Final answer:
The earliest reference of managing turfgrass can be traced back to the Fertile Crescent in south-western Asia around 12,000 years ago.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest reference of managing turfgrass can be traced back to the Fertile Crescent in south-western Asia. Around 12,000 years ago, people in this region started cultivating seeds such as wheat and barley and domesticating animals like goats and sheep, which required them to manage the grasslands to support their agricultural activities.
This information is supported by archaeological evidence and research articles such as Crowley and Garnett's (1998) study on vegetation changes in the east-central Cape York Peninsula and Darwin's (1859, 1964) work on the origin of species.