Bioplastic

A material which can consist of a range of properties being either bio-based, biodegradable, or having characteristics of both terms. According to the European Bioplastics association there are three main groups of bioplastics: 1. bio-based, partly bio-based, non-biodegradable plastics (PE, PP, PET) and bio-based technical performance polymers (PTT, TPC-ET). 
 2. plastics that are both bio-based and biodegradable (PLA, PHA).
 3. plastics that are based on fossil resources and are biodegradable (PBAT). (‘What are bioplastics?', (2018) European Bioplastics, https://docs.european

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  Biostimulant

A substance which is applied to a plant or the soil to enhance a plant's physiological processes. The aim being to make the plant more efficient in its growth and development. Biostimulants might be used to improve nutrient uptake, plant tolerance of environmental conditions or to improve internal water regulation.

  Biotic

The living elements of an ecosystem.

  Biotic Stressor

Detrimental plant effects arising from pathogen infection, including bacterial, fungal, viral, and pests. There is a wide range of fungal diseases which affect turfgrasses, so understanding the conditions in which they are more prevalent can help to adapt maintenance practices which reduce their likelihood. For pests, this can be more problematic as in many cases it can be very difficult preventing them from gaining access to a sward, for example, chafer grubs, leatherjackets, earthworms, and nematodes. Understanding their life cycle can help to adapt and target maintenance practices to minimi

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  Biuret

An undesirable chemical compound produced from the manufacture of, and contained as an impurity within, Urea fertiliser. Biuret, at relatively high levels, can be phytotoxic to plants, may reduce seed germination and may also extend the time for leaf emergence. Routine use of urea products might be an issue to turfgrass plants where they are primarily grown on high sand-based rootzones, therefore, having a range of nutritional-fertiliser inputs may be desirable in such situations. Fertiliser manufacturing will typically be able to produce urea products with less than 0.5% concentration of biur

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  Blend

Grass seed mixes where two or more cultivars of the same species are contained within the sample. Alternatively, but less commonly, it can also sometimes refer to when two or more fertilisers are mixed together; they are blended.

  Block Lining

The mowing of surfaces, especially winter games pitches, in wide blocks, or bands, typically 5.5-6.1m in width. This is typically carried on professional sports pitches with the use of pedestrian cylinder mowers, typically having a cutting width of 0.86m. For a 5.5m wide block this would typically equate to 7 passes of a mower, whilst for a 6.1m block this would be 8 passes. A small overlap of 8-12% will typically occur, ensuring no fine strip of uncut grass is left between passes.

  Boat-shaped

The appearance of the leaf tips of a select few grass species, primarily many Poa species, but also including the grass Puccinellia in which historically occurred as a weed grass in bowling green sea-washed or sea-marsh cut turf. The term is also the same as describing a leaf tip as hooded.

  Botanical Names

These are scientific names that are given to plants to help accurately identify them and to communicate that meaning. The first part (the Genus) places the plant within a similar group of plants, whilst the second part of the name (the specific epithet) can provide a description that helps in the identification of a plant. Descriptions might indicate • a geographic region or country where it was found, • the locality in where it is commonly found, • something about the plant - habit, colour, where it grows, • occasionally, in honour of a person (although this won't

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  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

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