Phosphate and Nitrate Movement Through Simulated Golf Greens

Shuman, Larry M.

Phosphate and Nitrate Movement Through Simulated Golf Greens

2001

Shuman, Larry M.

Phosphorus and nitrogen can leach from porous golf greens potentially causing degradation of ground water quality. Agreenhouse experiment was carried out with 52 cm columns (15 cm diam.) made to USGA green specifications and sodded to `Tifdwarf' bermudagrass to determine the effects of fertilizer sources at various rates on P and N leaching. Fertilizers were balanced soluble and controlled-release (polyand sulfur coated) sources at N rates of 0, 12, 24, and 49 kg N ha⁻¹ and at P rates of 0, 5, 11, and 21 kg ha⁻¹ every other week for a total of 6 applications. Controlled-release N was from NH₄ and urea and the soluble source N was from KNO₃, urea, and (NH₄)PO₄. Irrigation rate was 0.63 cm per day initially and increased to 1.25 cm per day at week 7. Weeklyleachate collections for 23 weeks were analyzed for P andNO₃-N. Concentrations of N and P were lower in the leachatefor the controlled-release source than for the soluble source. Leaching of P continued for the entire 23 weeks of theexperiment, whereas N was essentially exhausted by week 15indicating that P leaches at a slower rate than N. For the low Prate (5 kg ha⁻¹) for the controlled-release source there was no increase in P concentration in the leachate compared to control. Thus, low P rates will not result in degradation of water quality due to increased P. For the controlled-release source at the low rate <10% of the P added leached, whereasthe values for N were in the range of 20 to 45% for all ratesand sources. Control treatments resulted in N concentrations in the leachate as high as 26 mg L⁻¹. Results show thatP leaching is a potential problem only at high rates of solublesources and high irrigation, whereas N is more readily leached.

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