Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
15 cm
2 cm
5 cm
30 cm
Fig. 6.2. Greater mowing height reduces shoot density but favours deep rooting.
(Drawing by R. Castro.)
become exposed. Bare soil creates very favourable conditions for germin-
ation of weed seeds and may result in severe weed infestation. Mowing
height is sometimes imposed by the purpose for which the turf is main-
tained. Golf greens, tennis courts, bowling greens and similar areas must
provide surfaces of particular quality, on which a ball would roll or
bounce at a specific speed or in a particular manner. These turfs must
be often mowed lower than is desirable from a physiological standpoint.
Maintenance of such areas can be extremely challenging and in some
cases impossible. As can easily be seen on television screens during
transmissions of sporting events, certain areas of sport fields or courts
do not hold despite superior-quality turf and superb management. Oc-
casionally the cutting height on a sports turf must be a compromise
between the demands of a specific game and the hardiness of the turf-
grass. Extensive research aimed at reducing minimal mowing height is
being conducted around the world, but its accomplishments usually trail
behind demand.
Mowing Frequency
Mowing too infrequently allows the grass to grow so tall that any subse-
quent mowing removes too much leaf area. It has been determined that
removal of more than one-third of total leaf area results in severe physio-
logical shock to the plant, greatly restricting carbohydrate production
and often causing excessive graying or browning of the leaf tips. The
plant must use all its carbohydrate reserves to repair the damage, as well
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