NCERA192: Improving the Environmental Impact and Management of Turfgrasses
Statement of Issues and Justification
Turfgrasses are important components of the landscape that contribute to economic growth, provide environmental benefits, and enrich the quality of life. Turfgrass is the preferred ground cover for parks, playgrounds, sports fields, golf courses, residential lawns, cemeteries, commercial and industrial sites, and roadsides. Nearly 85 million households, 17,000 golf courses and 775,000 sports fields are part of the estimated 50 million acres of urban turf in the U.S. (Morris, 2005). The overall value of the turf industry is approximately $40 billion annually and employs greater than 500,000 persons in the care and maintenance of turf (Morris, 2005). In Illinois for example, there are nearly 1.54 million acres of turf with 936,000 acres of home lawns, 61,600 acres of golf courses and driving ranges on the more than 635 golf courses, and 23,000 acres of sod or turf production (Campbell, et al., 2001). Turfgrass seed and sod producers are major industries. In fact, the size of the U.S. turfgrass seed industry is second only to corn. Allied industries include manufacturers and distributors of maintenance and irrigation equipment, chemicals, and fertilizers. Reported lawn care product sales exceed $4 billion annually (Anon. 2003). Recent surveys conducted in North Central Region states list turfgrass among the top four agricultural users in developed areas.
Last Modified:
unknown
Back to Top