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Archives (2001)
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Turfgrasses: the preferred ground cover
by Rita T. dela Cruz
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October-December
2001
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They are not as popular as ornamental plants
like orchids, bromeliads or hibiscus, nor do they enjoy as
much importance as anthuriums or gladiolus. Turfgrasses act
as vegetative ground cover for the purpose of preventing soil
erosion as well as for aesthetics.
 Since
sod production is still a new idea in the Philippines, the
popularity of the turfgrass industry is yet to be considered
as an important aspect of the agricultural sector. Only few
people know that this is one of the most used plants in landscaping.
The use of turfgrasses in the world started in the 17th
century when lawn maintenance was more of an art than a science,
and trimming grasses was merely relied on grazing animals.
It was only when the lawn mower was invented by Edwin Budding
of England in 1830 and the first motor-driven lawn mower was
made in the 1900 that the industry of turfgrasses became known.
In the US for instance, modern turf industry has grown rapidly
and has contributed a lot to the country's economy.
In the Philippines, growing of turfgrasses started with the
introduction of sports like golf and horse racing. It is used
mainly for residential, commercial and recreational purposes.
Turfgrasses are angiosperms or flowering plants. Their growth
is initiated thru their crown---the portion of the plant where
the leaves, roots and stem join. They spread by growing stolons
and rhizomes.
Generally, there are three types of turfgrasses
that are used in landscaping, namely the bermuda grass (Cynodon
spp.), the carabao grass (Paspalum conjugatum)
and the various species of zoysia grass. The bermuda grass
grows through its stolons and rhizomes. It has a fine to medium
leaf and its shoot density is very high. It can grow in a
wide range of soil especially fertile ones. Its very fast
establishment rate and recuperative ability make it an excellent
choice. The carabao grass grows only through its stolons.
It has a coarse leaf texture and low shoot density. Like the
bermuda it can practically grow in a wide range of soils.
It is easy to establish and has an excellent recuperative
ability. The zoysia grass, like the bermuda, grows through
its stolons and rhizomes. It has also a fine to medium leaf
texture and can grow in a wide range of soil. Its establishment
rate is very slow while its recuperative ability is poor (it
recovers but very slowly).
There are various reasons why turfgrasses are preferred as
ground cover. They have extensive root systems and attractive
green color and uniform appearance suited for landscaping
purposes. They can tolerate improper maintenance practices
and they have a tough and durable surface that provides outstanding
ground cover for athletic fields and other recreation facilities.
Moreover, they release significant amount of oxygen in the
air, thus making golf courses the "lungs" of a city.
They absorb harsh sounds as they act like rug and muffles
and have cooling effects on the environment.
Growers of turfgrasses use two sets of criteria to determine
their performance--visual and functional qualities. For the
visual quality, growers have to consider the color (the greener
the better), texture (width of the leaf blades), density (number
of shoots in an area), and uniformity (combination of the
three indicators). Functional quality depends on the rigidity
(resistance of the leaves to compression), elasticity (tendency
to spring back), resiliency (capacity to absorb shock), yield
(measure of clippings removed), verdure (aerial shoots after
mowed), rooting (root growth evident during growing season),
and recuperative capacity (capacity to recover from damage).
Dr. Leonido R. Naranja, associate professor at the Department
of Horticulture, University of the Philippines Los Baños,
Laguna has conducted an intensive study on the turfgrasses'
use in the Philippines. According to Dr. Naranja, bermuda
grass, whether they are common or are of improved cultivars,
is mainly selected for residential areas. As he emphasized,
houses can hardly be called homes without lawns that often
serve as an outdoor extension of the house where family activities
are held. And usually, these lawns are covered with these
grasses.
Meanwhile, carabao grass is used for cemeteries and industrial
parks, while the improved bermuda cultivars are used for golf
courses. As of now, golf courses are the major user of turfgrasses.
According to Dr. Naranja, there are already 74 golf courses
in the Philippines; 47 in Luzon, 14 in Visayas, and 13 in
Mindanao.
Furthermore, Dr. Naranja mentioned that the turfgrass industry
in the Philippines has a bright future provided that linkages
and networking are properly established and nurtured.
Likewise, he recommends further research to boost the industry's
development. And since the turfgrass industry is not a priority,
the government does not yet have the capability to fund this
kind of projects. Dr. Naranja is enticing private stakeholders
to invest in supporting and financing the breeding selection
of these grasses to further boost the industry. 
(Source:Turfgrass Use in the Philippines:
An Overview, a Philippine National Bank Inaugural Professional
Chair Lecture of Dr. Leonido R. Naranja, associate professor,
Department of Horticulture, University of the Philippines,
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. For more information,
you may contact him at telephone number (049) 536-2227 or
536-2478) More Articles:
Vol. 3 No. 4 October-December 2001
»»
Outstanding technologies identified in nat'l R&D week
»» Thailand,
Philippines convene for agri cooperation
»»
Prospects for the ornamental industry in the new millennium
»» UPLB
scientists develop new hybrids of Philippine ornamentals
»» New management
techniques for exportable foliage plants
»» In
focus: a date with the "king of cut flowers"
»» Brighten
your homes with aglaonema
»» King
in red and green
»» Cashing
in with the 'lucky bamboo'
»» Turfgrasses:
the preferred ground cover
»» Catching
the invisible enemy with ELISA
»» Grow
dracaena godseffiana the easy way
»» Bromeliads:
the exotic plant
»» Wag that
fish-tail fern
»» Mass
propagating the 'doņas' through kulob system
»» Beauveria
mold bioinsecticide: safer control against orchid pests
»» Orchids
and mycorrhiza: a lesson from the wild
»» Controlling
white rust in chrysanthemums
»» Ways to
enhance palm seed germination
»» Prolonging
the vase life of cut flowers with ethylene adsorbent and Florafresh
»»
Mass producing the fragrant kamuning
»» The
national RDE program for ornamental crops
»» GMA
presents 2001 Gawad Saka awards
[More
2001 Articles]
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