Class 6L – posted 04 June 2001 05:02
Expert Advice Needed: In Science we are investigating an environmental mystery.
The victim:Couch (cynodon dactynon) has died with the following condidtions:
– has been watered, although almost as if victim has died of thirst- stressed when first arrived, given water (bounced back), given food(fertiliser?) after one week seemed poisoned and died (morgue brown whendead)- three deaths already this year, one has now died recently.
We are now stuck on what the villain could have been. We know:
Clues about the villain: (crimesite in a regional township we think it isWellington (NSW) from the clues we have been given, victim died in a garden on asubdivision)
– a swimming pool has recently been drained in the area garden is full of cracks- volcanic dyke and dam in the area (area on country rock)- septic systems located in subdivision- some houses in subdivision affected house bricks crumbling- sprinkler in neighbours yard on all the time- villain comes the can go again
We have to choose from the following villains:
Impervious surfacesOverwateringRecreational activitySeptic tanksSwimming poolsHerbicides (none found in water sample of the area)Toxic waste (none found in water sample of the area)LantanaTermites
Would you have any suggestions?
We think that maybe due to overwatering, the water table may have risencausing urban dryland salinity the victim may have died due to this?
Any help would be greatly appreciated,
Thankyou for your time to read this information.
Kind Regards, Mrs Lynch and Year 6.
seed – posted 04 June 2001 08:16
Dear Mrs. Lynch and Class 6L,
It is too early to declare the death of the couch a crime. (People in North America call couch “bermudagrass” and some in Central America call it “grama”). More investigation is needed.
Salinity could only be a problem if the water tastes noticeably salty, as Cynodon dactylon has high tolerance for salt.
Please describe the “stressed” appearance of the couch sod when it was installed. Also, how frequently is the turf watered? Overwatering could be a problem. Most of the other suspects should be released immediately (termites, lantana, etc.) but keep in custody herbicides and overwatering.
Phil