Chengyan Yue

What factors influence consumer adoption of low-input turfgrasses?

By Chengyan Yue, Manlin Cui and Eric Watkins, University of Minnesota; and Aaron Patton, Purdue University

Close up of blades of grass in a lawn

There are clear environmental and social benefits to increasing the use of low-input turfgrasses in home landscapes; however, to increase the market share and use of these grasses, it is crucial to understand the factors that influence consumers’ adoption decisions.

Are consumers willing to adopt low-input turfgrasses for their home lawns?

a newly mown lawn in a residential neighborhood

By Chengyan Yue, Yufeng Lai and Eric Watkins; University of Minnesota

In the past decades, plant breeders have developed turfgrasses that exhibit low-input characteristics such as drought tolerance and reduced nitrogen requirements. Although previous studies document the relative strengths and comparable advantages of low-input turfgrass species, little is known about consumers’ preferences for turfgrass attributes. Our team has been working to fill this knowledge gap.