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The Effects of Establishment Methods and Fertilization Practices on Nitrate Leaching from Turfgrass
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1993
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EngineeringBotanyFertilizer ProgramsSoil ScienceEstablishment MethodsSustainable AgricultureAgricultural EconomicsFertilization PracticesNo 3Soil ManagementNitrogen Fertilizer TreatmentsPublic HealthSoil FertilityNutrient Management
Abstract A lysimeter study was conducted at the Ohio State University Turfgrass Research Center, Columbus, to investigate NO 3 ‐N leaching losses from fertilized turfgrass. Nitrogen fertilizer treatments were applied to ‘Baron’ Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis L.) seeded and sodded turf established on a Miamian silt loam (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalf). Treatments included two N sources, urea and resin‐coated urea (RCU); and Two fertilization programs, one that emphasize spring and summer applications (SSF) and the second program that included a late season application (LSF). Both the SSF‐ and LSF‐fertilization programs received 218.2 kg N ha −1 yr −1 . The NO 3 ‐N leachate concentrations from seeded turfgrass exceeded those from sodded turf for the first 3 mon. As the turf matured, NO 3 ‐N losses from sod exceeded NO 3 ‐N from the seeded plots. Leachate concentrations were 1.1 and 3.5 mg NO 3 ‐N L −1 for seed and sod turf, respectively, from April 1990 through March 1991. Less rooting in the sodded plots resulted in greater N loss. Annual NO 3 ‐N losses were not affected by N source. During the winter of 1991, significantly ( P = 0.05) higher percolate NO 3 ‐N concentrations were recorded from urea‐treated plots (3.66 mg NO 3 ‐N L −1 ) vs. RCU (2.10 mg NO 3 ‐N L −1 ), however. Similarly, N programs did not result in annual differences in percolate concentration, but differed during the winter of 1991. Concentrations were 3.37 and 2.39 mg NO 3 ‐N L −1 for LSF and SSF, respectively. The NO 3 ‐N leaching losses from all treatments exceeded the maximum concentration limit (MCL) early in the study. These high concentrations were caused by soil disturbance during establishment. During the 2nd yr, NO 3 ‐N leaching results were more representative of typical turfgrass situations with mean annual flow‐weighted NO 3 ‐N concentrations well below the MCL. Different N sources and fertilizer programs did not result in greater NO 3 ‐N percolate losses compared to unfertilized turfgrass plots.