Mowing to De-Pressurise Your Turf

摘要

Mowing is the most widely used maintenance operation in the preparation of grass surfaces for sports use. It is generally regarded as the most influential treatment affecting both the playing quality of the surface and plant health. However, althoughbeing an essential process that prepares playing surfaces for users, one must not forget that at the same time it can damage the grass, which in turn can result in the turf being vulnerable to other stresses. Mowing often results in the significant removal of a large proportion of leaf tissue that would otherwise be used by plants to convert solar energy into chemical energy. Mowing reduces the rate of photosynthesis and in doing so reduces the ability of the plant to produce carbohydrates, which are necessary for, growth and survival. The challenge for the turf manager therefore is to balance payability with turf health. This article aims to look at some aspects of mowing that help the turf manager favour the health of the turf, particularly at the lower end of the mowing tolerance range for grasses.