Cogon Grass As Paper
Cogon Grass As Paper
To produce cardboard, it is necessary to cut down trees. Tree density in primary forests
varies from 50,000-100,000 trees per square km, so the math will put this number at 3 billion
to 6 billion trees per year will be cut down and used as paper around the world (Frisake, 2016).
There are many conducted studies that a non woody plants can turn into paper or cardboard
especially grasses. In wood to paper production, a pulp mill releases an unpleasant smell and
the process releases harmful and chemicals like dioxin-a highly toxic compound produced as a
byproduct in some manufacturing processes, notably herbicide production and paper bleaching.
It is a serious and persistent environmental pollutant. Since Philippines have many farm,
grasses are also scattered. Cogon grass (Imperata Cylindrica L.), belongs to the Poaceae
(Gramineae) grass Family also named as jap grass, blady grass, spear grass, alang-alang and
lalang. This grass is known as a disruptive grass species found throughout the tropical and
subtropical areas of the world. Cogon Grass (Imperata cylindrica) is a serious weed not only in
crops but also in natural areas, causing serious economic and environmental damage. Cogon
grass, Imperata cylindrica has been ranked as one of the ten worst weeds of the world (Durano
2008). This aggressive, rhizomatous perennial is generally considered a pernicious pest plant
due to its ability to successfully disperse, colonize, spread, and subsequently compete with and
displace desirable vegetation and disrupt ecosystems over a wide range of environmental
conditions ( Bryson and Carter, 1993;Durano 2008). These characteristics and consequences
of cogon grass infestations are similarly evident even within the native or endemic range in the
Eastern Hemisphere, as it has long been considered one of Southeast Asia’s most noxious
weeds (Durano , 2008). Cogon grass is a good alternative fibre resource especially for pulp and
paper-based industries.