Three different mowing machines on Kentucky Bluegrass: evaluation of the operative and qualitative performances

Maintaining a consistent mowing schedule at optimal heights promotes turfgrass growth, reducing the risk of disease and enhancing quality and performance parameters, whether in residential lawns, public parks, or sports fields. In this regard, a comparative analysis of operative performances of three different mowing machines was conducted on a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) mature sward in S. Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy. The treatments corresponded to three different types of mowing systems: two different autonomous mowers and a ride-on mower. Data were collected and analyzed on the operative performances and turfgrass quality. The rideon mower demonstrated to require substantially less time (0.60 h per week) to mow a 1,600 m2 area, but both AM1 and AM2 mower required substantially less primary energy (respectively 2.09 and 1.22 kWh•week-1) to complete the same area. In addition, the results suggest that while the ride-on mower achieved a slightly lower turfgrass height (2.53 cm), the quality of the turfgrass was generally higher in plots managed by the autonomous mowers (6). These results underscore the potential of autonomous mowing systems as a sustainable alternative, balancing energy efficiency and turf quality with longer operational times.