Which symptom indicates drought stress on a lawn?

Which symptom indicates drought stress on a lawn?

• A. Leaves turn yellow all over
• B. Soil becomes very dry
• C. Grass blades wilt
• D. Roots grow rapidly

Answer: (C)

Drought stress shows up first as the plant losing turgor, which causes the grass blades to wilt and sag. When soil lacks moisture, water moves from the roots to the leaves, and the cells lose water, so the blades become limp and droop. This wilting is the most immediate and recognizable sign that the lawn is not getting enough water. Yellowing all over can happen after stress has persisted or due to other issues like nutrient problems, so it’s less specific to the water deficit. Saying the soil is very dry describes the environment, not the plant’s visible response. Rapid root growth isn’t a typical or reliable sign of drought stress and usually occurs under different conditions.

Drought stress shows up first as the plant losing turgor, which causes the grass blades to wilt and sag. When soil lacks moisture, water moves from the roots to the leaves, and the cells lose water, so the blades become limp and droop. This wilting is the most immediate and recognizable sign that the lawn is not getting enough water. Yellowing all over can happen after stress has persisted or due to other issues like nutrient problems, so it’s less specific to the water deficit. Saying the soil is very dry describes the environment, not the plant’s visible response. Rapid root growth isn’t a typical or reliable sign of drought stress and usually occurs under different conditions.