Total Nitrogen Losses from Fertilized Turfs on Simulated Highway Slopes in Florida
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139, Issue 6
Abstract
Fertilized highway slopes constitute nonpoint sources of nitrogenous nutrients that are degrading the surface water and groundwater resources. This paper presents the results of simulated rainfall experiments conducted on a plot-scale test bed (slope-adjustable) that was fully exposed to weather for closely representing the conditions of a fertilized turf-covered highway slope in Florida. Thirty-six tests were conducted on three slopes (25, 33, and 50%), simulating two rainfall intensities (12.5 and ). The soils used were fine sand (AASHTO A-3 class) and silty sand (AASHTO A-2-4 class). Following the local highway practices, the tests were conducted after compacting the soils and establishing Argentine Bahia turf over A-3 soils and Pensacola Bahia turf over A-2-4 soils. Two fertilizers were used: a quick release (QR) 10-10-10 and a slow release (SR) 16-0-8. Weather conditions varied considerably during the duration of the project, affecting soil moisture, soil—grass—nutrient interactions, and the distribution of applied rainfall. These weather effects and differences in soil and turf properties resulted in variations of surface runoff percentages and total nitrogen (TN) concentrations in surface runoff and seepage. Because of the differences in the availability of washable TN, the A-3 soil (fine sand) resulted in lower TN losses than the A-2-4 soil (silty sand). The losses of TN were influenced by the intensity and slope of the rainfall, but the differences were significant () in only three of the eight cases analyzed. In the case of A-3 soils, the test series conducted during late fall resulted in higher TN losses than in the test series conducted during early fall season. These results suggest that the TN losses were lower where the soil allowed ready entry of the TN into soil, and in cases of less runoff. The fertilizer type did not result in a significant difference () in TN loss. The results of all test series and ANOVA suggest that the slow release fertilizers did not result in lower TN losses than the QR fertilizers.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) for funding the experimental research reported herein. We are especially grateful to Mr. Rick Renna, FDOT’s State Drainage Engineer, for giving us valuable guidance during the course of this research. Several undergraduate and graduate students contributed in the collection of experimental data and chemical analysis work of this project. Dr. L. E. Trenholm, University of Florida, discussed her research on turfgrasses and gave valuable suggestions. The conclusions presented in this paper are the scientific opinions of the authors. They shall not be construed as the official viewpoints of FDOT, or the University of Central Florida, or the Pennsylvania State University.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 139 • Issue 6 • June 2013
Pages: 829 - 837
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Dec 23, 2011
Accepted: Dec 21, 2012
Published online: Dec 26, 2012
Published in print: Jun 1, 2013
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