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Jessica Schwartz
Better Turfgrass Management: Four Key Areas
Turfgrass covers 40 million acres in the U.S., or nearly 2% of the land, and is the U.S.’s number one irrigated crop (yes, the USDA considers it a “crop.”) Turfgrass management is an important component in the multi-billion-dollar industries of lawn maintenance, park facilities, sod/seed farms, sports field maintenance, and so forth. The combined revenue for all landscaping services alone in the U.S. is over $100 billion. Yet the maintenance of turf requires nearly 20 trillion gallons of water annually, as well as fertilizers, and other inputs that consume natural resources and impact the environment. As a result, some are calling for the elimination or reduction of turfgrass because they believe the costs outweigh the benefits. In a similar fashion, some states and local communities are banning fertilizer and/or pesticide use. But there are many ecosystem benefits provided by turfgrass, such as capturing carbon, producing oxygen, reducing chemical leaching and runoff, minimizing soil erosion, improving soil health, and lowering temperatures and noise pollution. And according to surveys taken over several years, the “kept” and formal appearance of turfgrass is valued by people, especially Americans, as an important aspect of their living spaces. International studies have found lawns are culturally significant and common in North America, as well as Europe and Australia. While some argue we need a shift away from this mentality, the fact remains that people value beautiful landscapes that include turfgrass. Despite the costs, societies across the globe value turfgrass and its socially unifying abilities (sports, recreation, etc.) ...
Better Turfgrass Management: Four Key Areas
Turfgrass covers 40 million acres in the U.S., or nearly 2% of the land, and is the U.S.’s number one irrigated crop (yes, the USDA considers it a “crop.”) Turfgrass management is an important component in the multi-billion-dollar industries of lawn maintenance, park facilities, sod/seed farms, sports field maintenance, and so forth. The combined revenue for all landscaping services alone in the U.S. is over $100 billion. Yet the maintenance of turf requires nearly 20 trillion gallons of water annually, as well as fertilizers, and other inputs that consume natural resources and impact the environment. As a result, some are calling for the elimination or reduction of turfgrass because they believe the costs outweigh the benefits. In a similar fashion, some states and local communities are banning fertilizer and/or pesticide use. But there are many ecosystem benefits provided by turfgrass, such as capturing carbon, producing oxygen, reducing chemical leaching and runoff, minimizing soil erosion, improving soil health, and lowering temperatures and noise pollution. And according to surveys taken over several years, the “kept” and formal appearance of turfgrass is valued by people, especially Americans, as an important aspect of their living spaces. International studies have found lawns are culturally significant and common in North America, as well as Europe and Australia. While some argue we need a shift away from this mentality, the fact remains that people value beautiful landscapes that include turfgrass. Despite the costs, societies across the globe value turfgrass and its socially unifying abilities (sports, recreation, etc.) ...
