What is the most likely cause of death for turfgrass plants in dense clay soil under extreme wet conditions?

The most likely cause of death for turfgrass plants in dense clay soil under extreme wet conditions is suffocation. In these conditions, water saturates the densely packed soil, which prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of the plants. Turfgrass requires oxygen for respiration to survive; when the air-filled pore spaces in the soil are filled with water, root function is severely impaired. This lack of oxygen, often referred to as hypoxia, can lead to root dysfunction and eventually the death of the plant.

While root rot can also occur in wet conditions, it is typically a secondary effect caused by pathogens that thrive in the absence of oxygen rather than a direct consequence of water saturation alone. Drought stress is not applicable here, as the condition described involves excessive moisture. Nutrient deficiency may arise due to poor soil conditions, but in this scenario, it is primarily the suffocation from waterlogged conditions that poses an immediate threat to the turfgrass plants.