Environmental Benefits of Grass

Grass plays an important ecological role. In fact, the denser and healthier the grass,
the better it can protect the environment. Grass minimizes erosion, absorbs
rainwater, cleans the air and neutralizes pollutants and chemicals.
Here is an impressive list of the environment benefits of grass:
Prevents soil erosion and stabilizes dust.
Grass protects the soil from wind and water erosion. A good stand of grass stabilizes
the soil with its roots. The roots knit the soil together preventing the movement of
soil.A dense cover of grass also reduces dust because the soil particles are not able
to move with the wind. This ground cover provides a place for airborne dust to
settle. Grasses in the U.S. trap as much as 12 million tons of dust and dirt a year.1
Absorbs rainwater.
Grass helps reduce runoff and prevents soil erosion, capturing and filtering
rainwater to recharge our groundwater supplies. Grass leaves and stems cover the
soil and intercept raindrops as they fall. Grass interferes with runoff flow, slowing it
to the point where soil particles have a chance to soak it in.In fact, water runoff
from lawns is somewhat rare because the average 10,000 square-foot residential
lawn in the U.S. can absorb more than 6,000 gallons of water from a rainfall event. 2
Reduces glare and noise.
Since grass plants have a non-reflective surfaces, they act as a screen to soften
glare from the sun. Grass, trees and shrubs also have the ability to absorb sound,
while hard surfaces like streets reflect sound. Grasses and other plants can reduce
noise levels by 20 30% compared to hard surfaces. 3
Cleans the air.
Grasses take in carbon dioxide and break it down into oxygen and carbon. The lawn
outside of your home can provide most of oxygen you breathe. In fact, a 50' x 50'
grass area will provide enough oxygen for a family of four, day after day.4Grasses
also take in other gases. An acre of grass will absorb hundreds of pounds of sulfur
dioxide per year. The haze created by these pollutants can reduce the sunlight by as
much as 15%.5
Cools the environment.
Grasses provide a substantial cooling effect to the environment. Summer air
temperatures above a lawn will be up to 30 cooler than above a paved area. 6
Eight average-sized lawns will have the cooling effect of 70 tons of air conditioning,
compared to the average 4-ton home air conditioner. 7

Improves and restores the soil.

Grass is a perennial plant, which means part of the root structure dies off during the
winter and grows back the following spring. The dead roots of the plant break down
and provide organic matter to the soil. Over time, organic matter improves the
quality of the soil, making it more fertile and better able to filter air and water. - See
more at:

the most important plants on earth with regards to survival of human and animal
life.

The grass family (Poaceae) is one of the largest, yet often under-appreciated, plant
families on the planet. Most grasses are not showy, and have a low rating on the
human "wow scale" compared to other blooming plants. People often find even the
thought of identifying a grass to species as an intimidating task. When many people
think of grass, they think of the work it causes by needing to be mowed or taken out
of flower beds. In spite of all those opinions, grasses should be considered the most
important plants on earth with regards to survival of human and animal life.
Human Uses
The grass family is not only one of the largest, but also one of the most diverse
families in the plant kingdom. Humans have traditionally used grasses for all
aspects of survival including food, shelter, industry, tool making, and aesthetics.

The grasses known as cereals or grains are the most obvious human food source
and have traditionally been planted for agriculture and food production. Types of
cereal producing grasses include wheat, barley, corn, rye, sorghum, millet, and rice.
Products from the cereal grains are the mainstay of the human diet. Sugar cane is
also a member of the grass family and is used to make refined sugar. Alcohol and
starch are products of plants in the grass family. Humans have also benefited more
indirectly from grasses through eating herbivores, who eat the grass and turn it into
protein and fat for human use.

Larger and more stout grasses (such as bamboo) have long been used to build
structures in many parts of the world. Pioneers during the American westward
migration made their homes out of grass sod where wood was not available.
Pioneers who had the benefit (or curse) of settling areas with highly cohesive clay

soils made bricks of mud and dried straw or grass to build their structures. The
grass in the bricks acted as a filler and binder, adding strength, and making less
mud necessary. Modern day practices for "green-buildings" often incorporate grass
roofs.

Healthy stands of grass have long been the foundation for livestock operations
around the world, while farmers chose to plow under the native grasses and plant
wheat, corn, and other cultivated grass crops. A more recent industrial use for corn
and other selected grasses is use of them in the production of ethanol for fuel. For
many years, the landscaping trade and garden enthusiasts didnt appreciate the
aesthetic value of grasses. That is finally changing as grasses are being planted in
home and office landscapes because they add texture and accent to a garden, and
can be relatively low maintenance.

Historically, humans have found many uses for grass to make tools that have made
everyday life easier. A few examples are basketry, mats, straw hats, and brooms.

Animal Uses
Herbivores, particularly ungulates, first come to mind when thinking of animals that
depend on grass for sustenance. However, many other animals, including insects
and birds, may consume grass as a large part of their diet during certain times of
the year. Carnivores indirectly benefit when they consume their grass-eating prey.

Environmental Benefits of Grasses

The strong and pervasive root systems of most grasses make them largely
responsible for holding soil in place and preventing erosion in grasslands and many
forested ecosystems. Healthy and abundant leaf cover above ground also reduces
the impact of rainfall to further reduce erosion. The leaves and dead litter
temporarily hold some of the water so it can dissipate through evaporation instead
of running off.

Nutrient cycling is another important role grasses play in plant ecology. Since
grasses often dominate the plant cover in the natural world, their dead and
decaying litter adds a great amount of organic matter to the soil, which feeds soil
organisms and creates healthier soil.

However, it shouldnt be thought that all grasses are grand and virtuous. As with
other plant species, there are grasses that have been transported out of their native
habitats and proven to spread aggressively where they are not wanted. Once
escaped, grasses can be one of the harder invasive plants to control.

Even though humans and animals are dependent on the grass family for survival, it
is somewhat of a co-dependency for all involved. Native grasses evolved with a
need for disturbance (fire, grazing) in order to survive. Without disturbance, dead
leaf litter builds up and smothers the growth points. As a result, the grass stagnates
and dies. Humans can show their appreciation and respect to the grass family
through continuing to provide disturbance. However, careful thought and
moderation, on our part, is the key to a bright future for all.