Turfgrass provides significant functional, environmental, recreational and aesthetic benefits; however, its high management inputs raise sustainability concerns due to intensive irrigation, fertilization and mowing. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether adopting a new mowing technology can support or enhance current low-input strategies in turfgrass management, such as reducing synthetic fertilization and deficit irrigation. This study was conducted from September 2023 to October 2024 at the Centre for Research on Turfgrass for Environment and Sports (CeRTES) in Pisa, Italy. Two turf compositions, pure tall fescue and tall fescue–microclover mixture, were managed using an autonomous mower operating daily at three mowing heights, 20, 40 and 60 mm. Turf quality, color, the NDVI, weed cover, leaf morphology, and clover presence were assessed throughout the growing season, including a drought and recovery period. The experimental design consisted of a two-factor split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications, and the statistical approach used was two-way and one-way ANOVAs with Fisher’s LSD at p = 0.05. The results of the study indicated that, under conditions where an autonomous mower was set to operate on a daily basis, the selected mowing height had minimal influence on drought response or recovery when water availability was a limiting factor. Furthermore, when subjected to the lowest mowing heights, the legume species included in the turfgrass mix demonstrated strong resilience, maintaining its presence and performance. In addition, when mowing with a high mowing frequency and at low mowing heights, the overall quality of the turfgrass appeared enhanced. These results serve as an important starting point for considering autonomous mowing technology as an innovative strategy in advancing toward turf management systems that prioritize sustainability and efficient use of resources.

High-quality playing surfaces enhance player experience and safety while serving as an appealing setting for spectators. Natural turfgrass provides optimal conditions at the beginning of the playing season but faces challenges under increasing field usage. Turfgrasses with high wear tolerance and quick recovery capacity are crucial for maintaining surface quality under intensive wear. Bermudagrass is the most used species in warm climates but needs winter overseeding in the transition zone. In Mediterranean climates, tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort, formerly Festuca arundinacea) has emerged as a promising species due to its tolerance to heat, drought, and salinity, alongside traits like deep rooting, shade adaptation, and wear resistance. The trial was conducted at the CeRTES experimental station in Rottaia, Pisa, Italy. Twenty-seven tall fescue cultivars and three cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were hand-seeded on 3 November 2022, at a rate of 43 g m⁻². The experimental design consisted of plots measuring 4.5 m² arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The objective of the study is to evaluate the performance of twenty-seven cultivars of tall fescue with the aim of using the species in soccer fields with a permanent stand approach, with no need to manage spring and fall transitions. The field study encompasses determinations referring to the establishment stage, the maintenance at low cutting height stage (20 mm) and the subsequent stage of soccer use under different seasonal conditions (autumn, winter, and spring). Results showed that certain fescue cultivars, notably ‘Essential’, ‘Eyecandy’, and ‘FAG3/19-20208B’, exhibited quick establishment and adaptation to low cutting height (20 mm), and performed similarly to the reference ryegrasses ‘Gianna’ and ‘Mercitwo’ in terms of wear tolerance and recovery capacity across the three seasons. Moreover, most of the tested tall fescue cultivars performed well at a 20 mm mowing height, maintaining satisfactory quality and density. Among these, ‘Eyecandy’ and ‘Foxhound’ displayed finer leaf textures, comparable to those of the reference ryegrass.