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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #346631
Research Project: Developing Agricultural Practices to Protect Water Quality and Conserve Water and Soil Resources in the Upper Midwest United States

Location: Soil and Water Management Research

Title: Chemical application strategies to protect water quality

Author
item Rice, Pamela
item HORGAN, BRIAN - University Of Minnesota
item BARBER, BRIAN - University Of Minnesota
item Koskinen, William

Submitted to: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/7/2018
Publication Date: 7/30/2018
Citation: Rice, P.J., Horgan, B.J., Barber, B.L., Koskinen, W.C. 2018. Chemical application strategies to protect water quality. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 156:420-427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.02.030.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.02.030

Interpretive Summary: Management of turfgrass on golf courses and athletic fields often involves application of plant protection products to maintain or enhance turfgrass health and performance. However, the transport of fertilizer and pesticides with runoff to adjacent surface waters can enhance algal blooms, promote eutrophication and may have negative impacts on sensitive aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Therefore we evaluated the influence of chemical application strategies to reduce the off-site transport of chemicals with storm runoff. Our results show chemical application strategies with restricted application zones adjacent to surface waters can reduce contamination, with levels of protection dependent on the size of the application setback. Characterizing potential contamination of surface waters and developing strategies to safeguard water quality will help protect the environment and improve water resource security. This information is useful to grounds superintendents for designing chemical application strategies to maximize environmental stewardship. The data will also be useful to scientists and regulators working with chemical transport and risk models.

Technical Abstract: Management of turfgrass on golf courses and athletic fields often involves application of plant protection products to maintain or enhance turfgrass health and performance. However, the transport of fertilizer and pesticides with runoff to adjacent surface waters can enhance algal blooms, promote eutrophication and may have negative impacts on sensitive aquatic organisms and ecosystems. Therefore, we evaluated the influence of chemical application strategies to reduce the off-site transport of chemicals with storm runoff. Evaluation of chemographs of water soluble tracer compounds showed chemical application strategies with restricted application zones adjacent to surface waters can reduce contamination, with levels of protection dependent on the size of the application setback. Characterizing potential contamination of surface waters and developing strategies to safeguard water quality will help protect the environment and improve water resource security. This information is useful to grounds superintendents for designing chemical application strategies to maximize environmental stewardship. The data will also be useful to scientists and regulators working with chemical transport and risk models.