Gunnery Sergeant Shawn D. Angell is a Platoon Sergeant (correct U.S. Marine Corps term) at the Officer Candidate School aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., dedicated to training, educating, evaluating, and screening the many candidates who go through the course and turning them into Marine leaders.
“What makes the grass grow?” “Blood! Blood! Blood!”
This is a common Marine Corps chant that you’ll hear during basic training, usually under the sun while the drill instructor paces back and forth in front of the recruits. We all know that blood can save lives on the battlefield through a transfusion. But does blood really make the grass grow? Not like it’s something that you’d like to do, I hope.
What makes grass grow?
Some green grass from early spring. Can blood make grass grow like this? MarcusObal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Growing grass is just like growing any other plant: it needs good, healthy soil, ample sunlight, and water. Lawn grass, for instance, is pretty easy to plant and nurture. Plant the seeds at the right time, plant in soil with the right Ph level, use the right fertilizers, water it regularly, and you’re good to go.
To be specific, the top three nutrients that grass needs to grow are potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Nitrogen gives the grass its vibrant green color and makes each grass blade strong and tall.
Potassium activates other minerals and nutrients in the grass and plays an important role in plant formation.
As per the Turf Grass Group, phosphorus “is critical for grass health. It helps the roots of the grass to grow and supports the plant in times of environmental stress. If there is not enough phosphorous in the soil, it can limit growth and even make your lawn weak. It is important to fertilize properly because an excess of phosphorous can leak into the water supply through a buildup in the soil. Increasing microbial activity is a healthy and effective way to ensure your grass has plenty of phosphorous without causing harm to the surrounding environment.”
Now, let’s have a look at the components of blood
Two drops of blood are shown with a bright red oxygenated drop on the left and deoxygenated blood on the right. Unknown author, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“What makes the grass grow?” “Blood! Blood! Blood!”
This is a common Marine Corps chant that you’ll hear during basic training, usually under the sun while the drill instructor paces back and forth in front of the recruits. We all know that blood can save lives on the battlefield through a transfusion. But does blood really make the grass grow? Not like it’s something that you’d like to do, I hope.
What makes grass grow?
Some green grass from early spring. Can blood make grass grow like this? MarcusObal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Growing grass is just like growing any other plant: it needs good, healthy soil, ample sunlight, and water. Lawn grass, for instance, is pretty easy to plant and nurture. Plant the seeds at the right time, plant in soil with the right Ph level, use the right fertilizers, water it regularly, and you’re good to go.
To be specific, the top three nutrients that grass needs to grow are potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
Nitrogen gives the grass its vibrant green color and makes each grass blade strong and tall.
Potassium activates other minerals and nutrients in the grass and plays an important role in plant formation.
As per the Turf Grass Group, phosphorus “is critical for grass health. It helps the roots of the grass to grow and supports the plant in times of environmental stress. If there is not enough phosphorous in the soil, it can limit growth and even make your lawn weak. It is important to fertilize properly because an excess of phosphorous can leak into the water supply through a buildup in the soil. Increasing microbial activity is a healthy and effective way to ensure your grass has plenty of phosphorous without causing harm to the surrounding environment.”
Now, let’s have a look at the components of blood
Two drops of blood are shown with a bright red oxygenated drop on the left and deoxygenated blood on the right. Unknown author, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
There are tons of nutrients found in blood, like zinc. You can also find small amounts of magnesium, copper, sodium. More importantly, it contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, too. Perfect for making your grass green and tall. In fact, organic gardeners use something called “blood meal” as fertilizers, usually in vegetable beds, as it is a quick fix for plants needing nitrogen. You have to be cautious, though, as too much blood meal can burn plants, and it could also attract animals like raccoons and possums.
Verdict
To sum it up, your DI is not wrong with his “blood makes the grass grow” thing. Although, of course, grass doesn’t get much chance to grow on battlefields with all the bombings, vehicles, and all the boots walking pulverizing it into bits.
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