Desiccation

The drying out of a plant. Warm and windy conditions will contribute significantly to the effect. Newly germinated seedlings are especially vulnerable to desiccation, particularly when grown in a sandy profile.

  Desk Study

This can include research of diaries or previous documents, as well as using Google Maps (satellite) and other maps and is a useful survey technique. Advantages • Indoors and dry, with it not being affected by the weather and provides a good starting point for a survey. • A desk survey can help to identify any previous research and information that might be incorporated into a survey report. • Cheaper than visiting areas. • Good view of boundaries (especially for habitats and the extent and shape of the habitat) and access networks (e.g. tracks), as well as physical

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  Detergent

A synthetic soap which reduces the surface tension of water in contact with a material and which can be used to cleanse areas of oil or fuel spillages, however, ensure the detergent is not harmful to grass plants.

  Dew Point

A measure of the amount of moisture within the air. It is the temperature of the air to what it has to be cooled to when it is saturated with water vapour. If air is in contact with a surface which is cooler than the air temperature, then water vapour will condense on that surface to form dew. A high dew point indicates that there is a high amount of moisture present.

  Dicotyledon

The name for one of the two former groups (the other being Monocotyledon) into which Angiosperms were categorized. However, the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (AGP) has determined by molecular analysis that not all of the plants previously placed within the dicotyledon group had a common ancestor. The majority of dicotyledons are now classified in the Eudicot Clade. See Eudicots for typical dicotyledon characteristics.

  Dihydrogen Sulphate

An alternative name for sulphuric acid, H2SO4. It is used, for example, in the Quadrop System.

  Dioecious

A plant that has either male or female flowers on a separate plant, not both together on the same plant. Examples of dioecious plants include Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Yew (Taxus baccata), Poplars (Populus sp.), Willows (Salix sp.), and Common Ash (Fraxinus excelsior).

  Disorder

A feature or condition, especially environmental one, which affects and harms a turfgrass plant. Extreme or unsuitable growing conditions can create plant stress, which can result in disease-like symptoms, plant discolourations, unusual growth, or plant death. A disorder is not a direct result of disease or pest damage to leaves of roots, although in some cases it is a consequence of a secondary action from the presence of an organism, for example, animal urine will typically scorch a sward, often killing the leaves and in some cases killing off grass roots as well. A light forking and a thoro

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  Dispersant

A substance in suspension which helps to deflocculate and cleanse a contaminated soil.

  Dissociation

The breaking down of soil compounds into its individual parts when dissolved in water. Anions and cations can therefore be produced from the breaking up of a compound. These are then available for plant growth, being taken up from the soil solution in which they are present. Dissociation can result in an increase or decrease in soil pH, depending on whether the material releases hydrogen ions (H+) which will increase acidity, or hydroxide ions (OH-) which will reduce soil acidity, which can also be thought of as starting to neutralise acid soils. The dissociation process is influenced b

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