The overarching objective of this study is to investigate how the management of robotically mown fairways can be optimized to enhance turfgrass drought resistance. The sub-objectives by work package are as follows:
•Work package 1: To compare and advance methods of cutting quality measurement and to conduct a field trial that investigates the relationship between turfgrass cutting quality and drought resistance on both pure species and fairway mixtures.
• Work package 2: WP 2a) To compare and advance methods of drought status measurement in turfgrass, and WP 2b) to conduct a field trial that quantifies the relationship between turfgrass cutting quality, cutting height, and the drought resistance of a fairway mixture.
• Work package 3: WP 3a) To compare the drought resistance of robotically mown and traditionally mown fairways, and WP 3b) to compare turfgrass performance under robotic mowing on a golf course fairway with and without precision irrigation implemented.
• Work package 4: To compare dollar spot occurrence after drought on a fairway mown with a robotic mower, and with a robotic mower followed by rolling.
Even in Scandinavia, where water was once assumed to be plentiful, water resources are becoming increasingly scarce. As a result, many golf courses struggle to keep healthy turf stands during summer months. At the same time, robotic mowing is quickly being adopted on golf courses. The goal of this project is to develop strategies to optimize robotic mowing under water limited conditions.
Field trials will be conducted at turfgrass research stations in Norway and Germany to test how cutting quality, mowing height, and turfgrass species affect drought resistance. Golf course demonstration trials will be conducted in Sweden and Germany to explore management practices that may increase drought and dollar spot resistance on fairways managed with robotic mowers.
The outcome of the project will provide greenkeepers with actionable guidance to maintain drought resistant fairways with high playing quality.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STERF | 550 | 426 | 519 | 2649 |
| Orher sources | 1763 | 443 | 443 | 1495 |
| Total | 2313 | 869 | 962 | 4144 |
