evaluating removal timings, fraze mowing performed in early- and late-May led to faster visual bermudagrass recovery than March and April timings. Early-season application of glyphosate for ryegrass removal was fairly ineffective; whereas, late-season application was damaging to bermudagrass. Rimsulfuron removed ryegrass more quickly late in the season. Repeated scalping gradually removed ryegrass providing a slower, but complete, bermudagrass recovery. Overall, late-May fraze mowing resulted in the best bermudagrass cover 5 weeks after treatment.

To manage underused urban grassy spaces like transmission lines as tall-grass prairie habitats or other endangered ecosystems, ecologists need to know how mowing, spraying and surrounding urban lands affect species richness and numbers of plants and animals along transmission lines. I conducted surveys along 48 transmission lines in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2007-2009 to answer these questions, and I concluded that mowing and spraying should be reduced, but not eliminated, to increase butterflies and other arthropods, resources for butterflies and other arthropods, and arthropod prey for birds. However, the amount of nearby urban land reduced plant species richness and grassland bird abundance along lines more strongly than mowing or spraying, suggesting that lines with less nearby urban land should be selected for management as grassland bird habitats. Mowing and spraying can then be reduced along these lines to benefit other species, enabling urban lands like transmission lines to contribute to conservation.

To manage underused urban grassy spaces like transmission lines as tall-grass prairie habitats or other endangered ecosystems, ecologists need to know how mowing, spraying and surrounding urban lands affect species richness and numbers of plants and animals along transmission lines. I conducted surveys along 48 transmission lines in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2007-2009 to answer these questions, and I concluded that mowing and spraying should be reduced, but not eliminated, to increase butterflies and other arthropods, resources for butterflies and other arthropods, and arthropod prey for birds. However, the amount of nearby urban land reduced plant species richness and grassland bird abundance along lines more strongly than mowing or spraying, suggesting that lines with less nearby urban land should be selected for management as grassland bird habitats. Mowing and spraying can then be reduced along these lines to benefit other species, enabling urban lands like transmission lines to contribute to conservation.

Semi-natural grasslands are species-rich and one of the most threatened habitats in Europe, since land-use changes have led to reduced area of grassland. Appropriate management practices like grazing or mowing is needed to maintain the conservation values and species-richness of semi-natural grasslands. However, few studies have investigated which of grazing or mowing is most appropriate. Furthermore, almost no studies have investigated which mowing technique is best for the conservation value of grassland flora. The aim of this study was to determine which management practice of grazing and mowing, and which mowing technique, has the most positive effect on grassland flora. Data from two long-term trials were evaluated: one compared the effect of grazing and mowing in eleven sites in southern Sweden during at least twelve years; the other compared the effect of the knife mower and grass trimmer at different cutting heights in one site during twelve years. Meta-analysis was used, based on the odds for a plant record being an indicator species, using eight different indicator systems of classification of grassland plants. Over time, results show increasing odds of finding indicators of good management and no change in odds of finding indicators of lack of management in mowed compared to grazed plots. There were no differences in the odds of finding any indicator species for any of the mowing techniques. Hence, to maintain the conservation values of semi-natural grasslands, mowing is the better management practice compared to grazing. Mowing using a knife mower or grass trimmer has similar effects, and can both be recommended.

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources / Dale J. Bremer / Jack D. Fry / Irrigation management may influence nitrate leaching under tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) and also affect its mowing requirements. Two experiments were conducted on tall fescue growing on a Chase silt loam soil near Manhattan, Kansas. Each experiment was arranged in a split-plot design, with irrigation treatments applied to whole plots: 1) frequency-based irrigation, water was applied three times weekly to deliver a total of 19 mm water wk⁻¹ regardless of weather conditions; and 2) soil moisture sensor (SMS)--based irrigation, 34 mm of water was applied when soil dried to a predetermined threshold. In the first experiment, sub-plots consisted of unfertilized turf, and N applied as urea or polymer-coated urea at 122 and 244 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Suction lysimeters at a 0.76 m depth were used to extract nitrate leachate bi-monthly. Turf quality was rated weekly. In the second experiment, subplots were mown at 5.1 cm or 8.9 cm, based upon the 1/3 rule, with or without monthly applications of the growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (TE). Data were collected on total mowings and visual turf quality. Soil moisture sensor-based irrigation resulted in water savings of 32 to 70% compared to frequency-based irrigation. Leaching levels did not exceed 0.6 mg L⁻¹ and no differences in leaching were observed between irrigation treatments or among N sources. All fertilized turf had acceptable quality throughout the study. In the second experiment, irrigation strategy did not influence total number of mowings. In the first year, TE application reduced total mowings by 3 in tall fescue mowed at 5.1 cm, but only by 1.5 when mowed at 8.9 cm. In the second year, mowing at 8.9 vs. 5.1 cm or using TE vs. not resulted in a 9% reduction in total mowings each. The SMS-based irrigation saved significant amounts of water applied compared to frequency-based irrigation, while maintaining acceptable quality, but irrigation treatments did not affect nitrate leaching or mowing frequency in tall fescue on fine silt-loam soil. Nitrate leaching, regardless of amount, was well below the standards set for human health (10 mg L⁻¹). Applications of TE are more beneficial for turfgrass mowed at lower cutting heights.

The amount of semi-natural grasslands has decreased in the agricultural landscape and because of this many grassland species are declining. Semi-natural grasslands are dependent on management, but different studies suggest that different management methods are most favorable to species richness and abundance. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of mowing and grazing on butterfly and bumblebee abundance in Swedish semi-natural grasslands. We used data collected through the Swedish environmental monitoring program NILS. We identified 31 comparable meadows and chose 1-10 pastures in the area surrounding each meadow. For six different species groups we calculated the number of individuals found per 100 m. By standardizing the values of the difference between the means for meadows and pastures we were able to compare the effects of the two methods on abundance in each species group. No species group showed a preference for pastures. A significant preference for meadows was found for two butterfly species groups. The four other groups showed a trend to prefer meadows before pastures. According to our study the recommended management method should be mowing, considering protection of butterflies and bumblebees.

Semi- natural grasslands are species-rich and also one of the most threatened biotopes in Europe. The area of these grasslands has declined and grassland vegetation is threatened as a result of lack of management and land use change. Appropriate management is therefore required to maintain the conservation values and high species richness of semi- natural grasslands. Traditional management, that is, grazing or annual mowing is expensive, which motivates evaluation of alternative cheaper methods of management. Burning is less costly and therefore I evaluated burning along with the conventional methods. The study addressed the main question: is burning an option to mowing and grazing? I searched the literature for available studies suitable for metaanalysis, but located only detailed reports from a series of eleven Swedish long-term field trials. In addition, I collected data in the only one of these trials still running. To facilitate metaanalysis, l used different indicator systems of classification of grassland plants then calculating the odds for a random record being an indicator after one, eight, fourteen, twenty-eight and thirty-nine spring burns. The results show an increasing proportion of grassland indicators of good management in the mowed and grazed plots compared with the burnt plots, indicating a general negative effect of burning on grassland plants compared with mowing and grazing. Hence, burning is not an appropriate long-term management method if the aim is to maintain vegetation diversity in semi-natural grassland.

2 pp. / Describes the proper timing of overseeding, selecting winter grasses, and procedures to prepare for overseeding with the amount of seed to use followed by irrigating, fertilizing, and mowing.

Weeds are considered a major problem for organic wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) production due to their excessive growth and limited management options available. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate burning in combination with sulphur application as a weed management option for organic blueberry production. In addition, Finalsan® and EcoclearTM as potential candidates for perennial weed control in organic production were evaluated. Burned and sulphur plots produced higher blueberry stem density, blueberry cover and yield compared to mowed and no-sulphur plots, respectively, although, the interaction was not significant. Similarly, low weed density and cover were observed in burning and sulphur application plots. Mycorrhizal colonization in blueberry roots was significantly higher in burned plots than mowed plots. A single application of Finalsan® and EcoclearTM effectively controlled goldenrod, sweet fern and bracken fern. However, a single application of either product did not control wild raisin or moss.