Feature

Autonomous Mowing: Research Update

By Tessa Hospod and Jason Henderson, Ph.D.

Introduction

Labor is typically the largest item in the operating budget of most businesses in the turfgrass industry. Mowing demands across all facets of this industry remain a huge draw upon already limited available labor resources. In an industry that is labor intensive and has constrained hours of operation, autonomous mowing has become a growing solution to integrate into commercial lawncare properties, golf courses, and sports field complexes. The aim of this research is to investigate potential benefits of utilizing autonomous mowing in comparison to conventional, gasoline-powered mowing and their effects on turfgrass quality, mowing quality, and disease.

Study Sites

Two autonomous mowing research studies are currently being conducted at the University of Connecticut’s Plant Science Research and Education Facility with support from the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation. The first study, initiated in 2022, investigates the effects of mowing regime and nitrogen fertility on turfgrass quality, mowing quality and disease incidence. The second, a more recently initiated study, focuses on evaluating different mowing regimes and multiple cutting heights for four different cool season turfgrass species based on differences in turfgrass quality, mowing quality, and overall stress tolerance.

Problems

• Ongoing difficulties surrounding labor shortages and lack of qualified labor in turf maintenance crews.

• Restrictions on gasoline-powered equipment in several New England cities and towns along with anticipated state-level regulations in the foreseeable future prompt for changes in innovative maintenance equipment solutions.

• Increasing frequency of extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall and flooding, inhibits routine and daily mowing practices.

• Growing demands and expectations for longer hours of playability on golf courses and athletic field complexes reduce the available time for routine mowing events during traditional operating hours.

Goals

• Assess differences in turfgrass quality between conventional, gasoline-powered lawn mowers and autonomous mowing systems.

• Explore the option of nighttime autonomous mowing and its effects on plant health and turfgrass quality.

• Develop species-specific mowing height recommendations based on mowing system.

• Investigate how autonomous mowing influences stress tolerance and plant health responses compared to conventional mowing methods.

Methods

• Evaluate long term differences in turfgrass quality and fertility response between conventional and autonomous mowing through qualitative and quantitative data assessment types.

• Document disease incidence and response to different pathogens and compare differences among mowing systems.

• Quantitatively assess differences in mowing quality between conventional and autonomous mowing systems by analyzing differences in leaf cut index and leaf tip chlorosis.

• Evaluate multiple species and cutting heights mowed autonomously and conventionally through turfgrass quality ratings and dark green color index.

Preliminary Results

• Autonomously mowed areas demonstrate a longer-term nitrogen fertility response compared to conventionally mowed areas that receive the same amount of nitrogen.

• Autonomous mowing produces a significantly higher quality of cut than conventional mowing, creating higher quality turf and reduced turfgrass leaf tissue damage.

• Areas maintained autonomously, whether day or nighttime mowing, exhibited less disease incidence and overall damage from certain pathogens.

What We Learned so Far

• Well established and reliable technical support from distributors is critical to selecting the best manufacturer and model that will ensure long-term success and minimal operational disruptions at your property.

• Nighttime autonomous mowing demonstrates a promising option without noise pollution, but frost conditions must be monitored carefully during transition periods in the spring and fall to prevent turf damage.

• Autonomous mowing systems are showing potential for reduced nitrogen fertility inputs, creating a more sustainable management plan and reducing costs.

• Systematic mowing trajectories maintain higher quality turfgrass than operating under random trajectories which can result in increased trampling at higher heights of cut in autonomous mowing systems.

Conclusion

Autonomous mowing technology has demonstrated clear advantages in labor efficiency and savings, while also contributing to improved turfgrass quality and aesthetics. Consistent mowing practices delivered daily and despite weather or staffing restrictions, support the maintenance of visually appealing and well-maintained turfgrass environments. Although additional research is needed to fully understand the long-term benefits of autonomous mowing, current studies demonstrate promising outcomes for the integration of autonomous mowing systems into turfgrass management systems across all facets of the industry. The ability to automate labor-intensive and time-consuming tasks enables grounds crews to reallocate their efforts toward other essential maintenance activities that may have been previously overlooked. This facilitates potential economic growth in golf courses with increasing demands for tee times and athletic complexes that need to expand tournament play.

In areas where gasoline-powered equipment is restricted due legislative regulations, battery-powered autonomous mowers offer a compliant alternative without compromising turf quality. This aligns with the growing interest in more sustainable practices while maintaining high quality, functional turfgrass areas. Furthermore, consistent, high-quality mowing is essential for promoting healthy turfgrass stands and minimizing pest pressures. Autonomous mowers can operate any time of day under a wide range of weather conditions, regardless of staffing challenges, enabling turfgrass managers to consistently follow the “one-third rule,”. This is not always possible with conventional methods. As technology continues to evolve, autonomous mowing stands out as a transformative tool for enhancing both the efficiency and quality of turfgrass management.

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Jason Henderson, Ph.D. is a Professor of Soil Science and Tess Hospod is a Graduate Research Assistant in turfgrass and soil sciences at the University of Connecticut. Tess was awarded NE-SFMA’s Charles Mruk Scholarship this past March in recognition of her academic accomplishments and ongoing research in the sports field sector.