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Export of Manure Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Turfgrass Sod
Author(s) -
Vietor D. M.,
Griffith E. N.,
White R. H.,
Provin T. L.,
Muir J. P.,
Read J. C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2002.1731
Subject(s) - cynodon dactylon , poa pratensis , manure , nutrient , phosphorus , nitrogen , agronomy , zoology , chemistry , poaceae , biology , organic chemistry
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. × C. transvaalensis Burtt‐Davey), ‘609’ buffalograss [ Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.], and ‘Reveille’ bluegrass ( Poa arachnifera Torr. × 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.