Which term is not used to describe plant material used in turf establishment?

Which term is not used to describe plant material used in turf establishment?

• A. Sprigs
• B. Stolons
• C. Roots
• D. Sod

Answer: (C)

The concept being tested is which plant parts are used to start a new turf stand. Turfs are established with vegetative propagules that contain growth points capable of producing shoots and filling in the canopy. Sprigs, stolons, and rhizomes each carry nodes and buds that can sprout new growth when placed in suitable soil conditions. Sod represents a ready-to-grow patch that already includes shoots and a root-soil system. Roots alone, however, don’t provide the necessary growing points to regenerate a full stand; they serve mainly to anchor the plant and take up water and nutrients, not to establish new above-ground growth by themselves. That’s why roots aren’t used as the primary material for turf establishment.