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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205025
Title: Evaluating the Potential of Turf Management Practices to Mitigate Pesticide and Nutrient Loads with Runoff from Fairway Turf

Author
item Rice, Pamela
item HORGAN, BRIAN - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2006
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cultural practices were assessed to determine their capacity to reduce surface runoff and chemical transport with runoff from creeping bentgrass turf plots managed as a golf course fairway. During the 2005 season, half of the plots were aerated with solid tines while the remaining plots were aerated using hollow tines. Fertilizer (18-3-18 [N, P2O5, K2O]), a conservative tracer (potassium bromide) and a commonly utilized herbicide (2,4-D), insecticide (chlorpyrifos), and fungicide (flutolanil) were applied to all plots 12-36 hours prior to the intiation of the simulated precipitation. Preliminary results showed reduced runoff volumes and nutrient transport (soluble-P, ammonium nitrogen) with runoff from fairway turf plots aerated with hollow tines relative to solid tines. The addition of vertical slicing to manage thatch was evaluated during the 2006 season. Infiltration measurements, quantification of runoff volumes and examination of hydrographs revealed the addition of vertical slicing to hollow tine aeration increased water infiltration and further reduced quantities of water leaving the turf plots as runoff. Completion of the chemical analysis will determine if similar reductions in chemical transport are noted for pesticides from turf plots aerated with hollow tines compared to solid tines, and the influence of enhanced infiltration with vertical slicing on nutrient and pesticide transported with the runoff. Understanding pesticide and fertilizer transport with runoff and identifying strategies that reduce off-site transport of applied chemicals will increase their effectiveness at intended sites of application and will minimize potential undesirable impacts to surrounding surface water resources.