Why Grass Grows With Water

Anatomy

• Plants and grass comprise of 80 to 95 percent of water in their tissue mass, according to Clemson University. Plants store this water in their cells, which creates pressure referred to as turgor pressure. Turgor pressure aids the grass in standing upright, as the water pushes the plasma membrane of the cell against the cell wall. Without an adequate water supply from the soil, grass blades lose their turgidity and fold down.

Physiology

• Grass requires water for numerous physiological functions. Grass growth is governed by the water content in the soil. Too little or too much water is fatal for grass. The time of day and how often you water the grass is also important. Generally, you should water new grass more often than established grass, as its roots need more water for the rest of the plant to develop. Water is carried up from the roots through the plant and used for various processes along the way, including transporting sugars and gas exchanges during photosynthesis.

Transpiration

• Transpiration is the process of water evaporation from grass and plants. In this process, water turns to vapor as it releases through the pores of the grass blades into the atmosphere. The roots of the grass draw up the water, using it for various functions, then the grass releases the excess water. The rate of transpiration varies, depending on conditions such as temperature, sunlight, humidity and air movement.

Photosynthesis

• When grass uses sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make glucose, a type of sugar, this is known as photosynthesis. The chlorophyll, or green-colored pigmentation, in grass blades absorbs the sunlight used for photosynthesis. This process has several steps, which all leads to the creation of glucose and oxygen. Plants require the glucose they make for growth and other processes requiring energy.