Research and development.

Smooth-stalked meadow-grass is a grass with stolons belonging to the Poaceae family. Its particular feature is that its shoots growing on the nodes of the stolon form a thick grass surface, by growing in clumps as it covers empty areas. It is difficult to grow from seed; therefore it is often used in the form of turf panels on football pitches. It is excellent for growing turf panels, as the stolons hold the panel together when it is removed. The basic species can be mowed back to 40 mm, while cultivars to as little as 20 mm. Its regenerating ability is good – although it takes time to fill in damaged patches – with suitable resistance to tramping. It requires plenty of nutrients, water and light; although more shade-tolerant varieties already exist. It forms a long-life turf. The thousand grain weight of seeds is 0.17-0.3 g. It takes 20 days to grow, so it is often treated with additives that stimulate germination.

Perennial ryegrass is not part of the Poaceae family. The basic species flourishes in tramped grass along roads, which makes it also suitable for football as the grass variety most resistant to tramping. It can be grown easily from seeds and grows in clumps. Due to its rapid growth and germ development it is also used as a protective plant for slower-growing other species. The basic species can be mowed back to 40-50 mm, which can be reduced down to around 20 mm using cultivars. It is not able to regenerate, so blank patches are filled using surface sowing. Cultivars now include a variety that spreads via rhizomes. This grass species requires plenty of sunlight, nutrients, and water. The thousand grain weight of seeds is 2g.