The chemical retardation of grass growth

Abstract

Interest in plant growth regulators is mainly concerned with general or selective stimulation of growth. This is largely true of grass but there are large areas of grassland–-some 9.2 million ha in the United States alone–-where growth has to be controlled for amenity reasons: examples are parks, golf courses, roadside and railway verges, and industrial estates. The rising cost of fuel and labour for mowing favours the development of chemical agents for this purpose. This article reviews progress in this field, with special reference to mefluidide.