WASHINGTON (AP) - That sweet scent of a freshly mowed lawn may really be
the smell of air pollution. Scientists studying the sources of chemicals
in the air have found that injured grass gives off volatile compounds.
"Wounding, cutting and drying of leaves and stems occur both naturally and
by human activities, wound-induced and
drying-induced ... compounds are expected to be significant in the
atmosphere," a team of researchers says in a study to appear in a future
issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters. But do not panic. While
total emissions from cutting grass and crops worldwide may seem large, it
does not mean cutting the grass is dangerous for individuals. See
http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2559034241-79c
Chemicals could create no-mow lawn
CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Dale Palscher doesn't just dislike mowing his lawn
- he hates it. "I'll have the kids do it, the neighbors, my wife, I don't
care," he said. It's not quite time for him to sell off his mower, but an
emerging group of chemicals could take most of the mowing out of his yard
work. For years, golf course superintendents and sports field managers
have used plant growth regulators to keep their greens trim. The idea
hasn't yet caught on with homeowners, in part because the products are
hard to apply and have had a reputation for doing more damage than good if
improperly used. But newer, more foolproof versions of the products are
entering the professional market, leading some to believe homeowners also
could eventually buy something that would give them a thick, green, no-mow
lawn. Ken Diesburg, who studies turf grasses at Southern Illinois
University in Carbondale, has been studying the active ingredient in a
newly released professional product from Rhone Poulenc Ag Co., called
Proxy. He has found the newest generation of growth regulators has more
tolerance for mistakes and does less damage if improperly used.
