Characterization of Suburban Nitrogen Fertilizer and Water Use on Residential Turf in Cary, North Carolina

Abstract

<jats:p>A door-to-door survey was conducted in Cary, N.C., to determine suburban fertilizer and water use characteristics. The random survey of 300 households represented 1% of Cary households. Results from the survey demonstrated that few individuals used fertilizer on their driveways and sidewalks to melt ice and snow. Almost 90% of all residents applied fertilizer or used lawn care companies. Most residents or lawn care companies failed to sweep impervious surfaces after fertilizing. Most homeowners applied nitrogen fertilizer at a rate within North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service recommendations. Water use for landscaping related directly to summer drought conditions. Households with installed sprinkler systems used about twice as much water on their lawns as did residences with moveable sprinkler systems.</jats:p>

Effects of Lawn Maintenance on Nutrient Losses Via Overland Flow During Natural Rainfall Events1

“…, 2004; Osmond and Hardy, 2004). Survey studies reveal that more than 50% of residential lawns are maintained by the homeowner (Barthe, 1995; Center for Watershed Protection, 1999; Osmond and Platt, 2000; Schueler, 2000; Osmond and Hardy, 2004). Approximately 70% of homeowners fertilize their lawns regularly whether or not additional nutrients are needed (Barthe, 1995; Schueler, 2000).…”

“…Many homeowners are unaware of the fertilizer application rates required to maintain the type of turfgrass grown on their lawns (Morris and Traxler, 1996). Less than 40% of homeowners test their soils prior to fertilizing their lawns (Barthe, 1995; Osmond and Platt, 2000; Schueler, 2000; Osmond and Hardy, 2004). Consequently, social pressures to maintain a certain neighborhood appearance and lawn aesthetics result in frequent irrigation and fertilizer applications (Nielson and Smith, 2005).…”

“…, 1994; Messick, 1997). Several studies have evaluated homeowners’ behavior regarding lawn maintenance (Barthe, 1995; Minnesota Center for Survey Research, 1997; Center for Watershed Protection, 1999; Osmond and Platt, 2000; Schueler, 2000; Dietz et al. , 2004; Osmond and Hardy, 2004).…”

Residential landscapes as social-ecological systems: a synthesis of multi-scalar interactions between people and their home environment

“…In contrast, professional management services have a smaller range of application rates (e.g. 100-161 kg N ha −1 year −1 ), but apply with greater frequency compared to residents (Osmond and Platt 2000;Law et al 2004). Overall, fertilizer use can be predicted by yard greenness (Zhou et al 2008).…”

“…Specifically, income predicts landscape preferences , irrigation time, and outdoor water consumption (Osmond and Hardy 2004;Sovocool et al 2006;Harlan et al 2009;Polebitski and Palmer 2010). Middle-income residents, however, tend to prefer grass and apply the most fertilizers (Osmond and Platt 2000;Law et al 2004). On the other hand, wealthy residents and homeowners more often use pesticides than others (Steer et al 2006;Templeton et al 2008) and are willing to pay more for locally grown native plants (Curtis and Cowee 2010).…”