This experiment was conducted in order to investigate morphological and physiological responses of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) to salinity and silicon application in horticultural science department at the University of Zanjan in 2015. The salinity levels (0, 40 and 80 mM NaCl) and sodium silicate (0, 0.75 and 1.5 mM) were applied in complete nutrient solutions. Salinity reduced root and shoot growth, visual turf quality, leaves chlorophyll and potassium content, whereas electrolyte leakage, proline and sodium content increased with increasing salt concentration in nutrient solution. Silicon application ameliorate adverse effects of salinity in all factors except in potassium content and this effect was more pronounced in 80 mM NaCl. Although there was no significant difference between 0.75 and 1.5 mM sodium silicate in visual turf quality, root growth and chlorophyll content, altogether, application of 1.5 mM silicon had better results to increase salinity tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass, suggesting that higher concentrations of silicon must be evaluated.

Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges when we pay attention to experience in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. The research purpose was to assess the reliability and validity of the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS) that has been designed and developed to assess the mindfulness skills of individuals. Hence, 226 of the students studying in Shiraz University were selected by convenience sampling and tested by Kentucky inventory of mindfulness skills. The Cronbach's Alpha for this inventory amounted to 0.82. Moreover, the result of the factor analysis showed four factors for this inventory as: awareness, description, acceptance and observance. Furthermore, the factors explained 42.26 percent of the total variance and the convergent validity of the subscale comprised between 0.47 and 0.78. According to the above results, Kentucky inventory of mindfulness skills can be regarded a standard tool for assessing the individuals' mindfulness.

Salinity is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing plant growth and development in the 21st century. Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic compound and signal molecule involved in the regulation of plants responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. This greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine effects of SA application on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) responses to salinity stress. The three salinity levels (0, 40 and 80 mM NaCl) were applied in nutrient solutions, and foliar SA treatments (0, 1 and 2 mM) were applied at 2-weeks intervals. The study was carried out as a factorial experiment based on completely randomized experimental design with four replications. Salinity reduced root and shoot dry weight, visual turf quality, leaf chlorophyll and potassium content, whereas electrolyte leakage, proline and sodium content were increased with salt concentration in nutrient solution. Salicylic acid application ameliorates adverse effects of salinity in all factors and this effect was more pronounced in 80 mM NaCl. In terms of root dry weight, leaf sodium and proline content as well as electrolyte leakage, SA application at 2 mM had better results than 1 mM. These results suggest that further studies are required to find proper SA application rate in different salinity levels.

In most semiarid and arid areas, fresh water shortage compels managers to use low quality water sources with high salinity to irrigate turf and landscape. Recent research has noticed that management of nitrogen fertilization can alleviate salinity effects on plants. This greenhouse sand culture experiment was conducted in order to investigate morphological and physiological responses to salinity stress in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) grown using different nitrogen sources. Three salinity levels (0, 40 and 80 mM NaCl) and three NO3-/NH4+ratios (6/0.5, 6/1 and 6/2) were applied in nutrient solutions. Under non saline conditions, higher ammonium concentration increased Turf Quality (TQ), leaf NO3-, proline content, Nitrate Reductase Activity (NRA), shoot and root growth. On the other hand, leaf potassium (K+) sodium (Na+) and MalonDiAldehyde (MDA) content were not affected. During the first week, the 40 mM NaCl treatment showed that the positive effects of NH4+on salinity tolerance were still perceptible. However, the 80 mM NaCl treatment showed that the adverse effects of high salinities were more pronounced when turf received high ammonium rate nutrient solution, as manifested by the decrease of TQ, NO3-, NRA, K+/Na+ratio, shoot and root growth and by the increase of leaf MDA content. This suggests that effects of NO3-/NH4+ratio on salt tolerance varies with salinity levels.

Introduction Dandelion with the scientific name (Taraxacum sp.) from the Asteraceae family is one of the common weeds of turfgrasses and pastures. Post-growth control of weeds in established turfgrasses is crucial and ignoring it severely damages the aesthetic aspect of turfgrass. Chemical methods are commonly used to control weeds in established turfgrass (Karimmojeni et al., 2012). The use of herbicides helps in the management of weed control in damaged turf fields along with non-chemical methods such as correct mowing height, effective irrigation, sufficient fertilization, and timely weeding. Perennial broad-leaf weeds can be selectively controlled with herbicides. U-46 Combi Fluid, Duplosan super, and Ioxynil are suitable herbicides for controlling broadleaf weeds in narrow-leaf fields.   Materials and Methods In order to control the dandelion in Kentucky bluegrass turf, a factorial experiment was conducted based on a completely randomized design with 3 replications and 9 treatments in September 2022, at the green space of Shahrekord University. Replications included 1×1 m2 plots and the factors included two herbicides of U46-Combi Fluid and Duplosan Super and their interaction with Ioxynil. All selected plots were infested with dandelion weed. The treatments included U46-combi fluid at two levels of 1.5 and 2 L ha-1 (U1.5 and U2), Duplosan Super at two levels of 2 and 2.5 L ha-1 (D2 and D2.5), their interaction with Ioxynil herbicide at two levels (0 and 2 L ha-1) (I0 and I2), and the control (use of distilled water instead of herbicide). U-46 Combi Fluid and Duplosan Super herbicide treatments were applied at the end of September. Then, Ioxynil was applied 10 days after the first spraying. Finally, 15 days later, the effect of the treatments on the biomass characteristic of the dandelion shoots and the visual quality of turfgrass were recorded. After 50 days, the last spraying, the percentage of regrowth, herbicide control efficiency, and the biomass of turfgrass shoot were measured during the experiment. Variance analysis of data was done using SAS 9.1 statistical program and the comparison of means was conducted using LSD test (P≤0.05).   Results and Discussion The results showed the lowest fresh and dry weight of dandelion and the highest efficiency of herbicide were found in treatments U2 + I2 and D2.5+ I2. However, these treatments had not significantly different from D2+I2 and U1.5+I2 treatments. The lowest percentage of regrowth was obtained in D2 + I2. The highest fresh weight of turfgrass was found in the control which had no significant difference with D2 + I2 and U1.5 + I2. Moreover, total chlorophyll in turfgrass leaves was improved by removing weeds. The amount of chlorophyll a, b, and total was higher in the U1.5 treatment than in other treatments. Therefore, improving the greenness of turf could be due to more light being provided to turf leaves as a result of dandelion leaf removal or positive physiological effects of 2,4-D or MCPA. There were no differences among treatments for total chlorophyll, carotenoid, visual quality, dry weight of turfgrass, and dandelion control percentage. Therefore, D2 + I2 and U1.5 + I2 can be recommended, due to the higher fresh turf weight, the good control of dandelion, and the low rate of regrowth of weed.   Conclusion Application of Duplosan Super and then Ioxynil, both with a concentration of 2.0 L ha-1 and/or U-46 Combi Fluid with a concentration of 1.5 L ha-1 and then Ioxynil with a concentration of 2.0 L ha-1 treatments are recommended due to the high weight of turfgrass, the reasonable control of dandelions, and their reduction of regrowth. In addition, leaf chlorophyll of Kentucky bluegrass treated with of U-46 Combi Fluid with a concentration of 1.5 L ha-1 was higher than in other treatments. It also had a higher turfgrass fresh weight than the 2.0 L ha-1 of U-46 Combi Fluid treatment. Duplosan Super (2.5 L ha-1) and then Ioxynil (2.0 L ha-1) treatment led to a decrease in turfgrass fresh weight compared to the same treatment without Ioxynil. In conclusion, Ioxynil concentrations at high levels did not cause visible damage, but had adverse effects on turfgrass growth, suggesting that a lower dose should be studied.

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is one of the most widely used turfgrasses for home lawns, golf courses, parks, and athletic fields in temperate climates. Oxidative stress caused by drought stress is a major limiting factor for grass cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Prohexadione-Calcium (Pro-Ca) may play a role in promoting drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass. Pro-Ca was exogenously applied as a foliar spray at the rate of 0, 7.5, 15 or 25 mg a.i./m2 to well established Kentucky bluegrass under wellwatered (100 of field capacity) or drought-stressed (70 and 40% of field capacity) conditions. The effect of Pro-Ca on the growth physiology, drought stress response, antioxidant activity, and lipid peroxidation of Kentucky bluegrass exposed to drought stress was measured during 28 days at 7 days interval. Pro-Ca treated Kentucky bluegrass exposed to drought stress had higher relative water content (RWC) and turf quality, and lower electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content as membrane integrity indicators, compared with untreated plants. Pro-Ca application significantly increased the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activities under well-watered and drought conditions, but this increase is more evident in drought stressed plants. Pro- Ca application at 15 mg/m2 was found to be more effective in alleviating drought stress damage in Kentucky bluegrass. The results from this study suggest that Pro-Ca enhanced drought stress tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass by maintaining higher RWC and membrane stability.

Background: Smokeless tobacco (SLT) prevalence was decreasing in Kentucky before 2007, but has since increased. This study examines the impact of policies on cigarette and SLT use by applying the SimSmoke tobacco control policy simulation model. Methods: Using data from the large-scale Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) and information on state-specific tobacco policies, Kentucky SimSmoke is updated and extended to incorporate exclusive SLT and dual cigarette and SLT use. The model is validated using survey data through 2017. The model was used to estimate the impact on smoking and SLT prevalence and attributable deaths of policies implemented between 1993 and 2018 and the impact of stronger future policies implemented in 2018 and maintained through 2060. Results: SimSmoke generally reflects trends in exclusive cigarette use from the TUS-CPS and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), but underestimated the increase in SLT prevalence in recent years. SimSmoke projects that policies implemented between 1993 and 2018 reduced male and female cigarette use by 23. 7% and 23. 0%, and male and female SLT use by 4. 9% by 2018, averting 9018 tobacco-attributable deaths by 2018, increasing to 89 547 by 2060. The largest reductions in cigarette and SLT use were attributed to cigarette price increases. Strengthening tobacco control policies could reduce smoking prevalence by 41% and 40%, and reduce SLT prevalence by 33% and 25% for males and females by 2060. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cigarette-oriented policies were effective in reducing SLT use but have been less successful in recent years. Future use rates can be further reduced through more restrictive statewide policies, which also target non-combustible nicotine products.