April 22nd was Earth Day. Events were planned to increase everyone's awareness of our environment and to serve as a means to heighten the public's consciousness about what is happening to the land, air, oceans, lakes, rivers and streams all around us. Earth Day promotes the benefits derived from recycling, conserving our natural resources, reducing pollution, and awareness education.
Perhaps you have never given it much thought, but your growing lawn contributes each and every day immeasurably to the efforts of Earth Day by providing numerous benefits to our environment. The following benefits are listed in an article by Jim Novak.
http://www.TheLawnInstitute.org
Cooling the Air
The front lawns on a block of eight average homes have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning.'
Producing Oxygen
55 square feet of turfgrass provides enough oxygen for one person for an entire day.
Filtering the Air & Reducing Pollution
Turfgrasses trap an estimated 12 million tons of dust and dirt released annually into the atmosphere.
Recharging & Filtering Groundwater Supplies
One of the key mechanisms by which turfgrasses preserve water is their superior capability to provide water infiltration through the soil/turfgrass ecosystem.
Reducing Storm Water Runoff
Turfgrasses preserve water by trapping and holding runoff with their higher plant root density.
Controlling Soil Erosion
Turfgrasses are relatively inexpensive, durable groundcovers that protect our valuable, nonrenewable soil resource from water and wind erosion.
Retaining and Sequestering Carbon
Lawn areas in the U.S. alone could store up to 37 billion pounds of carbon.
Restoring Soil Quality
An extremely important function of turfgrass is soil improvement through organic matter additions derived from the decomposition of roots and other plant tissues.
When you add the community, human health and economic benefits that turfgrass has to offer it becomes very clear - - when it comes to your lawn . . . everyday is Earth Day.
Published April 26, 2010
Dr. Wayne Wells is an Extension Professor and Turfgrass Specialist. His mailing address is Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mail Stop 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762. wwells@ext.msstate.edu
