Assessing and Minimizing Nitrogen Leaching from Home Lawns

Situation or issue identification: With increased urbanization of Florida, home-lawn acreage and fertilization have increased substantially. Considerable concern has been expressed about the fate of fertilizers, and especially nitrogen, applied to home lawns, and the possibility for contamination of ground and surface waters.

Rationale for research support resources: Ground and surface-water contamination by nitrate-nitrogen must be avoided, which is not an easy task when sandy, irrigated soils are fertilized with large amounts of nitrogen.

Measurable or potential impact in terms of social, economic, and/or environmental factors resulting from expenditure of research support funds: The research is measuring nitrogen leaching in home-lawn situations and developing methods of minimizing groundwater contamination.

Collaborating organizations/agencies and teaching/research/extension partnerships: The Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, South-west Florida Water Management District, Florida Turf Grass Association, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the International Turfgrass Producers Foundation.

For more information contact: George H. Snyder