A Brief information about the Scope and Importance of Turf grass.

1. Prabhu G
MSc Floriculture

2. 
 For centuries, humans have used turf grasses to enhance
their environment and quality of life. Turf grasses have
many benefits that can be separated into
 Functional, Aesthetic , and Recreational components…
Importance

3. 
 Turf and lawn areas include soil erosion control,
 dust stabilization,
 Enhanced groundwater recharge and improved surface water
quality,
 Improved entrapment and decomposition of synthetic chemical
pollutants,
 Soil improvement and restoration,
 Heat dissipation and temperature moderation,
 Noise abatement, glare reduction,
 Sequestration of carbon dioxide (CO2), and several other
benefits.
Functional benefits

4. 
 Turf grasses serve as an inexpensive, durable ground cover
as well as in protecting our valuable, non-renewable soil
resources. Perennial turf grasses offer one of the most cost
efficient methods to control wind and water erosion of
soil, which is very important in eliminating dust and mud
problems around homes, factories, schools and businesses
1. Soil erosion control and dust stabilization -
vital soil resource protection.

5. 
 The dense plant canopy of mowed turf grasses is very
effective in the entrapment of water and airborne
particulate materials, as well as in absorbing gaseous
pollutants. The high degree of water runoff that occurs
from impervious surfaces in urban areas carries many
pollutants in the runoff. Turf grasses offer one of the best
known systems for catchment of the runoff water plus the
pollutants, especially if proper landscape designs are used.
Reduces runoff from precipitation and
contributes to flood control

6. 
 One of the key mechanisms by which turf grasses control
soil erosion is through a superior capability to essentially
absorb or trap and hold runoff water. A healthy turfed lawn
absorbs rainfall six times more effectively than a wheat
field, and four times better than a hay field ; being
exceeded in this important function only by a virgin forest.
This attribute is certainly important in enhancing ground
water recharge.
Enhance ground water level

7. 
 The overall temperature of urban areas may be as much as
10-12°F warmer than nearby rural areas. Turf grasses,
through the cooling process of evapotranspiration, serve
an important function in dissipating the high levels of heat
generated in urban areas. For example, a football field has
the cooling capacity of a 70 ton air conditioner. The
cooling effect of irrigated turfs and landscapes can result
in energy savings via reducing the energy input and allied
costs required for the mechanical cooling of interiors of
adjacent homes and buildings.
Enhances heat dissipation - temperature
moderation.

8. 
 The rough surface characteristics of turf grass function in
noise abatement as well as in multi- directional light
reflection that reduces glare. A grass area of 70 feet
distance on a roadside can abate obtrusive vehicle noises
by 40%. Thus, turfs lower the hardness of unwanted noise
and lessen the visual stress of glare.
Reduces noise abatement, glare reduction, and
visual pollution problems.

9. 
 Roadside turf grasses are important in highway safety, as
well as erosion control, in that they function as a stabilized
zone for emergency stoppage of vehicles. Turf grasses also
are utilized for soil and dust stabilization around airfield
runways in order to prolong the operating life of engines,
while smaller airstrips utilize turf grasses as the runway
surface itself.
Provides safety in vehicle operation/equipment
longevity.

10. 
 Lawns and other turf grass areas result in a positive
therapeutic benefit that improves mental health and
productivity, contributes to social harmony and stability,
and generally improves quality of life, especially in
densely populated areas.
Aesthetic benefits

11. 
 Turf grasses are well known—they provide a relatively
low-cost, safe surface that reduces injuries when compared
to non-turf areas.
 Considering the general benefits of turf grass, it is
apparent that the preservation and maintenance of these
areas, including home lawns, is an important objective.
Recreational benefits

12. 
 Cooling: Average-size front lawns of eight homes have
the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning
Following are some facts about
turfgrass:

13. 
 A 2500 square foot lawn absorbs carbon dioxide and
releases enough oxygen for a family of four.
Air-cleansing:

14. 
 To reduce injuries, over 90% of National Football League
players prefer natural turf to artificial turf. The safety
benefits of well managed turf extend to all levels of
athletic activity, particularly primary and secondary
schools that often lack the supervision and equipment
found in professional and college sports.
Safety:

15. 
 A healthy lawn absorbs rainfall and reduces runoff up to
80 times more efficiently than impervious surfaces, such
as drive ways, sidewalks and parking lots.
Soil & Water Protection:

16. 
 Studies also have shown that aesthetically-pleasing
landscapes, including turf grass, contribute up to 15% to
home property values.
Economic:

17. 
 Among diverse avenue of floriculture, turf grass is an
upcoming avenue to flourish the floriculture and
landscaping trade.
 The turf grass industry is often called as “Hidden
Agricultural Industry’’ because it is not routinely surveyed
like other agricultural agencies.
Scope

18. 
 Home owners
 Athletic field managers
 Lawn care operators
 Golf course superintendents
 Architects
 Developers and owners
The turf grass industry consists of no of following
diverse beneficiaries:

19. 
 Landscape designers and contractors
 Seed and sod producers
 Parks and grounds superintendents
 Road side vegetation managers
 Cemetry managers.
Cont….

20. 
 The demand for turf grass is increasing day by day as new
specialized parks , golf courses and stadia are emerging in
different location of the country.

21. 
 Increasing awareness and health conscious attitude of the
urban population offers a unique scope to diversify in to
turf grass industry and lawn development and
management.

22. 
 This industry has opened up a multimillion dollar business
for the farmers all over the world and there is a lot of
scopes for Indian farmers and unemployed youth.