Recipient Organization
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
(N/A)
FORT COLLINS,CO 80523
Performing Department
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture
Non Technical Summary
Turfgrass, along with other landscape plants, provide many benefits to homeowners. Well-maintained turf can increase the value of a property. The benefits of turfgrass include functional benefits (by providing a visually pleasing, safe playing surface) and environmental benefits (such as decreased cooling costs in summer, soil stabilization, decreased dust, and noise abatement).With increasing population growth and thus an increased demand for fresh water resources, it is important to find alternatives to fresh water use for landscape irrigation. Several conservation methods exist, and include using alternative water resources and finding the right species for landscape plantings. Along with increased interest in landscape irrigation alternatives is an increased interest in carbon footprint of landscape plants, particularly turfgrass - a major component of urban landscapes.Work has been done at CSU to assess the impact of alternative water sources on commonly used landscape plants, including turf. Two different sources of water have been studied. They include "recycled water", which is treated and disinfected municipal sewage water; and "graywater", which is water that has gone through one cycle in laundry, shower, or bath. These alternative waters are generally considered to be safe for landscape irrigation, although both types of water contain dissolved solids to varying degrees. These solids may adversely affect growth of some landscape plants - especially those that are sensitive to the salts. On the other hand, nutrients present in recycled water and graywater and surfactants presented in graywater may have positive impacts if used properly.Our findings indicate that with the use of recycled water for irrigation, there is an increase in soil salinity. The level of salt accumulation in soil depends on several factors including their concentration in irrigation water, amount of water applied annually, amount of natural precipitation, drainage, and the physical and chemical properties of the soil. Some trees and shrubs are particularly sensitive to salts. To determine which trees and shrubs are intolerant of irrigation with recycled wastewater, we will continue to sample and analyze soil and plant tissue samples from sites irrigated with recycled wastewater. Likewise we will continue to monitor the quality and growth of landscape plants. It is important to determine which species are tolerant, and which species are intolerant, so appropriate species can be planted.Along with concern over the conservation of fresh water resources, there has been increased interest in evaluating the carbon footprint of many systems and practices. Turfgrass systems, with the management requirements, are of particular interest. Determining the carbon footprint of turfgrass systems involves examining the fuel and energy use associated with maintaining turf, chemical use and transportation, soil carbon sequestration, etc. Carbon sequestration, which is the ability of an ecosystem to capture and store C as soil organic carbon, is recognized as a key force to mitigate the effects of global climate change. Research has found that turf systems have the potential to sequester significant amounts of C as soil organic carbon. Improper turf management practices can, however, be detrimental to greenhouse gas production. This research project would evaluate the effects of different fertilizer types on greenhouse gas emissions. Through research, we hope to develop management practices for turf that can reduce carbon footprint from turfgrass systems.
Animal Health Component
90%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
90%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of the project is to increase turfgrass sustainability by recycling and reusing water and organic matters, selecting and using environmental stress tolerant grasses, and reducing carbon footprint in urban turfgrass systems.Objectives:To monitor reuse water constituents, evaluate effects of irrigation with different reuse waters on soil salinity level and sodium accumulation, and evaluate different options for minimizing the negative effects of irrigation with reuse waters;To evaluate the effectiveness of compost products on improving turfgrass growth and reducing resource inputs;To determine the physiological response of turfgrass to reuse water constituents and further to select turfgrass species, especially elite saltgrass lines, that tolerate reuse water constituents;To determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets and further to select practices that reduce carbon footprint in urban turfgrass systems;To disseminate research findings (including benefits and drawbacks of using reuse waters, relative resistance of different plants to marginal quality water, and best management practices to turf managers, landscape managers, nursery professionals, water managers, and water treatment specialists.
Project Methods
Objective 1: To monitor reuse water constituents, evaluate effects of irrigation with different reuse waters on soil salinity level and sodium accumulation, and evaluate different options for minimizing the negative effects of irrigation with reuse waters.Soil and plant tissue analyses:We will collect soil and plant tissue samples from sites irrigated with recycled water and graywater. Chemical properties of soil will be analyzed. Plant tissues will be tested. Comparisons of water, soil, and plant tissues between sites that have utilized graywater, recycled water, or freshwater will likely help to determine if salt or specific ion toxicity is the main contributing factors to the decline symptoms of landscape plants.Assessment will be made to determine if there is any different degrees of decline in landscape plants, and how these declines may relate to tree species, water quality, irrigation methods, and drainage effectiveness. Information on the relative tolerance of different trees to recycled water or graywater irrigation will be generated.The integrated information about the quality of different waters (such as recycled water, graywater, storm water, etc.) combined with information on the relative tolerance of different landscape plants will help landscape managers to select the right species for urban landscapes. The knowledge generated will also help to achieve the goal of applying "the right water for the right use".Objective 2: To evaluate the effectiveness of compost products on improving turfgrass growth and reducing resource inputs. To evaluate compost products in their ability to fit the needs of turfgrass, research will be conducted for established turf. We will demonstrate the utilization of compost in home lawn s with or without disease pressure. Different compost products at different rates will be applied as a topdressing material. This topdressing experiment is designed to examine compost's ability to fit the growth needs of the turf from a fertility standpoint and for disease suppression.Objective 3: To determine the physiological response of turfgrass to reuse water and further to select turfgrass species and cultivars, especially elite saltgrass lines that tolerate reuse water constituents, especially soluble salts.A. Turfgrasses grown under recycled water irrigation will be evaluated for their performance and clippings will be tested. Oftentimes, both salinity and poor aeration occur in turfgrass systems with reuse water for irrigation. We will study the interactive effects of salinity and oxygen availability on different turfgrasses. Greenhouse hydroponic experiment and container experiment will be conducted. Four treatments will be imposed: 1) no salt + normal oxygen, 2) no salt + hypoxia, 3) salt + hypoxia, and 4) salt+ normal oxygen. Turf quality, leaf firing,and growth measurements will be determined.B. We will continue the effort in selecting elite saltgrass lines for turf and revegetation uses.During the past several years, elite lines selected from the second generation nursery were planted and maintained.Objective 4: To determine the greenhouse gas (GHG) budgets and further to select practices that reduce carbon footprint in urban turfgrass systems.We will evaluate fuel, electricity, and natural gas use associated with golf course operations. A detailed survey regarding energy use and management practices will be sent to golf courses in Colorado. The survey asks for information, including fertilization practices, acreage types on the course (e.g., native areas, fairways, tees, roughs, and greens), types of fuels used, electricity for irrigation pumping, gallons of water for irrigation, and club house energy uses. By calculating fuel types and quantity used, CO2 equivalency equations can estimate the amount of CO2 released for each energy source. The project will define a course's carbon emissions and the proportions to individual activities. The results of the calculations can be used to identify potential improvements to golf course operations that can reduce the overall footprint.The DayCent model incorporates the most recent improvements in the understanding of soil organic matter dynamics. To run the DayCent simulation model, it needs three groups of data inputs:1) plant characteristics (growth, biomass above- and below-ground partitions, C:N ratio, lignin content, etc.); 2) site-specific soil, climate, and land use history information; and 3) management information, including fertilization, core cultivation, irrigation, mowing, etc. The input variables of cool season turfgrasses have been parameterized and validated previously for CENTURY. Parameters will be further validated by using our collected experiment data. By doing so, carbon sequestration rates can be estimated under major management regimes and for the dominant soil types.The turf-atmosphere exchange of N2O, CH4, and CO2 will be measured by using specialized chambers that have been employed in studies in agricultural systems and native grasslands. Chambers and PVC anchors will be built and installed on putting greens (creeping bentgrass), fairways (perennial ryegrass), rough (Kentucky bluegrass), and native areas (a mix of smooth bromegrass, western wheatgrass, blue grama, and bufflograss). Fluxes of N2O, CH4, and CO2 will be measured by placing vented chambers onto the PVC anchors. Gas samples from inside the chambers will be collected and analyzed. Additionally, the impact of different types of fertilizers on trace gas fluxes will be evaluated.Objective 5: To disseminate research findings including benefits and drawbacks of using reuse waters, relative resistance of different plants to marginal quality water, and best management practices to turf managers, landscape managers, nursery professionals, water managers, and water treatment specialists. We will use the annual Rocky Mountain Regional Turfgrass Conference, the annual Colorado Pro-Green Expo, and the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference as the platforms to disseminate research findings including benefits and drawbacks of using reuse waters, relative resistance of different plants to marginal quality water, pros and cons of different turfgrass species, and best management practices. We will make PowerPoint presentations to turf managers, landscape managers, nursery professionals, water managers, and water treatment specialists. Workshops and short courses will be organized in partnership with recycled water providers to inform end users about how water quality can best be evaluated for landscape irrigation.In addition, we plan to write articles for the landscape industry and other relevant trade publications to provide landscape management professionals with information on 1) the impacts and relative tolerance of landscape plants to recycled water and graywater for irrigation, 2) the unique characteristics about saltgrass, and 3) quantitative carbon footprint information of turfgrass systems (including fuel and energy use, soil carbon sequestration and N2O and CH4 emissions) and management practice that maximize beneficial environmental impacts and minimizing negative impacts of turfgrass.