What is the Risk to Runoff Water Quality Posed by Fertilization of Turfgrass?

1. What is the Risk to Runoff Water Quality Posed by Fertilization of Turfgrass? Dr. Chris Murray, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies

2. Outline • What motivated this project? • Runoff and pollution • Turfgrass as a water quality management tool • Experiments and studies of the effect of fertilization • Conclusions

3. Project motivation • A collaboration between Landscape Ontario’s Lawn Care Commodity Group and Lakehead University • Two factors initiated this project: • Source water protection agencies and similar organizations are considering fertilizer bans as a means of protecting water quality • Several studies had reported results contradicting this approach: where fertilizer is stopped, N,P in runoff increases

4. General research questions • What is the true state of scientific information regarding this issue? • Is there consensus within the scientific community? • If so, does it support a ban on fertilization of turfgrass? • A primary focus of this study is the effect, both positive and detrimental, fertilization of turfgrass may have on the nutrient pollution through runoff.

5. Stormwater / runoff • Most critical to understand: what dominates water pollution • Why is runoff a problem? • Runoff is “natural”, and would exist without human intervention • Human activity dramatically increases runoff and the pollution it carries. • As runoff increases, pollution increases

7. Algal Blooms, Eutrophication

8. Terminology • Surface water/stormwater/runoff • Infiltration/leachate • In general, we aim to increase infiltration and decrease runoff to decrease pollution • Why? • Sediment and associated chemical pollutants

9. Erosion • Wherever development occurs, risk of increased runoff velocity and erosion • More sediment is carried into water

10. Dissolved/particulate pollution • Nutrients such as phosphorous are soluble in water, but will bind with minerals in sediment • A very small concentration of sediment may be responsible for most of the nutrient loading • For a given mass, fine particles carry more pollution than large particles, and carry it further

11. How can adding fertilizer help? • Turfgrass is, in general, a non-native groundcover that requires maintenance to thrive • Without human intervention, it will not outcompete indigenous plants (weeds) which are better-suited to harsh conditions (especially drought) but not suited to human-scale runoff • In general, healthier turfgrass increasingly reduces runoff and increases infiltration/evapotranspiration • Runoff can be completely eliminated by turfgrass, and a lawn is often the only barrier between impervious surfaces and waterways

12. Runoff, Infiltration and Erosion Control • How might reducing fertilizer increase the concentration of N, P in water? • Small effect: increased decay of plants • Large effect: less healthy turfgrass cannot hold water as effectively, so runoff increases • Filtering is not enough: the amount of water must be reduced

14. Competing Factors • The contamination of runoff by nutrients (both dissolved and particulate) found in fertilizer contributes to eutrophication of lakes causing negative impacts on the aquatic flora and fauna. • Healthier turfgrass systems improve surface water quality through natural filtration and absorption of water, which reduces runoff intensity.

15. Reports worth examining • Garn, 2002: • No runoff other than that due to rain on lawns • Increase P in runoff for fertilized lawns • The site with the best turf stand had the least runoff, though quantitative measurements not made. • No effect of fertilization on nitrogen in runoff • Kussow, 2002, 2004, 2008: • Fertilization with P leads to more P in runoff • Accounted for runoff volume • Most (runoff, nutrients) recorded when soil frozen • Without fertilization for two years, runoff, nitrogen and phosphorous increased • Whether soil is frozen is dominating factor

16. Easton and Petrovic, 2004 • Examined both synthetic and organic fertilizer • P losses higher from P-containing fertilizer, highest for organic types (P applied very high) • Fertilization increased infiltration, decreased runoff • Frozen soil runoff accounted for majority • Fertilization during establishment created most pollution • In many cases, equal or higher N,P losses from unfertilized control due to overall increased runoff

17. Beirman et al., 2010 • Examined no fertilization, P-free, P and triple-P fertilization • Runoff highest for non-fertilized plots • P in runoff from non-fertilized site highest in year 1, the same as from site receiving P in fertilizer in subsequent four years • Frozen soil runoff dominates P loading, and recommended that no P used in Fall where runoff potential is high

18. Overview • No studies perfectly controlled, perfectly realistic, but… • Usually, nutrient concentrations in runoff higher where fertilization is applied • Usually, amount of runoff is lower where fertilization is applied • Most often, the total nutrient loss in runoff is decreased by fertilizing • Where applicable, nutrient loss when ground is frozen dominates annual pollution

19. For more information contact:Dr. Christopher MurrayDepartment of Interdisciplinary StudiesLakehead Universitycmurray1@lakeheadu.ca

20. In many of societies, turf (grass) has received an undeserved black eye with respect to H2O

21. Finding Balance Lawns and Water Conservation 1 acre of trees produces enough oxygen for 18 people 1 acre of grass produces enough oxygen for 64 people 1 acre of rocks produces enough oxygen for 0 people

22. Water conservation is a serious issue Benefits of Turfgrass • Soil erosion control • Dust prevention • Rain water entrapment • Heat dissipation • Glare reduction • Pollutant entrapment • Pest reduction • Fire prevention • Security • Environmental protection • Carbon Sequestering Recreational Functional Aesthetic • Low cost surfaces • Physical health • Mental health • Safety cushion • Spectator environment • Beauty • Quality of life • Mental health • Social harmony • Community pride • Increased property values • Complements trees and shrubs in landscape

23. The Scope of Water Problems • Water shortages and water-quality issues are global • There is a need to both conserve and clean the world’s water supplies • Solutions need to be based on long-term, site-specific consideration

24. The Scope of Water Problems • Water shortages don’t only happen in low-rainfall or developing countries • Weather plays a role • Regulation Plays a role • 30% water loss due to aging Mechanical and structural issues • Environmental allocations • Pollution

25. “Water, water everywhere,And all the boards did shrink;Water, water everywhere,Nor any drop to drink.” --Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772-1834), “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” The Earth is 71 % Water and 29% Land

26. The Hydrologic Cycle • Amount of water has remained relatively stable for eons • We cannot increase water supply – we can only recycle it

27. Who Directly Consumes Highest % of Water? • Cooling for thermoelectric generation & production agriculture • Domestic uses target publicly supplied water • Greatest savings should come from greatest users

28. Different ideas of landscape and landscape maintenance which uses more water…

29. How much water does your lawn use? Mallard* Solar Green* *after 27 days with no water applied Albany, OR 2008 10,000 GALLON WATER TANK Mallard required 8,800 gallons of water to maintain a 5,000 square foot lawn over the entire summer (90 days). Solar Green required 19,700 gallons of water to maintain the same area; using nearly two of these tanks over the same time period!

30. Kentucky Bluegrass 50 Days With No Water Geronimo – 2% Green Cover Mallard – 38% Green Cover Created by

31. TWCA® Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance® is an avenue to test and qualify turfgrass cultivars for improved drought tolerance.

32. Non-profit organization Based on an accepted protocol (PST, NTEP, AR) Utilized since 2002 Includes four grass seed companies – each participant develops their own brand Has access to 8 rain out structures (OR (3), AR, VA, IN, NC, & newest addition Univ. of Guelph fall 2013) Field testing in arid environments possible (OR, UC Riverside, CA, So NJ & possibly Olds College, Alberta, Canada) TWCA

33. Minimum testing = 2 location/years Finish in the top statistical group with Digital Imagery Analysis (DIA) data collections Acceptable measure of turf quality Comprise a minimum of 60% in blends or mixtures 3rd party peer review of cultivars More information available at www.tgwca.org PROTOCOL

34. Drought Evaluation Rain Out Shelters – Oregon / Arkansas / Virginia / Indiana / North Carolina / Ontario, Canada (fall ‘13) Field Studies – Univ CA Riverside Olds College – in cooperation with Guelph Utah State – future location Rain Out Shelter at NexGen Field vs. Greenhouse Comparison Created by

35. RAIN OUT SHELTER (ROS) Created by

36. A new planting established

37. Digital Image Analysis (DIA) • Types of Analysis • Color • Cover • Turf Quality • Application • Drought • Disease • Wear • Color

38. Quality Ratings - Subjective Relatively poor correlations exist among researchers(r < 0.68)(Skogley and Sawyer, 1992)(Horst et al., 1984) 7.0 5.0 6.0 Created by U of A

39. Quality Ratings - Subjective Relatively poor correlations exist among researchers(r < 0.68)(Skogley and Sawyer, 1992)(Horst et al., 1984) 7.0 5.0 6.0 Created by U of A

40. Light box and digital camera ease of use

41. Evaluations • Visual quality ratings (bi-weekly) • (1-9 with 9 = optimal turfgrass quality, 6 = acceptable turf) • Cover analysis using digital images (weekly) (Richardson et al. 2001) 99.2% green turf cover 28.6% green turf cover

42. Density Analysis Shadow count Shadow count Created by U of A (Karcher et al., unpublished)

43. Digital Image Analysis(DIA) Objective vs. Subjective Utilizes 1 to 9 scale 4 Parameters with 1 Evaluation Repeatable Calculate overall turf quality Requires minimal expertise Permanent record on file Created by U of A

44. Kentucky Bluegrass Data

45. Water Usage Comparison by Species Average 08/09

46. Assuming a 5,000 square foot lawn, this chart shows the amount of water required to maintain 40% green cover at 90 days in Albany, Oregon. (08/09)

47. Mission Statement An avenue to research and qualify turfgrasses that exhibit superior drought responses and provide education regarding water conservation. Role of TWCA

48. Complexity of Drought Research Evaporation - Water movement from the liquid to the gaseous state. In reference to turf, it normally refers from the soil to the atmosphere. Transpiration - Water lost as it moves from the liquid to the gaseous state through the plant into the atmosphere. Evapotranspiration - The total movement of water from liquid to the gaseous state, which includes the totality of the plant and the soil.

49. Earthworms Nematodes Mycorrhizae fungi – phosphorous uptake Azospirillum bacteria – brasilense amplifies effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizae Agrobacterium radiobacter – phosphorus solubilizing bacteria Help from Friends

50. Saving up to 50% water to keep the green Possible to use less fertilizer to keep the green Possible to use less chemicals to keep the green How can you help?