This is an award to support Phase II of a project, the objective of which is to determine the feasibility of a novel system for producing grass sod using organic wastes as a substitute for topsoil. In this system, the grass seed is germinated in organic waste spread over polyethylene film. when ready for harvesting, the sod may be rolled like carpeting leaving the polyethylene sheet in place for the next crop. The proposal leading to this Phase I award was submitted in response to NSF Program Solicitation 87-8, Small Business Innovation Research. During this phase, it was determined that it was possible to substitute waste materials for topsoil and to produce consistently high quality sods in as little as 5 weeks compared to 1-2 years for conventional soil grown sods. Additional findings also revealed that the new sod required less water, much less mowing, was lighter and required no pesticides. The research indicated that the innovative system provides a useful product from waste materials; several crops can be produced per year; extensive amounts of topsoil can be saved and replaced by waste materials from which nutrient resources are recovered that would otherwise be lost; and the waste materials are recycled into a non-food crop thus maximizing the potential for adoption of this concept. The concept being evaluated, if found to be economically feasible, would utilize the resource potential of otherwise wasted materials, conserve topsoil, water and fertilizer, and improve the efficiency with which sod is produced.
