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Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
Lawn care is becoming more of an obsession these days. Most of us will do some lawnmowing, spray some weed killer and call it a day. However, there are people who go to extreme lengths of making sure their lawn is perfectly green. They will use fertilizers, pesticides, sprinkler systems, leaf blowers, branch chippers, and a vast number of other products, machines and methods—all for the sake of lawn care. While having a healthy lawn is a good aspiration, it can also cause trouble for the environment.
You see, previous studies have shown that turfgrass lawns have the potential to act as carbon sinks—a way to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. However, a more recent study shows that certain, excessive lawn maintenance practices can generate even more greenhouse gas emissions—4 times greater than the amount of carbon a lawn is capable of storing.
According to study co-author, Amy Townsend-Small:
“Lawns look great—they’re nice and green and healthy, and they’re photosynthesizing a lot of organic carbon. But the carbon-storing benefits of lawns are counteracted by fuel consumption.”
The study—to be published in Geophysical Research Letters—involved researchers taking grass samples from 4 parks in the Irvine, California, area. These parks either contained athletic field turf or ornamental lawn turf. Then, samples were taken from the soil, as well as the air above the turf. These samples were analyzed to measure carbon separation and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. The analysis data was then compared to the amount of CO2 emissions that came from maintenance of the turf, including fertilizer production and irrigation.
Results from the study were not pretty: they showed that lawn N2O emissions were similar to those from agricultural farms. These farms are considered to be among the largest nitrous oxide emitters in the world. As for how the different turf samples measured up:
- N2O emissions from fertilization of ornamental lawns only offset 10% to 30% of the separated carbon; and regular maintenace of these lawns created 4 times more CO2 than the turf could absorb.
- The athletic fields did much worse, being unable to trap even the small amount of CO2 that the ornamental lawn did; and they require the same amount (if not more) of maintenance, thus generating more emissions than they can handle.
If you absolutely must take care of your lawn, check out this site for some tips on how to do so in a more organic, eco-friendly way.
By Heidi Marshall
More Information:
SafeLawns.org
Natural Lawn Care
Easy Organic Lawn Care
Organic Lawn Care Guide
Lawn Care: Pesticide Hazards and Alternatives
Tags: carbon, Climate change, co2, emissions, greenhouse gases, lawn care, lawn maintenance, nitrous oxide
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Thank you for posting this. I agree with Chris on some level, that lawn care can have a negative effect on the environment if proper methods and techniques are not used. However, most modern lawn care companies are now taking environmental initiatives, like water-saving techniques and eco-friendly fertilizers and pesticides. Thanks again,
Castle
The advent of liquid lawn care products is revolutionizing the industry. They offer faster, better results without the need for expensive, specialized equipment. The many different granular products (fertilizers, pH adjustment chemicals like lime and sulfur, and soil amendment products) require different application rates, different application frequencies, and different equipment. All natural products can be broken down into 3 classes of products; Organic, Bio-Enhanced, and Botanical. All can be applied with an inexpensive hose end adaptor. If you can water your lawn with a hose, you can successfully apply liquid organic products. Liquid organic lawn care products are designed for optimum effect, price, and ease of application.
Bio-enhanced liquid lawn aerators are effective, easy to apply and actually improve soil biolife. The only drawback I found with it is the fact that it requires climate controlled storage (>35 and <90 degrees F). Mechanical aerators (core aerators) pull out cores of soil 6 inched apart and about 3 inches deep with an expensive hard to use machine. The Liquid aerator has 100% coverage to a depth of 8-12 inches.
The bio-enhanced liquid dethatcher quickly degrades thatch, lawn clippings and leaves into fertile humus.
The liquid organic fertilizers afford greater controlled coverage than the granular fertilizers without any of the filler (a 9-9-9 granular fertilizer has 73% filler – filler with no regulation on it – often hazardous wastes supplied to them free). Organic fertilizers are easier to use. I have tested 5X recommended concentration without any burning.
Liquid soil amendments are also inexpensive and easy to use. Liquid lime to raise pH, liquid sulfur to lower pH, liquid iron for quick and lasting greening and micronutrients for healthier plants are also available.
Botanical products (plant extracts) afford effective insect control without dangerous petro chemicals.
Best of all, all the liquid lawn care products can be mixed and applied to your lawn using an inexpensive hose end sprayer simultaneously.
Yes, lawns are very bad for the environment. They might look good, but it’s just not worth it. Aside from carbon emissions, you have water being diverted (leading to rivers drying up and species going extinct) to soil degradation, to the destruction of a lot of land that could have been left as farmland or forest. We need to rethink this.
http://www.selfdestructivebastards.com/2010/01/lawn.html