Effect of Turfgrass Establishment Practices and Composted Biosolids on Water Quality

Abstract

Land application of composted municipal biosolids (CMB) enhances soil physical properties and turf establishment. Yet large, volume-based rates of CMB can increase nonpoint source losses of sediment and nutrients from urban soils to surface waters. The objectives were (i) to compare runoff losses of sediment, N, P, and organic C among contrasting establishment treatments for bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy, var. Tifway] and (ii) to evaluate relationships between runoff and soil measurements of N, P, and organic C. Three replications of seven establishment treatments were installed on an excavated slope (8.5%) under field conditions. Five treatments comprised sod transplanted from Tifway bermudagrass grown with and without CMB on soil with and without incorporation of CMB. Two other treatments were composed of Tifway sprigged in soil with and without CMB. Runoff from seven natural rain events was channeled into collection tanks for sampling and analysis. Runoff concentrations and mass loss of dissolved P and organic C forms were greater for CMB-amended sod than for sprigs planted in soil with or without CMB or treatments comprising sod established without CMB. In addition, a linear relationship (R(2) = 0.87) was observed between water extractable soil P of sodded and sprigged treatments and concentrations and mass losses of dissolved P in runoff. Transplanted sod reduced sediment loss compared with sprigged treatments and incorporation of CMB reduced sediment loss from sprigged treatments. Incorporation of CMB within soil on which sod grown without CMB was transplanted proved the best option for achieving benefits of CMB while reducing nutrient runoff loss compared to sod transplanted from Tifway grown with CMB.

Response of a Cool-Season Turf Mixture to Composted Chicken Manure in a Mediterranean Environment

“…It is well known that various organic fertilizers improved soil physical and chemical characteristics (Angle, 1994), and application of composted municipal biosolids enhanced soil physical properties (Schnell et al, 2010). In our study, the applied CM had approximately 3% N, P and K with an average of 60% organic matter.…”

Greening a Steel Mill Slag Brownfield with Biosolids and Sediments: A Case Study

“…Halofsky and McCormick (2005) demonstrated that seeded turfgrass strips on a reclaimed coal mine site amended with municipal biosolids had significant cover and density. Improved turfgrass performance in biosolids‐amended sediments can likely be attributed primarily to higher soil fertility and improved soil physical properties in the root zone (Loschinkohl and Boehm, 2001; Schnell et al, 2010). Although the four turfgrass mixes were established in unamended and biosolids‐amended sediments, the turfgrass in the biosolids‐amended sediments was darker green and denser, as determined by performance scores.…”

Carbon, Nitrogen, and Orthophosphate Leaching from Soil under Single- and Mixed-species Landscapes

“…Solution leached from soils also has the potential to infiltrate to groundwater or move laterally to surface waters. There has been little research on DOC concentrations in soil solution leached from soil under turfgrass or runoff in mixed urban landscapes (e.g., Holgate et al, 2011;Schnell et al, 2010).…”

“…Losses of these nutrients are typically caused by management practices or natural disturbances in the local environment. For example, soil disturbance will cause excess nitrate to move out of the soil matrix because aerated soil induces nitrification; movement of excess orthophosphate is generally the result of overapplication of phosphate fertilizer to a soil that is already saturated with P and DOC losses typically occur when manures or biosolids are applied as fertilizer (Schnell et al, 2010). Nitrogen and P movement from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems may contribute to surface water and estuarine impairment such as eutrophication (Paerl, 2009).…”