Export of manure phosphorus and nitrogen in turfgrass sod.
Regulatory mandates have increased demand for best management practices (BMPs) that will reduce nutrient loading on watersheds impaired by excess manure P and N. Export of manure P and N in turfgrass sod harvests is one BMP under consideration. This study quantified amounts and percentages of P and N removed in a sod harvest for different rates of manure and inorganic P and N. Six treatments comprised an unfertilized control, two manure rates with and without supplemental inorganic N, and inorganic P and N only. The treatments were applied to 'Tifway' bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davey), '609' buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.], and 'Reveille' bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torr. x P. pratensis L.) under field conditions. Comparisons among treatments revealed small variations of P and N content in clippings and the plant component of sod, but large variations in the soil component of sod for each turf species. In addition, 2 to 10 times more P and 1.3 to 5 times more N was removed in soil than in plant components of sod for the two manure rates with and without added inorganic N. Percentages of applied P and N in harvested sod were similar for the two manure rates with and without added N for each species, but differed among turf species for each P (46 to 77%) and N (36 to 47%). The large amounts and percentages of manure P and N removed by sod harvest support the feasibility of this BMP in efforts to reduce nutrient loads on watersheds.
Vietor
D M
DM
Soil and Crop Sciences Dep., Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2474, USA. dvietor@tamu.edu
Griffith
E N
EN
White
R H
RH
Provin
T L
TL
Muir
J P
JP
Read
J C
JC
D000818:Animals; D005068:Eutrophication; D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae; D012987:Soil; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control
D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen