Which statement about repeated scalpings and carbohydrate reserves is correct?

Which statement about repeated scalpings and carbohydrate reserves is correct?

• A. Increase carbohydrate reserves
• B. Decrease carbohydrate reserves
• C. No change
• D. Uncertain

Answer: (B)

Carbohydrate reserves are the stored energy grasses use to fuel initial growth after damage. Scalpings remove a large portion of the leaf area, which dramatically reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesize and produce new carbohydrate. To regrow, the plant must draw on those stored reserves in crowns, rhizomes, and roots. When scalpings happen repeatedly, the demand for energy to rebuild tissue occurs again and again, burning through stored carbohydrates faster than they can be replenished. Over time, this leaves the plant with lower carbohydrate reserves, weakening its ability to recover and increasing the risk of poor turf health.