Boundary Layer

An immediate thin layer of air which surrounds a grass leaf. This helps to reduce excess transpiration and also excess photosynthesis, acting as a type of positive growth control mechanism. Gradual air movement helps to maintain a healthy plant condition. By contrast a lack of air flow maintains a thicker boundary layer, significantly reduces the content of carbon dioxide available for photosynthesis and this creates a more humid environment around a leaf making it more susceptible to disease attack and reduced growth. A pitch in an enclosed stadium will typically suffer from a thick boundary layer which requires addressing by the improvement of air movement over the grass plant.