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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #219575
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: Electronic Publication
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/10/2007
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Turf management practices were assessed to determine their capacity to reduce surface runoff and chemical transport with runoff from creeping bentgrass plots managed as a golf course fairway. In 2005, half of the plots were managed with solid tine aerification while the remaining plots received hollow tine aerification. Management practices were initiated 2 days and 63 days prior to chemical application and simulation of precipitation. Fertilizer and a commonly utilized herbicide, insecticide, and fungicide were applied to all plots 12-36 hours prior to the intiation of simulated precipitation. Runoff volumes and quantities of pesticides and nutrients transported with runoff were reduced in fairway turf plots managed with hollow tines relative to solid tines. Trends in reduced chemical loss remained despite the increased time duration between management practice and precipitation. The addition of vertical mowing to manage thatch was evaluated during the 2006 season. Infiltration measurements, quantification of runoff volumes and examination of hydrographs revealed the addition of vertical mowing to hollow tine aerification doubled precipitation infiltrations rates, reduced runoff volumes, and lessened loads of pesticides and nutrients transported off-site with runoff water. Weekly rolling, hollow tine aerification, and verticutting with 1 inch spacing was evaluated in 2007. Completion of runoff analysis will determine if these management practices influence infiltration, runoff volumes, and chemical transport with runoff. Understanding pesticide and nutrient 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 undesirable impacts to surrounding areas.