An extended period of dry weather that usually causes stress to turf is called?

• A. Drought
• B. Dormancy
• C. Environment
• D. Drift

Answer: (A)

Extended dry weather that stresses turf means a lack of adequate soil moisture over time, which is drought. Drought describes a period when precipitation falls short and soil moisture becomes insufficient to support normal growth. When turf is drought-stressed, plants wilt, growth slows, and color may fade or turn brown, signaling the need for irrigation to prevent damage. Drought affects plant physiology by reducing water availability, lowering photosynthesis, and weakening recovery after stress, and it can increase vulnerability to certain pests and diseases if not managed.

Dormancy, by contrast, is a temporary halt in growth in response to extreme temperatures or short days, not just a lack of moisture. Environment isn’t a term for a weather condition, and drift refers to pesticide movement by wind, not to soil moisture or plant stress.