Ecosystem – The interaction of a turfgrass community with other plants, animals and their surrounding environment.

Endophyte – A plant living and functioning within another plant. For example, a fungus.

Environment – The sum of all the physical, chemical and biological components to which an organism is subjected. Soil, water, air, plants, animals, and human beings comprise the environment to which turfgrass communities are subjected.

Eradicate – To completely eliminate something from an area or the environment.

Erosion – The wearing away and transport of soil from land areas by wind or running water.

Establishment, Turf - Continual root and shoot growth following seed germination, sodding or sprigging needed to form a mature turf area.

Ester - A phenoxy herbicide formulation that is more prone to vaporizing and potentially moving off-site than the amine form. Also see phenoxy herbicides, amine.

Evaporation – Water loss back to the atmosphere through the vaporization of water.

Evapotranspiration – Sum of all the moisture lost through evaporation and transpiration.

Fertilizer – Nutrient supplements that stimulate and maintain healthy plant growth. The most common nutrients contained in fertilizers are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

Fertilizer Analysis – The amount of each nutrient in a fertilizer container expressed as percent of the total weight.

Fertilizer Burn (Foliar Burn) – Plant injury (and usually death) caused by desiccation of tissue due to contact with high concentrations of certain fertilizers.

Fibrous Roots – Profusely branched roots consisting of many lateral rootlets and usually no main or taproot development.

Footprinting – During periods of mild to moderate stages of water (drought) stress, grass plants may be slow to spring back after walking on them leaving temporary foot-shaped impressions on the lawn.

Fungi – Organisms which live off dead or living plants or animals.

Fungicide – A pesticide used to destroy or suppress fungi.

Fungus (pl. Fungi) – A non-vascular (i.e., plants that do not contain water and nutrient conducting vessels) plant that lacks chlorophyll. Some examples are: mushrooms, molds, rusts, and yeasts.