Effects of Nutrients Applied to Turf on Runoff and Leachate

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Harrison

A paucity of data exists on the water quality impacts of fertilizer nutrients used for turfgrass management. The primary macronutrients N and P have been shown to cause the eutrophication of surface water bodies, and excessive nitrate (NO-3) concentrations in drinking water have been linked to methemoglobinemia in infants. Several studies have indicated that runoff quantities from high-quality turf areas are minimal; therefore, nutrient transport by this mechanism should not be a major concern. The leachability of N is favored by the presence of soluble forms in permeable soils receiving rainfall or irrigation in excess of field capacity. Most of the factors contributing to this condition are manageable. However, a wide range of turfgrass types, uses, and management expertise make it difficult to generalize the overall impact of turfgrass fertilization on water resources. While research has demonstrated the ability to minimize nutrient loading, characterization of nonresearch sites is critical to gain a legitimate understanding of environmental impacts. Once developed, best management practices can be effective only if understood and adopted by applicators.

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. May ◽  
R. M. Mohr ◽  
G. P. Lafond ◽  
A. M. Johnston ◽  
F. C. Stevenson

Demand for high quality oat (Avena sativa L.) for consumption by humans and race horses has increased, leading to increased oat production on the Canadian prairies. Little information exists on the best management practices for producing high-quality, high-yielding oat using direct seeding systems and cropping practices developed and adopted over the past 15 yr. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of early seeding on grain yield and quality of oat cultivars currently grown in the eastern prairie region. Four seeding dates and four cultivars were tested at Indian Head, Melfort, and Brandon over 3 yr. Moving the seeding date from mid-June to early May increased oat yield, seeds per panicle, kernel weight, test weight and plump seed by 76, 33, 10, 13 and 11%, respectively, when averaged across all locations and years. This increase in yield and quality was probably due to improved environmental conditions and a reduction in crown rust infection (Puccina coronata Corda). Crown rust has a larger effect on seed yield and quality as one moves east and south from Melfort, Saskatchewan, and as seeding was delayed from early May. Early seeding of oat decreases the risk of obtaining low yield and/or quality, and should be considered a best management practice for growing milling oats, especially in the southeastern prairies of Canada. Key words: Yield components, test weight, oat, Puccina coronata, lodging, plump seed, thin seed


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinjin Gu ◽  
Yuan Cao ◽  
Min Wu ◽  
Min Song ◽  
Lin Wang

Abstract Uncertainty in nature and human society affect pollution control efficiency and the rationality of the scheme of spatial optimization layout of best management practices (BMP) for agricultural non-point-source (NPS) pollution treatment. Based on this idea, the study innovatively develops a mathematical model that integrates soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model and interval fractional programming. The advantage of the model are the following: (1) ability to process a BMP spatial optimization layout in watershed in uncertain situations, (2) ability to effectively reflect the uncertain factors involved in the scheme without having to set all the variables as uncertain factors, and (3) results are in the form of schemes in upper and lower limit scenarios, thereby reflecting the limit of uncertainty impact on the schemes. The results of this study can provide decision-makers with a wide range of optional schemes. This study examines how to set up the BMP spatial optimal layout scheme for agricultural non-point-source pollution treatment under the influence of uncertain factors. The proposed method is universal and can be extended to other cases.


Weed Science ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 511-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Joseph Wuerffel ◽  
Julie M. Young ◽  
Joseph L. Matthews ◽  
Bryan G. Young

Waterhemp resistance to foliar applications of protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)–inhibiting herbicides has become increasingly disconcerting given the widespread distribution of glyphosate resistance. Fortunately, soil-residual PPO-inhibiting herbicides remain efficacious in waterhemp populations resistant to PPO-inhibiting herbicides; however, these herbicides should theoretically select for the resistant biotype as herbicide concentrations diminish in the soil. Accordingly, the objectives of this research were twofold: (1) evaluate the efficacy of three PPO-inhibiting herbicides, foliar- and soil-applied, on PPO-resistant (PPO-R) and PPO-susceptible (PPO-S) waterhemp, and (2) investigate the differential effects of PPO-inhibiting herbicides on an R biotype and an S biotype during several discrete developmental events relevant to soil–residual herbicide activity (i.e., radicle protrusion, radicle elongation, and waterhemp emergence). Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments indicated that the R biotype was least sensitive to the diphenylether herbicide fomesafen, followed by sulfentrazone and flumioxazin; however, fomesafen pluss-metolachlor improved soil-residual efficacy over fomesafen alone. Growth stage considerably influenced the R : S ratio, decreasing from 38× to 3.4×, when comparing ratios generated from foliar applications and soil-residual applications measuring radicle protrusion, respectively. Overall, this research supports the use of full soil-residual herbicide rates, reinforcing the importance of best management practices to manage the spread of herbicide resistance.


HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 815-819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis C. Teuton ◽  
John C. Sorochan ◽  
Christopher L. Main ◽  
Thomas C. Mueller

The transition zone is one of the hardest places to maintain high-quality turfgrasses, and the overall research objective was to determine best management practices to establish new turf cultivars in this zone. Hybrid bluegrasses (P. arachnifera Torr. × P. pratensis L.) have been bred for heat and drought tolerance and may offer a new alternative to other turfgrasses. The specific cultivars examined in this research were ‘Thermal Blue®’ and ‘Dura Blue®’. Experiments were conducted during 2003, 2004, and 2005 in Knoxville, TN. ‘Thermal Blue’ was seeded at 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 kg·ha−1 of seed. ‘Thermal Blue's’ ideal seeding rate was between 100 and 150 kg·ha−1 of seed in 2003 and 50 kg·ha−1 in 2004. ‘Thermal Blue’ was also seeded in January, April, July, and September of each year with 100 kg·ha−1 of seed. All seeding dates took ≈11 months to become well established. However, July seeding produced poor turf quality (less than 6) and was the only seeding date deemed unacceptable. ‘Thermal Blue’ and ‘Dura Blue’ were fertilized with ammonium nitrate at 100, 200, and 300 kg N/ha/year and urea formaldehyde at 200 and 300 kg N/ha/year starting in March of each year. These treatments were maintained at 2-, 3.5-, and 5-cm mowing heights. ‘Thermal Blue’ had higher quality evaluations and produced more clippings than ‘Dura Blue’ throughout the year. Higher fertility regimens increased quality evaluations in April but decreased quality evaluations in October. Increasing the mowing height improved turf quality and decreased biomass production for both grasses. A proposed optimum method for establishment included seeding ‘Thermal Blue’ in April at 150 kg·ha−1 and fertilizing with 300 kg·ha−1 of nitrogen and them mowing at 5-cm height. ‘Thermal Blue’ and ‘Dura Blue’ are adapted for the transition zone, but summer heat stress may cause turf quality decrease in the fall.


HortScience ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1097-1102 ◽  
Author(s):  
John C. Majsztrik ◽  
John D. Lea-Cox

Restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay recently intensified with the 2010 introduction of federal total maximum daily load (TMDL) limits for all 92 bay watershed segments. These regulations have specific, binding consequences if any of the six states or the District of Columbia fail to meet interim goals, including loss of federal dollars for various programs and increasing regulation of point sources, if non-point source (agricultural and urban) nutrient reduction goals are not met in the watershed. As part of the effort to better understand and account for non-point sources of pollution in the watershed, a team of agricultural experts from across the bay region was recently assembled, including the nursery industry. The goal of this panel was to inform stakeholders and policymakers about the inputs and management practices used across all Bay states. To increase both the precision and accuracy of loading rate estimates, more precise information should guide future iterations of the Chesapeake Bay model. A more accurate accounting of land area by operation type (e.g., greenhouse, container, and field) is a primary issue for the nursery and greenhouse industry, because the current Chesapeake Bay model relies on USDA agricultural census data, which does not separate container and field production, which have very different nutrient and irrigation practices. Field operations also typically account for a higher percentage of production area in each state, which may skew model results. This is very important because the type of operation (field, container-nursery, or greenhouse operation) has a significant impact on plant density, types of fertilizer used, and application rates, which combine with irrigation and water management practices to affect potential nutrient runoff. It is also important to represent a variety of implemented best management practices (BMPs) in the Chesapeake Bay model such as vegetated buffer strips, sediment ponds, controlled-release fertilizer, and accurately assess how these mitigate both nutrient and sediment runoff from individual operations. There may also be opportunities for growers who have implemented BMPs such as low-phosphorus slow-release fertilizers (SRF), precision irrigation, etc., to gain additional revenue through nutrient trading. Although there are currently some questions about how nutrient trading will work, this could provide additional incentives for further implementation of BMPs by both ornamental and other agricultural growers. It is possible that the TMDL process currently being implemented throughout the Chesapeake Bay will be used as a remediation process for other impaired estuarine water bodies, which have similar water-use regulations and issues. The lessons learned about the Chesapeake Bay model in general, and for the nursery and greenhouse industry in particular, will likely provide guidance for how we can be proactive in reducing environmental impacts and protect the economic viability of ornamental growers in the future.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 170-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Anderson ◽  
B. Graeme Lockaby

Abstract Water quality from forested watersheds (both managed and unmanaged) is normally very good and better than most other human-dominated land uses. Water degradation is possible during forestry operations; however, the use of best management practices (BMP) has been shown to substantially reduce the risk. In the southeastern United States, forests are managed under a wide range of conditions reflective of physiographic region, soil erodibility, climate, and site wetness. Although it is clear that BMP reduce sediment and pollutant loading into streams, there is less information regarding how effective these practices are (i.e., how much sediment did BMP retain? What was the mechanism for sediment retention?). A review of the scientific literature was conducted to evaluate forestry BMP effectiveness to control sediment in the southeastern United States. Our reviewly quantified BMP effectiveness to reduce sediment. In the Coastal Plain, research has focused on forest roads and site wetness, whereas in the Piedmont and regions with steeper terrain, the focus has been on streamside management zones. These studies provide an initial indication of how much sediment is reduced by BMP; however, more information is needed for managers to make reasonable estimations. Future research should focus on quantifying BMP effects on sediment yield and identifying the specific mechanisms involved.


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