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Urban lawn ecosystems are widespread across the United States, with fertilization rates commonly exceeding plant nitrogen (N) uptake rates. While urban soils have been shown to accumulate C and N over time, the long-term balance of N inputs and losses from lawn soils remains largely uncertain. We sampled residential lawn soils aged 7-100 years in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area as a means of inferring changes in total nitrogen (TN) content, organic carbon (OC) content, C:N ratio, and δ15N of bulk soil over time. Core-integrated (0-40 cm) TN and OC stocks increased linearly by 2.39 g N m−2 year−1 and 29.8 g OC m−2 year−1 over the 100-year chronosequence. TN and OC percent were also negatively correlated with elevation. Multiple linear regression models including housing age and elevation as covariates, explained 68 and 62% of variability in TN and OC stocks respectively. δ15N increased with housing age, soil depth, and clay content, suggesting N removal over time, especially in poorly drained soils. We quantified potential hydrologic and gaseous N losses over time by comparing observed N accumulation to different historic fertilization scenarios. Modeling and isotopic results suggest that, while soil N has accumulated over time, the majority of N added to lawns in the Salt Lake Valley over 50 years of fertilization was likely lost from surface soils via denitrification or leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study focused on characterizing the oral bioaccessibilities and human health risks of eight heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) in surface-exposed lawn soils from 28 urban parks in Guangzhou. The physiologically-based extraction test (PBET) method was used to assess bioavailability (in gastric and intestinal phases) and human health risk was assessed via statistical modelling (carcinogenic risk assessment, hazard quotients and hazard indices). Mean bioaccessibilities of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn from all soil samples were 50.90 ± 17.67%, 5.81 ± 1.67%, 7.12 ± 3.24%, 17.91 ± 18.34%, 11.93 ± 2.88%, 34.33 ± 10.02%, 1.68 ± 0.48%, 26.71 ± 5.06%, respectively. The concentrations of most heavy metals were higher in the gastric phase, except for Cr and Ni which remained higher in the intestinal phase. Principal component analysis revealed that the bioaccessibilities of the heavy metals could be split into three groupings, based on the urban park of soil origin. The carcinogenic risk probabilities for Pb and Cr were under the acceptable level (< 1 × 10 −4 ) for both adults and children. The hazard quotient and hazard index values indicated no significant risk of non-carcinogenic effects to children or adults exposed to Guangzhou urban park soils. This research will help inform further risk assessment and management of heavy metal contaminants in urban environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Zoysia matrella, widely used in lawns and sports fields, is of great economic and ecological value. Z. matrella is an allotetraploid species (2n = 4x = 40) in the genus zoysia under the subfamily Chloridoideae. Despite its ecological impacts and economic importance, the subfamily Chloridoideae has received little attention in genomics studies. As a result, limited genetic and genomic information are available for this subfamily, which have impeded progress in understanding evolutionary history of grasses in this important lineage. The lack of a high-resolution genetic map has hampered efforts to improve zoysiagrass using molecular genetic tools. Results: We used restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADSeq) approach and a segregating population developed from the cross between Z. matrella cultivars 'Diamond' and 'Cavalier' to construct high-resolution genetic maps of Z. matrella. The genetic map of Diamond consists of 2,375 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers mapped on 20 linkage groups (LGs) with a total length of 1754.48 cM and an average distance between adjacent markers at 0.74 cM. The genetic map of Cavalier contains 3,563 SNP markers on 20 LGs, covering 1824. 92 cM, with an average distance between adjacent markers at 0.51 cM. A higher level of genome collinearity between Z. matrella and rice than that between Z. matrella and sorghum was revealed by comparative genomic analysis. Pairwise comparison revealed that two independent nested chromosome fusion events occurred after Z. matrella and sorghum split from a common ancestor. The high-resolution linkage maps were applied into mapping QTLs associated with fall armyworm (FAW) resistance and six loci located on LGs 8 and 20 were detected to be significantly associated with FAW resistance. Conclusion: The high-resolution linkage maps provide anchor points for comparative genomics analysis between Z. matrella and other grass species. Our comparative genomic analysis suggested that the chromosome number reduction from 12 to 10 had occurred independently via a single-step in the subfamilies Chloridoideae and Panicoideae. The high-resolution genetic maps provide an essential framework for mapping QTLs associated with economically and agronomically important traits. The major QTLs mapped on LG8 of the Cavalier map provide a starting point for cloning FAW resistance genes and further studies for a better understanding of FAW resistance in zoysiagrass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plantago virginica L. has invaded many lawn ecosystems in the Eastern part of China. The invasion has incurred an economic cost to remove them. In order to prevent the invasion, it is critical to understand the invasive mechanisms of this species. However, few studies have been conducted on the allelopathic mechanisms of its invasion. In this study, we examined allelopathic effects of P. virginica on germination of seeds and growth of seedlings of four widely used lawn species. We found extensive allelopathic potential of P. virginica on other lawn species, which varied with species and developmental stage. While most effects of the extracts of P. virginica were inhibitory, some variables in some species were promoted by the addition of the extracts. The extracts of P. virginica significantly inhibited seed germination of Agrostis matsumurae. While the overall differences in seed germination rate of Poa annua were significant among treatments, difference between control and any of the treatments was not significant. The height of seedlings of A. matsumurae and Cynodon dactylon was significantly lower under the treatments of adding extracts of P. virginica. In contrast, growth of seedlings of Festuca elata and P. annua did not show significant differences among treatments. The root length of A. matsumurae, C. dactylon and P. annua was suppressed by the extracts of P. virginica whereas root length of F. elata was not affected. Aboveground biomass of A. matsumurae and F. elata was significantly higher than control, except for F. elata at the concentration of 50mg/mL, whereas aboveground biomass of C. dactylon and P. annua was reduced at higher concentrations of the extracts. Except for A. matsumurae, root biomass of the other three lawn species declined under the treatments with the extracts of P. virginica. Our results revealed that P. virginica had allelopathic potential on four lawn species and supported the theory of “novel weapons hypothesis”. Invasion by P. virginica in lawn can be moderated by selecting those species that are not affected or promotionally affected by it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the changes in both vascular plant and carabid beetle assemblages in response to reducing the intensity of management of park lawns in the city of Helsinki. Three levels of mowing were applied to patches of previously managed park lawns: (1) intensively mown, (2) mown until the previous season and unmanaged since, and (3) unmanaged for ten years (benign neglect). The lawns were dominated by plants that disperse vegetatively. This treatment gradient had little or no effect on the flight capability, feeding type or body-size of carabid beetles. However, there was an increase in species richness and the numbers of stenotopic species in the benign neglect treatment. We conclude that benign neglect of open grassland vegetation will result in higher levels of biodiversity than in more intensely managed vegetation. However, we consider it likely that the optimal strategy for maintaining urban biodiversity would be to apply a meadow management regime of mowing once or twice per year and leaving some areas of unmanaged grassland to maintain habitat heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To fertilize both grassland and turf lawns waste materials, including the substrate after mushroom cultivation have been used recently. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the mushrooms substrate to change the amount of root mass of five turf lawns with varying precipitation of perennial ryegrass. Field experiment was established in 2004 in the agricultural station of University of Natural Science and Humanities in Siedlce. In the research, the following factors were used: 1) dose of mushroom substrate, 2) the mixtures lawns with different species composition and participation of perennial ryegrass. Within two years of research the evaluation of the amount of root mass of turf lawns were done. This assessment was made after plants' vegetation in 2005 and 2006. The roots sampling of lawns were taken. After cleaning of the root and drying at 105°C, the mass was determined by weighing. The largest mass of roots (average from the study years and substrate doses) was observed for the two-component mixture (M1) with 80% share of perennial ryegrass, and the smallest for five-component mixture (M5), where the share of perennial ryegrass was 40%. The average for research years of and mixtures type, indicates that most of the root mass formed the turf lawns with the largest mushroom substrate doses, but at least on the control object. The majority of the tested lawn mixtures, with the exception of mixture five (M5) produced a greater mass of roots in the second year (2006) than in the first (2005) year, despite worse weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how the suburban front lawn is a special type of space, where society engages intensely with nature. Involved in this exchange are complex relationships between diverse networks of metabolizing processes. These processes include the natural process of grass growth, the labour process of 'improving upon nature', the process of harnessing nature for aesthetic designs and the commoditization process, in which 'natural' inputs are bought and brought into the front lawn. It is Marx's concept of socio-ecological metabolism that allows the analysis to avoid both naturalism and social constructionism as the sole determinants of the grass lawn. Its actual determinant is how these contrasting processes metabolize with each other within the labour process of gardening. Consequently as much as we attempt to dominate nature in our lawn endeavours, all we achieve is to thwart some of the natural tendencies of the grass ecosystem, but its essential natural laws continue to exist. Thus thwarting is merely concerned with imposing an aesthetic form on this particular type of grass ecosystem we call the suburban lawn. To uncover these complex relationships it is necessary to engage in a dialectical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three bacterial isolates (CCBAU 101002T, CCBAU 101000 and CCBAU 101001) originating from root nodules of the herbaceous legume Kummerowia stipulacea grown in the campus lawn of China Agricultural University were characterized with a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolates shared 99.85–99.92% sequence similarities and had the highest similarities to the type strains of Rhizobium mesoamericanum (99.31%), R. endophyticum (98.54%), R. tibeticum (98.38%) and R. grahamii (98.23%). Sequence similarity of four concatenated housekeeping genes (atpD, glnII, recA and rpoB) between CCBAU 101002T and its closest neighbor (R. grahamii) was 92.05%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain CCBAU 101002T and the four type strains of the most closely related Rhizobium species were less than 28.4±0.8%. The G+C mol% of the genomic DNA for strain CCBAU 101002T was 58.5% (Tm). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone (Q-10). Summed feature 8 (18:1ω7cis/18:1ω6cis) and 16:0 were the predominant fatty acids. Strain CCBAU 101002T contained phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as major polar lipids, and phosphatidylglycerol and cardiolipin as minor ones. No glycolipid was detected. Unlike other strains, this novel species could utilize dulcite or sodium pyruvate as sole carbon sources and it was resistant to 2% (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of the polyphasic study, a new species Rhizobium cauense sp. nov. is proposed, with CCBAU 101002T (=LMG 26832T =HAMBI 3288T) as the type strain. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study describes the results of a survey of 432 homeowners in Ohio, USA concerning their perceptions and practices regarding management of residential landscapes. The results reveal that outdoor residential environments are extremely important to homeowners, who tend to view their yards as serving multiple functions: a place to observe nature and to socialize as well as a place of beauty and recreation. Use of a lawn care company to apply chemicals is reported by 22 % of respondents, while 40 % either apply chemicals themselves or have someone other than a lawn care company do it. Logistic regressions reveal that factors influencing a homeowner's decision to employ a lawn care company or to apply chemicals themselves include: household income (+), perceived impacts on the environment (−), whether the next door neighbor does it (+), and type of residential environment (rural −, suburban and urban +). A theme that emerges throughout the study is the perceived importance of the role of the lawn in residents' sense of social status or acceptance in the neighborhood. This perception can be viewed as a positive in ensuring that residential environments are well maintained, but also as a negative resulting in environmental degradation or presenting a barrier to creativity in the development of alternative residential environments. Specific policy implications of these findings are that efforts aimed at educating homeowners about the environmental impacts of their lawn care choices are likely to have more success if they are directed at neighborhood groups rather than individuals, show that alternatives are easy to adopt, affordable, and can produce the characteristics of lawns that homeowners seek. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple and concise urban lawn nutrient management plans can be successfully implemented to combat eutrophication of lakes and streams. Soil test values from 540 lawns near Springfield, Missouri found that 51% of the samples tested above optimum levels for available phosphorus, especially where lawns were more than 20 years old. Urban nutrient management plans that contain the type, quantity, and timing of soil amendments assist homeowners in the selection of appropriate fertilizer choices from local retailers. Watershed stakeholders will adopt urban lawn nutrient management practices if Extension programs make a clear link between nutrient management and water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates how remotely sensed lawn characteristics, such as parcel lawn area and parcel lawn greenness, combined with household characteristics, can be used to predict household lawn fertilization practices on private residential lands. This study involves two watersheds, Glyndon and Baisman’s Run, in Baltimore County, Maryland, USA. Parcel lawn area and lawn greenness were derived from high-resolution aerial imagery using an object-oriented classification approach. Four indicators of household characteristics, including lot size, square footage of the house, housing value, and housing age were obtained from a property database. Residential lawn care survey data combined with remotely sensed parcel lawn area and greenness data were used to estimate two measures of household lawn fertilization practices, household annual fertilizer nitrogen application amount ( N_yr) and household annual fertilizer nitrogen application rate ( N_ha_yr). Using multiple regression with multi-model inferential procedures, we found that a combination of parcel lawn area and parcel lawn greenness best predicts N_yr, whereas a combination of parcel lawn greenness and lot size best predicts variation in N_ha_yr. Our analyses show that household fertilization practices can be effectively predicted by remotely sensed lawn indices and household characteristics. This has significant implications for urban watershed managers and modelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]