This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
It has been widely demonstrated that farm management affects the plant species composition of grassland. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of farm management on plant species richness and composition in forty-nine small-scale farms breeding dairy cattle, located in the Eastern Italian Alps at two levels of precision: plot and farm levels. Data on housing system, quality scheme, farm productivity, income from milk yield and livestock density were collected through interviews with farmers. In each farm, botanical surveys were carried out in different plots representing the botanical composition of the farmland vegetation. Elevation, slope, type of use, number of hay cuts and type of fertilisation were also recorded. The botanical surveys of the plots on each farm were analysed to describe plant composition at the plot level, then merged to describe plant composition at the farm level. At both levels, grassland botanical composition was found to be affected by farm management. At the plot level, meadows cut 2 and 3 times per year did not exhibit any differences in plant richness, but they differed in plant species, botanical family and phytosociological class composition, with a general simplification of botanical composition. We found fewer phytosociological classes but not fewer plant species or botanical families in plots fertilised with slurry than in plots fertilised with manure or not fertilised, and a change in the botanical composition due to changes in the relative abundance of plant species. At the farm level, we observed a decrease in the number of plant species and phytosociological classes, and changes in plant composition, with increasing milk yield and livestock density. Changes in botanical composition were less evident at the farm level than at the plot level. However, protecting farms and their economic viability is a means of maintaining biodiversity at the plot level.
Cristina Pornaro; Chiara Spigarelli; Davide Pasut; Maurizio Ramanzin; Stefano Bovolenta; Enrico Sturaro; Stefano Macolino. Plant biodiversity of mountain grasslands as influenced by dairy farm management in the Eastern Alps. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 2021, 320, 107583 .
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Chiara Spigarelli, Davide Pasut, Maurizio Ramanzin, Stefano Bovolenta, Enrico Sturaro, Stefano Macolino. Plant biodiversity of mountain grasslands as influenced by dairy farm management in the Eastern Alps. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 2021; 320 ():107583.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Chiara Spigarelli; Davide Pasut; Maurizio Ramanzin; Stefano Bovolenta; Enrico Sturaro; Stefano Macolino. 2021. "Plant biodiversity of mountain grasslands as influenced by dairy farm management in the Eastern Alps." Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 320, no. : 107583.
Plant biodiversity is an important feature of grassland ecosystems, as it is related to the provision of many ecosystem services crucial for the human economy and well-being. Given the importance of grasslands, research has been carried out in recent years on the potential to monitor them with novel remote sensing techniques. In this study, the optical diversity (also called spectral diversity) approach was adopted to check the potential of using high-resolution hyperspectral images to estimate α-diversity in grassland ecosystems. In 2018 and 2019, grassland species composition was surveyed and canopy hyperspectral data were acquired at two grassland sites: Monte Bondone (IT-MBo; species-rich semi-natural grasslands) and an experimental farm of the University of Padova, Legnaro, Padua, Italy (IT-PD; artificially established grassland plots with a species-poor mixture). The relationship between biodiversity (species richness, Shannon’s, species evenness, and Simpson’s indices) and optical diversity metrics (coefficient of variation-CV and standard deviation-SD) was not consistent across the investigated grassland plant communities. Species richness could be estimated by optical diversity metrics with an R = 0.87 at the IT-PD species-poor site. In the more complex and species-rich grasslands at IT-MBo, the estimation of biodiversity indices was more difficult and the optical diversity metrics failed to estimate biodiversity as accurately as in IT-PD probably due to the higher number of species and the strong canopy spatial heterogeneity. Therefore, the results of the study confirmed the ability of spectral proxies to detect grassland α-diversity in man-made grassland ecosystems but highlighted the limitations of the spectral diversity approach to estimate biodiversity when natural grasslands are observed. Nevertheless, at IT-MBo, the optical diversity metric SD calculated from post-processed hyperspectral images and transformed spectra showed, in the red part of the spectrum, a significant correlation (up to R = 0.56, p = 0.004) with biodiversity indices. Spatial resampling highlighted that for the IT-PD sward the optimal optical pixel size was 1 cm, while for the IT-MBo natural grassland it was 1 mm. The random pixel extraction did not improve the performance of the optical diversity metrics at both study sites. Further research is needed to fully understand the links between α-diversity and spectral and biochemical heterogeneity in complex heterogeneous ecosystems, and to assess whether the optical diversity approach can be adopted at the spatial scale to detect β-diversity. Such insights will provide more robust information on the mechanisms linking grassland diversity and optical heterogeneity.
Hafiz Imran; Damiano Gianelle; Michele Scotton; Duccio Rocchini; Michele Dalponte; Stefano Macolino; Karolina Sakowska; Cristina Pornaro; Loris Vescovo. Potential and Limitations of Grasslands α-Diversity Prediction Using Fine-Scale Hyperspectral Imagery. Remote Sensing 2021, 13, 2649 .
AMA StyleHafiz Imran, Damiano Gianelle, Michele Scotton, Duccio Rocchini, Michele Dalponte, Stefano Macolino, Karolina Sakowska, Cristina Pornaro, Loris Vescovo. Potential and Limitations of Grasslands α-Diversity Prediction Using Fine-Scale Hyperspectral Imagery. Remote Sensing. 2021; 13 (14):2649.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHafiz Imran; Damiano Gianelle; Michele Scotton; Duccio Rocchini; Michele Dalponte; Stefano Macolino; Karolina Sakowska; Cristina Pornaro; Loris Vescovo. 2021. "Potential and Limitations of Grasslands α-Diversity Prediction Using Fine-Scale Hyperspectral Imagery." Remote Sensing 13, no. 14: 2649.
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is one of the most popular cool-season turfgrass species. However, little is known about the effects of N supply on its resistance to drought stress. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of acute drought followed by a recovery period on four Kentucky bluegrass cultivars (‘Barduke’, ‘Brooklawn’, ‘NuBlue Plus’ and ‘Marauder’) and one tall fescue (‘Rhambler SRP’) under two different nitrogen fertilisation rates (100 or 200 kg N ha−1 yr−1). The study was conducted over two years in a rain-out structure to control water input in spring and summer. The cultivars were subjected to a drought stress phase (absence of irrigation) followed by a recovery phase (weekly irrigation with an intake of 80% of ET). The green cover percentage, visual quality, NDVI, and soil moisture were measured weekly. We found that Kentucky bluegrass maintains sufficient turf quality for 2 weeks without irrigation. During the first year of the experiment, slight differences were observed among the Kentucky bluegrass cultivars, with ‘Marauder’ showing a 15% of green turf cover less than ‘Brooklawn’ after 6 weeks of acute drought, while in the second year, ‘NuBlue Plus’ displayed higher green turf cover and NDVI than the other cultivars. Nitrogen treatment had limited influence on the performances of the cultivars, ‘Marauder’ being the only one benefitting from the higher rate of applications.
Cristina Pornaro; Michele Dal Maso; Stefano Macolino. Drought Resistance and Recovery of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Cultivars under Different Nitrogen Fertilisation Rates. Agronomy 2021, 11, 1128 .
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Michele Dal Maso, Stefano Macolino. Drought Resistance and Recovery of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Cultivars under Different Nitrogen Fertilisation Rates. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (6):1128.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Michele Dal Maso; Stefano Macolino. 2021. "Drought Resistance and Recovery of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) Cultivars under Different Nitrogen Fertilisation Rates." Agronomy 11, no. 6: 1128.
Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) is the most widely used species in the European transition zone, however, despite its good wear tolerance, its use is still limited to lawns and landscape areas due to concerns about its ability to withstand low mowing regimes. A two years field study was conducted to access performance of twenty tall fescue cultivars (‘Ares’, ‘Armani’, ‘Dynamites LS’, ‘Firecracker SLS’, ‘Firewall’, ‘Foxhound’ ‘Granditte’, ‘JT-LT2′, ‘JT-338′, ‘Karakum’, ‘Lexington’, ‘Olympic Gold’, ‘Rebounder’, ‘Rhambler SRP’, ‘Starlett’, ‘Supersonic’, ‘Talladega’, ‘Thunderstruck’, ‘Titanium 2LS’, ‘Turfway’) mowed weekly at 18 mm. Turfgrass was evaluated every two weeks for visual quality, color, density, texture and uniformity, as well as percent green cover (PGC) and dark green color index (DGCI), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and traction twice per year. Although no cultivars showed sufficient quality throughout the year, ‘Turfway’, ‘Titanium 2LS’ and ‘JT-338’ achieved high quality rating during spring and fall, the two seasons with the highest frequency of games played on sports field in northern Italy. Traction ratings collected in these study fell within acceptable range for football fields. Our results suggest that improved dwarf-type tall fescue cultivars can be used in sport fields in Northern Italy.
Marco Schiavon; Stefano Macolino; Cristina Pornaro. Response of Twenty Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Cultivars to Low Mowing Height. Agronomy 2021, 11, 943 .
AMA StyleMarco Schiavon, Stefano Macolino, Cristina Pornaro. Response of Twenty Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Cultivars to Low Mowing Height. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (5):943.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Schiavon; Stefano Macolino; Cristina Pornaro. 2021. "Response of Twenty Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Cultivars to Low Mowing Height." Agronomy 11, no. 5: 943.
Extensive summer grazing is a dairy herd management practice frequently adopted in mountainous areas. Nowadays, this activity is threatened by its high labour demand, but it is fundamental for environmental, touristic and economic implications, as well as for the preservation of social and cultural traditions. Scarce information on the effects of such low-input farming systems on cattle health is available. Therefore, the present case study aimed at investigating how grazing may affect the health status of dairy cows by using milk traits routinely available from the national milk recording scheme. The research involved a dairy herd of 52 Simmental and 19 Holstein × Simmental crossbred cows. The herd had access to the pasture according to a rotational grazing scheme from late spring up to the end of summer. A total of 616 test day records collected immediately before and during the grazing season were used. Individual milk yield was registered during the milking procedure. Milk samples were analysed for composition (fat, protein, casein and lactose contents) and health-related milk indicators (electrical conductivity, urea and β-hydroxybutyrate) using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Somatic cell count (SCC) and differential SCC were also determined. Data were analysed with a linear mixed model, which included the fixed effects of the period of sampling, cow breed, stage of lactation and parity, and the random effects of cow nested within breed and the residual. The transition from barn farming to pasture had a negative effect on milk yield, together with a small deterioration of fat and protein percentages. Health-related milk indicators showed a minor deterioration of the fat to protein ratio, differential SCC and electrical conductivity, particularly towards the end of the grazing season, whereas the somatic cell score and β-hydroxybutyrate were relatively constant. Overall, the study showed that, when properly managed, pasture grazing does not have detrimental effects on dairy cows in terms of udder health and efficiency. Therefore, the proper management of cows on pasture can be a valuable solution to preserve the economic, social and environmental sustainability of small dairy farms in the alpine regions, without impairing cows’ health.
Giovanni Niero; Tania Bobbo; Simone Callegaro; Giulio Visentin; Cristina Pornaro; Mauro Penasa; Giulio Cozzi; Massimo De Marchi; Martino Cassandro. Dairy Cows’ Health during Alpine Summer Grazing as Assessed by Milk Traits, Including Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Case Study from Italy. Animals 2021, 11, 981 .
AMA StyleGiovanni Niero, Tania Bobbo, Simone Callegaro, Giulio Visentin, Cristina Pornaro, Mauro Penasa, Giulio Cozzi, Massimo De Marchi, Martino Cassandro. Dairy Cows’ Health during Alpine Summer Grazing as Assessed by Milk Traits, Including Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Case Study from Italy. Animals. 2021; 11 (4):981.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiovanni Niero; Tania Bobbo; Simone Callegaro; Giulio Visentin; Cristina Pornaro; Mauro Penasa; Giulio Cozzi; Massimo De Marchi; Martino Cassandro. 2021. "Dairy Cows’ Health during Alpine Summer Grazing as Assessed by Milk Traits, Including Differential Somatic Cell Count: A Case Study from Italy." Animals 11, no. 4: 981.
The germination of bermudagrass under different temperature regimes has been extensively investigated, but a discrepancy remains between laboratory studies and field results. Thermal requirements calculated in Growing Degree Days (GDD) have been found to differ within the same species depending on the location of the study. The accumulation of GDD may vary under different thermal conditions from seeding to seedling emergence and could depend on TBASE used in the calculation. The most widely used TBASE for bermudagrass is 5°C. However, laboratory studies have suggested that a base temperature of 15°C would more accurately predict seedling emergence. In this field study, we investigated the effect of using TBASE 5°C versus TBASE 15°C on the estimation of GDD required by bermudagrass to emerge. Ten cultivars were seeded in northeastern Italy on three dates between 10 March and the end of April in 2013 and 2014. Number of emerged seedlings was counted weekly and soil temperature at 1cm depth was recorded Significant differences in seedling emergence between bermudagrass genotypes were found. Results demonstrated that the algorithm used to calculate GDD is strongly influenced by the TBASE used and to include a TBASE of 15°C explains germination and emergence more accurately than a TBASE of 5°C. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
M. Giolo; R. Sallenave; C. Pornaro; C. Velasco‐Cruz; S. Macolino; B. Leinauer. Base temperatures affect accuracy of growing degree day model to predict emergence of bermudagrasses. Agronomy Journal 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleM. Giolo, R. Sallenave, C. Pornaro, C. Velasco‐Cruz, S. Macolino, B. Leinauer. Base temperatures affect accuracy of growing degree day model to predict emergence of bermudagrasses. Agronomy Journal. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleM. Giolo; R. Sallenave; C. Pornaro; C. Velasco‐Cruz; S. Macolino; B. Leinauer. 2021. "Base temperatures affect accuracy of growing degree day model to predict emergence of bermudagrasses." Agronomy Journal , no. : 1.
The identification of minimal N requirements for sustaining turfgrass quality and functionality became necessary to reduce N fertilization inputs and avoid potential environmental impacts in the European Union. A two year study was conducted at Padova University in Legnaro, northeastern Italy to investigate the performance of four tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) cultivars (‘Lexington’, ‘Rhambler SRP’, ‘Rhizing star’, and ‘Thunderstruck’) fertilized twice per year at either 75 or 150 kg N ha−1 year−1. Turfgrass was evaluated every two weeks for turfgrass visual quality, percent green cover (PGR) as well as dark green color index (DGCI) through digital image analysis and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). ‘Rhizing star’ was the only cultivar that showed poor adaptation to the environment, achieving acceptable turfgrass quality (6.0 or higher) only during June and July 2019. Turf fertilized at 150 kg N ha−1 year−1 generally showed higher performance than 75 kg N ha−1 year−1, however, the increase in turfgrass quality was mostly negligible and detected only during the winter months. Results suggest that well adapted tall fescue cultivars could be fertilized at 75 kg N ha−1 year−1 in Northern Italy.
Marco Schiavon; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Turfgrass Cultivars Performance under Reduced N Fertilization. Agronomy 2021, 11, 193 .
AMA StyleMarco Schiavon, Cristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino. Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Turfgrass Cultivars Performance under Reduced N Fertilization. Agronomy. 2021; 11 (2):193.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Schiavon; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. 2021. "Tall Fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) Turfgrass Cultivars Performance under Reduced N Fertilization." Agronomy 11, no. 2: 193.
Perennial ryegrass is generally known as exhibiting poor drought tolerance with poor recuperative capacity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute drought followed by a recovery period, on 11 perennial ryegrass varieties (Apple SGL, Azimuth, Barrage, Caddieshack, Double, Double Time, Ecologic, New Orleans, Pizzaz 2, Rainwater, Turfgold) and one tall fescue (Olympic Gold). The study was conducted in a rain-out structure to control water inputs. Green cover percentage, visual quality, color, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and soil moisture were measured weekly. Eighty percent coverage was considered optimal and was reached only during the first two weeks of the drought period. Starting from the fourth week, a significant decrease in green cover was observed for most of the perennial ryegrass cultivars. However, 5 cultivars displayed a visual quality rate greater than 6, which is considered acceptable during this period, while color ratings were recorded greater than 6 for 7 cultivars. At the end of the drought phase, the cultivar ’New Orleans’ exhibited significantly greater green cover compared to most other perennial ryegrasses. The recovery of the grasses was slow and at the end of the experiment the variability in green cover between cultivars was greater than during the first week.
Cristina Pornaro; Matteo Serena; Stefano Macolino; Bernd Leinauer. Drought Stress Response of Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Genotypes in a Mediterranean Environment. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1810 .
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Matteo Serena, Stefano Macolino, Bernd Leinauer. Drought Stress Response of Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Genotypes in a Mediterranean Environment. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (11):1810.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Matteo Serena; Stefano Macolino; Bernd Leinauer. 2020. "Drought Stress Response of Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Genotypes in a Mediterranean Environment." Agronomy 10, no. 11: 1810.
Bermudagrass is becoming increasingly popular in the Mediterranean transition zone of Europe for establishing new sports and recreational turfgrasses. In these regions, the quality and winter hardiness of bermudagrass turf is influenced by the establishment. It has been demonstrated that an early establishment of bermudagrass results in a longer growing season with a greater stolon and rhizome production, which favors cold hardiness and a quicker green up after the first winter. Dormant seeding is reported to be beneficial for an early establishment. However, the response to early seeding depends on local environmental conditions. A field study was conducted in northeastern Italy during spring 2018 and 2019. Four bermudagrass cultivars (“Transcontinental”, “Jackpot”, “SR9554”, and “La Paloma”) were compared under three seeding times from March to May to evaluate whether early spring seeding allows anticipating the establishment of bermudagrass compared with late spring seeding which generally benefits of better temperatures for germination and growth. The number of days from seeding to the emergence and from seeding to the full establishment were determined, and the number of seedlings was counted in each plot. Late March seeding assured the earliest establishment. This result could be due to the quick lateral spreading of seedlings as the emergence occurred about 15 days later in the late March seeding compared with April and May seedings. Results also displayed that the speed of establishment was positively related to the number of emerged seedlings. “Transcontinental”, “Jackpot”, and “SR9554” performed similarly, whereas “Jackpot” showed a slower establishment.
Maurizio Giolo; Cristina Pornaro; Andrea Onofri; Stefano Macolino. Seeding Time Affects Bermudagrass Establishment in the Transition Zone Environment. Agronomy 2020, 10, 1151 .
AMA StyleMaurizio Giolo, Cristina Pornaro, Andrea Onofri, Stefano Macolino. Seeding Time Affects Bermudagrass Establishment in the Transition Zone Environment. Agronomy. 2020; 10 (8):1151.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaurizio Giolo; Cristina Pornaro; Andrea Onofri; Stefano Macolino. 2020. "Seeding Time Affects Bermudagrass Establishment in the Transition Zone Environment." Agronomy 10, no. 8: 1151.
The use of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] as a lawn species is rapidly increasing in Mediterranean Europe, however, the identification of optimal N fertilization practices is needed to shorten the long dormancy periods some cultivars undergo in these environments. A 2‐yr study was conducted at the agricultural experimental farm of Padova University from May 2016 until June 2018 to compare the effects of three N fertilization rates (160 kg N ha−1 without clipping returned; 80 kg N ha−1 with clippings returned; and 80 kg N ha−1 without clipping returned applied with a controlled released fertilizer) on four bermudagrass cultivars (‘LaPaloma’, ‘Yukon’, ‘Patriot’, and ‘Tifway’) summer and fall quality, spring green‐up, and root morphology. Bermudagrass fertilized at 160 kg N ha−1 without clipping returned slightly increased bermudagrass quality in the summer, but higher turf quality was recorded in plots fertilized at 80 kg N ha−1 with clippings returned after weekly mowing events in the fall. The same N rates had a positive effect on spring green‐up for ‘La Paloma’ and ‘Tifway’, however, no benefits of increased N rates were detected on root morphology. Results suggest that returning clippings can be a powerful tool for reducing mineral N applications and increase growing season length in northern Italy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Marco Schiavon; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. Clippings return decreases mineral nitrogen requirements for bermudagrass ( Cynodon spp.) lawns in Mediterranean Europe. Crop Science 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleMarco Schiavon, Cristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino. Clippings return decreases mineral nitrogen requirements for bermudagrass ( Cynodon spp.) lawns in Mediterranean Europe. Crop Science. 2020; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarco Schiavon; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. 2020. "Clippings return decreases mineral nitrogen requirements for bermudagrass ( Cynodon spp.) lawns in Mediterranean Europe." Crop Science , no. : 1.
Suppression effect of hemiparasites on grasses is a phenomenon, that can be utilized to increase biodiversity of various grassland systems. Host suitability, environmental effects and hemiparasite abundance most likely influence the impact of parasitism on host height and biomass. However, the role of these factors is unclear in field conditions. We studied host suitability, establishment rates and effects of a hemiparasitic plant Rhinanthus alectorolophus on canopy height and biomass of a grass Festuca arundinacea in five trials with manipulated fertilization conducted in golf roughs. Particularly, we examined how grass height and biomass changed with increasing hemiparasite abundance. On average, grasses (nine in total) were better hosts than legumes (four in total). Festuca arundinacea belonged to the group of better hosts. The average establishment rate of Rhinanthus plants ranged from 4.4 to 24.8% regardless of fertilization treatments. In fertilization trials, Rhinanthus did not affect grass height but weakly suppressed grass biomass in non‐fertilized plots. The relationship between grass height/biomass and Rhinanthus abundance was best described by a logarithmic decay model. The suppressive effect tended to saturate (negative density dependence) in plots where the Rhinanthus abundance was very high. However, such high densities were quite rare and low Rhinanthus abundances were usually insufficient to substantially suppress grass growth. Our results indicate that we should aim for at least 50 Rhinanthus plants per 1 m2 to achieve desirable effects on biodiversity and that Rhinanthus performance will be better when nutrients are rather limiting. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Stanislav Hejduk; Martin Bitomský; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. Establishment of a hemiparasite Rhinanthus alectorolophus and its density‐dependent suppressing effect on a grass: A case study from golf roughs. Agronomy Journal 2020, 112, 3619 -3628.
AMA StyleStanislav Hejduk, Martin Bitomský, Cristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino. Establishment of a hemiparasite Rhinanthus alectorolophus and its density‐dependent suppressing effect on a grass: A case study from golf roughs. Agronomy Journal. 2020; 112 (5):3619-3628.
Chicago/Turabian StyleStanislav Hejduk; Martin Bitomský; Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino. 2020. "Establishment of a hemiparasite Rhinanthus alectorolophus and its density‐dependent suppressing effect on a grass: A case study from golf roughs." Agronomy Journal 112, no. 5: 3619-3628.
Bans on the use of synthetic herbicides require innovative management approaches to maintain the attractiveness and usability of turfgrass swards. Such measures should include the use of locally adapted cultivars that germinate and establish quickly, resulting in the densest possible stands. Additionally, a number of turfgrasses have been reported to produce allelopathic substances that inhibit common turfgrass weeds. Mowing heights should be set to achieve maximum weed suppression while still providing acceptable quality for desired use. Sustainable turfgrass management programs have led to a reduction in fertilizer inputs, however, without the availability of herbicides, fertilization regimes need to be re‐examined. The literature suggests that broadleaf weeds are reduced but never fully controlled when more N is applied; therefore finding a balance between what is needed and what is environmentally safe and sustainable is critical. Organic herbicides include plant pathogens from the fungus Phoma and strains of the bacterium Pseudomonas fluorescens. Both can be used to control several weeds common to turfgrasses. Acetic acid has also been shown to have herbicidal activity, however it has limited residual activity and efficacy remains questionable on mature weeds. Thermal weed control can be used to sterilize a seedbank or spot treat existing weeds. Future turfgrass breeding programs could focus on understanding and enhancing the allelopathic potential of turfgrasses to outcompete weeds more effectively. Furthermore, more research should be directed at assessing the competiveness of certain turfgrasses against weeds within the limitations of producing turfgrass areas of acceptable aesthetics and playing quality. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Daniel Hahn; Rossana Sallenave; Cristina Pornaro; Bernd Leinauer. Managing cool‐season turfgrass without herbicides: Optimizing maintenance practices to control weeds. Crop Science 2020, 60, 1 .
AMA StyleDaniel Hahn, Rossana Sallenave, Cristina Pornaro, Bernd Leinauer. Managing cool‐season turfgrass without herbicides: Optimizing maintenance practices to control weeds. Crop Science. 2020; 60 (5):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Hahn; Rossana Sallenave; Cristina Pornaro; Bernd Leinauer. 2020. "Managing cool‐season turfgrass without herbicides: Optimizing maintenance practices to control weeds." Crop Science 60, no. 5: 1.
The importance of maintaining mountain pastures in preserving environmental services is widely known. However, in mountainous regions, environmental and vegetation heterogeneity at the farm scale affect farm management. This study was conducted at the summer pasture of Malga Serona (northeastern Italy) to introduce a discussion of appropriate management at the farm scale. Forty botanical surveys were performed, where an herbage sample from a 100×100 cm surface was collected in each survey. The number of species, the average Landolt index, and the pastoral value (PV) were calculated for each survey. For each herbage sample, nutrient content was measured. We observed differences in botanical composition and in forage quality within the study area. We found that the PV varied from 35.6 to 52.2, NDF from 41.0 to 52.0% and crude proteine from 12.3 to 15.8%. Areas with lower PV and lower forage quality were marginal and were found in surveys with high abundance of Sesleria varia (Jacq.) Wettst., or with species usually present in under-grazed pastures. It is necessary to study botanical composition and forage quality of pastures at the farm level, and to utilize the whole grazing surface in order to maintain and restore high-quality forage.
Cristina Pornaro; Elena Basso; Stefano Macolino. Pasture botanical composition and forage quality at farm scale: A case study. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2019, 14, 214 -221.
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Elena Basso, Stefano Macolino. Pasture botanical composition and forage quality at farm scale: A case study. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2019; 14 (4):214-221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Elena Basso; Stefano Macolino. 2019. "Pasture botanical composition and forage quality at farm scale: A case study." Italian Journal of Agronomy 14, no. 4: 214-221.
Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Michael D. Richardson. Rhizome and stolon development of bermudagrass cultivars in a transition-zone environment. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 2019, 69, 657 -666.
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino, Michael D. Richardson. Rhizome and stolon development of bermudagrass cultivars in a transition-zone environment. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science. 2019; 69 (8):657-666.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Michael D. Richardson. 2019. "Rhizome and stolon development of bermudagrass cultivars in a transition-zone environment." Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B — Soil & Plant Science 69, no. 8: 657-666.
Length and diameter of stolons or rhizomes are usually measured using simple rulers and calipers. This procedure is slow and laborious, so it is often used on a limited number of stolons or rhizomes. For this reason, these traits are limited in their use for morphological characterization of plants. The use of digital image analysis software technology may overcome measurement errors due to human mistakes, which tend to increase as the number and size of samples also increase. The protocol can be used for any kind of crop but is particularly suitable for forage or grasses, where plants are small and numerous. Turf samples consist of aboveground biomass and an upper soil layer to the depth of maximum rhizome development, depending on the species of interest. In studies, samples are washed from the soil, and stolons/rhizomes are cleaned by hand before analysis by digital image analysis software. The samples are further dried in a laboratory heating oven to measure dry weight; therefore, for each sample, the resultant data are total length, total dry weight, and average diameter. Scanned images can be corrected before analysis by excluding visible extraneous parts, such as remaining roots or leaves not removed with the cleaning process. Indeed, these fragments normally have much smaller diameters than stolons or rhizomes, so they can be easily excluded from analysis by fixing the minimum diameter below which objects are not considered. Stolon or rhizome density per unit area can then be calculated based on sample size. The advantage of this method is quick and efficient measurement of the length and average diameter of large sample numbers of stolons or rhizomes.
Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Michael D. Richardson. Measuring Stolons and Rhizomes of Turfgrasses Using a Digital Image Analysis System. Journal of Visualized Experiments 2019, e58042 .
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino, Michael D. Richardson. Measuring Stolons and Rhizomes of Turfgrasses Using a Digital Image Analysis System. Journal of Visualized Experiments. 2019; (144):e58042.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Michael D. Richardson. 2019. "Measuring Stolons and Rhizomes of Turfgrasses Using a Digital Image Analysis System." Journal of Visualized Experiments , no. 144: e58042.
The use of warm season turfgrasses is a consolidated trend in the climatic transition zone of Mediterranean countries, in particular St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) begins to be widespread in warm coastal areas. However, little is known about the performance of the different cultivars of this species in southern Europe. In 2016-2017 a trial was carried out in three locations in Italy, Padova, Pisa, and Palermo, located in the north, center and south of the country respectively. Four cultivars (Floratine, Captiva, Sapphire, Palmetto) and five ecotypes (CeRTES 201, CeRTES 202, CeRTES 203, CeRTES 204, CeRTES 205) were compared in terms of their growth characteristics and morphological traits during establishment. The results highlighted that stolon growth was significantly affected by the location, as well as green colour retention. Stolon growth rate, internode length and internode volume and turf quality were, however, significantly determined by the accession effect. The quality of the ecotypes was also in some cases comparable to that of the cultivars. In Padova, winterkill occurred in most of the accessions, while in Pisa and Palermo, all the entries survived. In conclusion, St. Augustinegrass is suitable for turf use in the central and southern coastal area of Italy.
Lisa Caturegli; Rokhsareh Ramazani; Marco Volterrani; Nicola Grossi; Simone Magni; Stefano Macolino; Cristina Pornaro; Salvatore La Bella; Teresa Tuttolomondo; Alberto Minelli; Monica Gaetani. St. Augustinegrass accessions planted in northern, central and southern Italy: Growth and morphological traits during establishment. Italian Journal of Agronomy 2018, 13, 332 -337.
AMA StyleLisa Caturegli, Rokhsareh Ramazani, Marco Volterrani, Nicola Grossi, Simone Magni, Stefano Macolino, Cristina Pornaro, Salvatore La Bella, Teresa Tuttolomondo, Alberto Minelli, Monica Gaetani. St. Augustinegrass accessions planted in northern, central and southern Italy: Growth and morphological traits during establishment. Italian Journal of Agronomy. 2018; 13 (4):332-337.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLisa Caturegli; Rokhsareh Ramazani; Marco Volterrani; Nicola Grossi; Simone Magni; Stefano Macolino; Cristina Pornaro; Salvatore La Bella; Teresa Tuttolomondo; Alberto Minelli; Monica Gaetani. 2018. "St. Augustinegrass accessions planted in northern, central and southern Italy: Growth and morphological traits during establishment." Italian Journal of Agronomy 13, no. 4: 332-337.
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is known as a non-creeping, bunch-type species. However, several studies documented the occurrence of a ‘stoloniferous’ or ‘rhizomatous’ habit in this species. This research aimed to study the stolon development in creeping (‘Sienna’ and ‘RPR’) and non-creeping (‘Apple SGL’ and ‘Pizzaz 2’) type cultivars of perennial ryegrass seeded at three rates (10, 20, and 30 g m–2). Plots were seeded in September 2015 and from December 2015 to July 2017, two core samples (8 cm diameter and 5 cm depth) were collected from each plot every other month. Stolon length density, weight density, and average diameter were estimated, and the specific weight was calculated. Our results demonstrated the presence of stolons in all the tested cultivars. The cultivar 'Sienna' showed the highest stolon production followed by ‘Pizzaz 2’ and ‘Apple SGL,’ whereas ‘RPR’ displayed the lowest. The cultivars started to produce stolons in the spring of the first year after establishment, reached the highest level in late summer and maintained production until termination of the study. The lowest seeding rate favored stolon production and their growth in diameter as it produced the highest length density, specific weight, and average diameter. Copyright © 2018. . Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
Cristina Pornaro; Alessandro Menegon; Stefano Macolino. Stolon Development in Four Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars. Agronomy Journal 2018, 110, 2159 -2164.
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Alessandro Menegon, Stefano Macolino. Stolon Development in Four Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars. Agronomy Journal. 2018; 110 (6):2159-2164.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Alessandro Menegon; Stefano Macolino. 2018. "Stolon Development in Four Turf-Type Perennial Ryegrass Cultivars." Agronomy Journal 110, no. 6: 2159-2164.
Pastures are strongly affected by local environmental variables in terms of their species richness, plant composition and herbage production. A multi-site monitoring study was conducted over three years to investigate the influence of morphoclimatic factors on the seasonal variations in dry matter (DM) yield from Karst pastures. Seven sites located on the Italian and Slovenian Karst regions were investigated that differed in terms of their geological and geomorphological features, as well as their soil types. At each site, the daily DM yield (kg ha-1 d-1) was determined using Corral-Fenlon method which permits to simulate herbage utilization from grazing herds. The morphoclimatic features were also analysed, with the aim to evaluate the link between seasonal DM yield and geomorphological and environmental factors. Generalized non-linear mixed models were built to study the observed seasonal variations in DM yield, using day of the year (DOY), growing degree days (GDD), and cumulative rainfall. Furthermore, environmental descriptors were included in the model in order to evaluate their effects on DM yield. The seasonal variations in yield showed two growing periods (spring and late summer), which were described by Gaussian curves. For the spring growing period, the model improved when the interaction between soil granulometry and growing degree days corresponding to the curve peak was taken into account. This confirms the influence of soil type and air temperature on pasture yield. For the late summer growing period, the interaction between the sand classes and the number of rainy days from the beginning of the period to the peak of the curve improved the model. The curve parameters of our models are correlated with environmental descriptors depending on the lithology and particle size of soils. The results are essential for the optimization of pasture management and avoiding degradation due to over- or under-grazing.
Cristina Pornaro; Valentina Vincenzi; Stefano Furin; Massimiliano Fazzini; Luca Minarelli; Stefano Macolino. Seasonal changes in dry matter yield from Karst pastures as influenced by morphoclimatic features. PLOS ONE 2018, 13, e0204092 .
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Valentina Vincenzi, Stefano Furin, Massimiliano Fazzini, Luca Minarelli, Stefano Macolino. Seasonal changes in dry matter yield from Karst pastures as influenced by morphoclimatic features. PLOS ONE. 2018; 13 (9):e0204092.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Valentina Vincenzi; Stefano Furin; Massimiliano Fazzini; Luca Minarelli; Stefano Macolino. 2018. "Seasonal changes in dry matter yield from Karst pastures as influenced by morphoclimatic features." PLOS ONE 13, no. 9: e0204092.
Golf courses can be characterized as plant communities with a simplified botanical composition. Improving roughs to achieve more naturalized areas can help to enhance the botanical biodiversity on golf courses. A 3-yr study was conducted in a Mediterranean climate zone with the objectives of investigating the botanical composition of naturalized roughs by analyzing species richness and effective species number, and assessing the effectiveness of different cultural practices to increase biodiversity. Two sites dominated by either Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski (Site 1) or by Festuca rubra L. (Site 2) were selected for the study. Three management practices were randomly assigned to plots within each site in May 2013: (i) mowing followed by biomass removal and verticutting, and subsequent supply of hay to provide seeds of local species; (ii) mowing followed by biomass removal and verticutting; and (iii) areas left unmowed (control). Cultural practices had a significant effect on biodiversity in the short-term. The number of plant species at Site 1 was higher in plots receiving Management Practices A and B, and at Site 2 in plots receiving Management Practice A. In contrast, management practice had no effect on the percentages of dominant species. The principal component analysis (PCA) indicated a shift in botanical composition in plots receiving treatments A and B in the second year, while in the last year of the study, the botanical composition of all plots returned to its original state. A single cut in spring was not sufficient to counteract the dominance of highly competitive species. Copyright © 2018. . Copyright © 2018 by the American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Alessandro De Luca; Rossana Sallenave; Bernhard Leinauer. Plant Species Diversity of Naturalized Roughs as Affected by Conversion Strategies. Agronomy Journal 2018, 110, 1709 -1717.
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino, Alessandro De Luca, Rossana Sallenave, Bernhard Leinauer. Plant Species Diversity of Naturalized Roughs as Affected by Conversion Strategies. Agronomy Journal. 2018; 110 (5):1709-1717.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Alessandro De Luca; Rossana Sallenave; Bernhard Leinauer. 2018. "Plant Species Diversity of Naturalized Roughs as Affected by Conversion Strategies." Agronomy Journal 110, no. 5: 1709-1717.
WinRHIZO, a root-measuring system, may provide an alternative, reliable, and fast method to analyze stolon morphology of grass species. This study evaluated the possibility to use WinRHIZO technology to measure total length and average diameter of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] stolons. The length and diameter of 70 stolons collected from four turf-type cultivars and a wild bermudagrass were measured with a ruler (length) and caliper (diameter), and using WinRHIZO technology, a scanner-based image analysis system. The scanned length closely predicted the manually measured one and can be successfully used to determine stolon length in samples with a significant amount of biomass. WinRHIZO technology overestimated diameter values when the whole stolon was scanned, while the diameter prediction was more precise when nodes were removed and only internodes were measured. Copyright © 2017. . Copyright © 2017 by the American Society of Agronomy, Inc.
Cristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Alessandro Menegon; Mike Richardson. WinRHIZO Technology for Measuring Morphological Traits of Bermudagrass Stolons. Agronomy Journal 2017, 109, 3007 -3010.
AMA StyleCristina Pornaro, Stefano Macolino, Alessandro Menegon, Mike Richardson. WinRHIZO Technology for Measuring Morphological Traits of Bermudagrass Stolons. Agronomy Journal. 2017; 109 (6):3007-3010.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCristina Pornaro; Stefano Macolino; Alessandro Menegon; Mike Richardson. 2017. "WinRHIZO Technology for Measuring Morphological Traits of Bermudagrass Stolons." Agronomy Journal 109, no. 6: 3007-3010.