Golf course fairways require intensive management and often border lakes, ponds and streams. The potential for nutrient contamination of surface water from these sites is a subject of environmental concern. The objectives of this study by Oklahoma State University are to:
(1) measure the loss of nitrogen and potassium caused by natural rainfall from a common Bermudagrass fairway managed with normal fertilization and irrigation practices throughout a three-year period;
(2) determine if pesticide runoff caused by United-States-Environmental-Protection-Agency-accepted simulated rainfall differs from runoff caused by a turfgrass irrigation system;
(3) measure the potential loss of pesticides from a common Bermudagrass fairway when a significant rain event occurs within 24 hours after application. This project is part of a national turf runoff effort under the heading of “The Turf Umbrella.”
The umbrella project includes researchers from at least three different universities in three regions of the country using three different grasses. The ultimate goal of this work is to assist in developing a national data set that can be used to calibrate pesticide runoff models specific to turfgrass environments and to help establish a standardized protocol for conducting turf runoff investigations.
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