Turfgrass is a ground cover of close cut, thickly growing, intertwining stems and leaves of grass plants. The attractive characteristic of turfgrasses is the ability to withstand routine mowing and still provide a functional, dense and healthy ground cover. That is what sets it apart from other plants.
Turfgrasses, like all plants, capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it through photosynthesis to create energy in the form of sugars and carbohydrates. With increasing levels of atmospheric CO associated with the greenhouse effect, turfgrasses serve as a source of carbon storage or sequestration. An average-sized healthy lawn is a carbon sequestering system that can capture as much as 300lbs of carbon per year.
Research over the last few years has concluded that turf cultural practices like mowing, returning clippings, feeding and watering actually increases the turf’s ability to sequester carbon.
Turfgrasses also play a vital role in soil erosion, dust control and water runoff by effectively holding the soil in place. The fibrous root systems of turfgrasses form excellent soil netting that reduces dust and stabilizes soil on both flat and sloping areas. Since turf is a perennial and stable ground cover that is not cultivated, it slows storm water runoff reducing erosion potential and also improves the likelihood of the water infiltrating down through the soil. No groundcover is better at this!
Turf systems are not only efficient at catching and filtering water, but are also very efficient at holding on to nutrients. Nutrients like phosphorus are fixed onto soil particles or absorbed by the plant and as a result do not leach out of the soil readily. The bottom line is that fertilizers applied to a healthy lawn are held in the soil and utilized by the turfgrass plant.
Did you know that turfgrasses can have a significant effect on the area temperature. Each plant shoot completes a cooling process called transpiration. Transpiration helps to reduce the temperatures in an urban environment by dissipating high levels of radiation. Turf is considerably cooler than other common surfaces.
This very affective transpirational cooling is dependent on an adequate supply of water. Typically Ohio has adequate rainfall during most growing seasons to help maintain healthy and vigorous turfgrass. In the event we do experience dry or even drought conditions, supplemental irrigation is required to help maintain healthy turf.
The environmental benefits not-withstanding, where turfgrasses really shine is in their ability to provide resilient surfaces for countless entertainment, sports and recreational activities. Add to that turfgrasses emotional and financial value to the landscape through noise abatement, glare reduction, and fire protection and you have a win-win-win situation.
Recent Comments