Effects of trampling on physiological indices of fescue turf at different filament planting depths in stitched hybrid turf

To understand the effects of trampling on the physiological indices of grass with different stich (filament planting) depth, a mixed grass with high fescue (Festuca arundinacea) composition was selected as the test object. Five different kinds of artificial grass with stitch depths of 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 cm and CK were set up. Through simulated trampling treatment, we compared the turf quality, physiological indices, and the recovery status of turf grass after trampling with natural turf and the mixed turf with a stitch depth of 5 cm. According to pre-treatment color and normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) data, turf with a stitch depth of 18 cm had the highest quality. With an increased trampling duration, other depth treatments also presented certain promotive effects on turf quality. The chlorophyll content of tall fescue leaves stitched at a depth of 15 cm recovered at an accelerated rate, while stitching deeper than 9 cm demonstrated advantages in inhibiting malondialdehyde content, restoring soluble protein levels and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities. We found that the overall performance of turf quality under trampling stress was higher than that of natural lawn, and the hybrid turf with a stitch depth of more than 9 cm could effectively strengthen the ability of turf to resist trampling stress to different extents, improving the recovery rate of turf grass after trampling stress. This study provides a theoretical and practical basis for the technical exploration and application of hybrid stitch turf.