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Fertilizer management approaches influence nutrient leaching from residential landscapes
Alexander J Reisinger1, Eban Z Bean2, Mark Clark1
1Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Journal of Environmental Quality
|December 9, 2024
Summary
Residential lawns significantly increase nitrogen leaching into water, especially with synthetic fertilizers. Certain management practices, like compost, can reduce this nutrient export, protecting water quality.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
- Hydrology
Background:
- Residential lawn management frequently involves fertilizer application for aesthetic and growth purposes.
- Fertilizer inputs can lead to nutrient export into aquatic ecosystems through runoff and leaching.
- Nutrient export is a critical concern in karst regions due to direct surface-groundwater connections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) leaching from residential landscapes in North-Central Florida.
- To investigate nutrient leaching across various real estate gradients and fertility treatments.
- To compare nutrient leaching from different fertilizer types (synthetic, organic, compost) and natural areas.
Main Methods:
- Quantified N and P leaching from residential landscapes over one year.
- Investigated landscapes across a real estate gradient and different fertility treatments.
- Measured leachate weekly from various landscape management approaches.
Main Results:
- All residential lawns leached over 10 times more nitrate than natural areas, regardless of N fertilizer application.
- Synthetic fertilizer treatments resulted in over an 80x increase in nitrate leaching compared to natural areas.
- Fertilizer treatments shifted N leaching composition towards a higher proportion of nitrate.
Conclusions:
- Landscape management and human activities are significant drivers of nutrient leaching in residential areas.
- Certain management approaches, such as compost topdressing, are associated with reduced nutrient leaching.
- Implementing effective landscape management strategies can mitigate negative impacts on regional water quality.
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