Grasses are, in human terms, perhaps the most economically important plant family. Their economic importance stems from several areas, including food production, industry, and
lawns. They have been grown as food for
domesticated animals for up to 6,000 years and the grains of grasses such as
wheat, rice, maize (corn) and
barley have been the most important human
food crops. Grasses are also used in the manufacture of
thatch,
paper,
fuel,
clothing,
insulation, timber for
fencing,
furniture,
scaffolding and
construction materials, floor
matting,
sports turf and
baskets.
Food production Of all crops grown, 70% are grasses. Agricultural grasses grown for their edible seeds are called
cereals or
grains (although the latter term, when used agriculturally, refers to both cereals and similar seeds of other plant species, such as
buckwheat and
legumes). Three cereals—rice, wheat, and maize (corn)—provide more than half of all calories consumed by humans. Cereals constitute the major source of
carbohydrates for humans and perhaps the major source of protein; these include rice (in
southern and
eastern Asia), maize (in
Central and
South America), and wheat and barley (in
Europe,
northern Asia and the
Americas).
Sugarcane is the major source of
sugar production. Additional food uses of sugarcane include
sprouted grain,
shoots, and
rhizomes, and in drink they include
sugarcane juice and
plant milk, as well as
rum,
beer,
whisky, and
vodka.
Bamboo shoots are used in numerous Asian dishes and broths, and are available in supermarkets in various sliced forms, in both fresh, fermented and canned versions.
Lemongrass is a grass used as a culinary herb for its citrus-like flavor and scent. Many species of grass are grown as
pasture for foraging or as
fodder for prescribed
livestock feeds, particularly in the case of
cattle,
horses, and
sheep. Such grasses may be cut and stored for later feeding, especially for the winter, in the form of bales of
hay or
straw, or in silos as
silage. Straw (and sometimes hay) may also be used as bedding for animals. An example of a
sod-forming perennial grass used in agriculture is
Thinopyrum intermedium.
Industry Grasses are used as raw material for a multitude of purposes, including construction and in the composition of building materials such as
cob, for insulation, in the manufacture of paper and board such as
oriented structural straw board. Grass
fiber can be used for making
paper,
biofuel production, nonwoven fabrics, and as replacement for glass fibers used in reinforced plastics.
Bamboo scaffolding is able to withstand typhoon-force winds that would break steel scaffolding. Larger bamboos and
Arundo donax have stout culms that can be used in a manner similar to timber,
Arundo is used to make reeds for
woodwind instruments, and bamboo is used for innumerable implements.
Phragmites australis
(common reed) is important for
thatching and wall construction of homes in Africa. Grasses are used in
water treatment systems, in
wetland conservation and
land reclamation, and used to lessen the erosional impact of urban storm water runoff.
Palaeoecological reconstructions Pollen morphology, particularly in the
Poaceae family, is key to figuring out their evolutionary relationships and
how environments have changed over time. Grass pollen grains, however, often look the same, making it hard to use them for detailed climate or environmental reconstructions. Grass pollen has a
single pore and can vary a lot in size, from about 20 to over 100 micrometers, and this size difference has been looked into for clues about past habitats, to tell apart
domesticated grasses from wild ones, and to indicate various biological features like how they perform
photosynthesis, their breeding systems, and genetic complexity.
Sports turf Grass playing fields, courses and pitches are the traditional playing surfaces for many
sports, including
American football,
association football,
baseball,
cricket,
golf, and
rugby. Grass surfaces are also sometimes used for
horse racing and
tennis. Type of maintenance and species of grass used may be important factors for some sports, less critical for others. In some sports facilities, including indoor domes and other places where maintenance of a grass field would be difficult, grass may be replaced with
artificial turf, a synthetic grass-like substitute.
Cricket pitch currently in use. Parallel to it are other pitches in various states of preparation which could be used in other matches. In cricket, the pitch is the strip of carefully mowed and rolled grass where the bowler bowls. In the days leading up to the match it is repeatedly mowed and rolled to produce a very hard, flat surface for the ball to bounce off.
Golf Grass on golf courses is kept in three distinct conditions: that of the
rough, the
fairway, and the
putting green. Grass on the fairway is mown short and even, allowing the player to strike the ball cleanly. Playing from the rough is a disadvantage because the long grass may affect the flight of the ball. Grass on the putting green is the shortest and most even, ideally allowing the ball to roll smoothly over the surface. An entire industry revolves around the development and marketing of turf grass varieties.
Tennis In tennis, grass is grown on very hard-packed soil, and the bounce of a
tennis ball may vary depending on the grass's health, how recently it has been mowed, and the wear and tear of recent play. The surface is softer than
hard courts and
clay (other tennis surfaces), so the ball bounces lower, and players must reach the ball faster resulting in a different style of play which may suit some players more than others. Among the world's most prestigious court for grass tennis is Centre Court at
Wimbledon, London, which hosts the final of the annual
Wimbledon Championships in England, one of the four
Grand Slam tournaments.
Economically important grasses A number of grasses are invasive species that damage natural ecosystems, including forms of
Phragmites australis which are native to Eurasia but has spread around the world. == Role in society ==