Casparian Strip

A narrow band of water repellent material, called suberin, that is located within the endodermis of roots, providing a sort of water retaining coat around a cell. The movement of water, along with any dissolved nutrients, is controlled, or directed, into the internal cell pathway, reducing water loss and contributing to the maintenance of hydraulic pressure within the cells.

  Catalyst

A substance which helps to increase the rate of a chemical reaction, but which is not consumed as part of the reaction.

  Cation

An ion, atom or element that has a positive, electrical, charge. Examples include Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Ammonium.

  Cationic

A material with a positive charge.

  Cellulose

A structural material within a plant, which is composed of carbohydrates linked together (a polysaccharide), with the chemical composition of a single ‘unit' being C6H10O5. These materials do breakdown fairly rapidly, having a half-life of about 2-weeks, and will therefore contribute little to thatch within a sward, in contrast to another grass organic component of lignin, which is much slower to breakdown and is also water repellent. Cellulose, including hemicellulose compounds, form significant proportions of grass plant material, with one analysis of a mature perennial ryegrass s

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  Chemical Control

The use of pesticides, or plant protection products, in controlling organisms. You will select the most appropriate chemical for the target organism, and it will have minimal effects on other organisms; with limited residency time within a soil; and ensure it is applied in the correct weather and ground conditions. Chemical control is the last stage, not the first, of an Integrated Pest Management programme.

  Chemical Symbol

The letter, or letters, which is a short term for a chemical element. The elements (macronutrients and micronutrients) which are essential for turfgrass plant growth have the following 16 chemical symbols (with some other elements being required for specific crops):

  Chill Tolerance

The ability of a plant to resist damage to itself, by being able to survive and adequately recover, when exposed to relatively temperatures between 0°C and 10°C.

  Citric Acid Cycle

This is another name for the Krebs Cycle.

  Class

A taxonomic category that is used to group organisms. A Class is grouped from similar Orders. Similar Classes are in turn grouped into a Phylum.