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• i�,, t S v :ash n p _ � lerit r UrbanLaw, ;j r fi 2, Alld r, „. �� ,c1'!u►Stier,PhD,Assoeaate Dean, College o�'�lgracuLture anYL N,aturad I{esouries, Tke�nir�ersYty of Tennesseg�,�o�tgTa �'�� * ' AssutanE Professor,;Delbt of SoaL Sc%enae, �TnzV rsaty of Tfi�ucdy san,Toro gain les,P&D r Pra essor,Dej#�t�f' att SCu�tr s ' e. Unirtersity of Mn and John Sorocfisn,PhwD:,Assocaute Professor,Dept. of Plant Sciences, The,iUniuersi�t of Tennessee protection of second-greatest amounts of man- The need for fertilizer groundwater aged turf,respectively.There are an Soils in which turfgrasses are maintain- and surface estimated 70 million detached single- ed seldom provide enough nitrogen waters from nutrient contamination family homes nationwide (U.S.Census (N)and may lack adequate phosphorus is an environmental issue and public Bureau 2010). If the average home- (P) or potassium (K)to support healthy concern.Specifically,nitrate (NO3) lawn size ranges from 1/4 to 1/3 acre, lawns.As a result,supplemental gran- and phosphates (HPO4, 112PO4) this represents about 17.5 to 23 ular or foliar applications of fertilizer continue to receive much attention. million acres. containing N, P and/or K are often. Urbanization results in more and con- Lawns are a highly visible and very recommended.These three essential nected, impervious surfaces (roads, important component of an urban mineral nutrients vary in ionic,plant- parking lantparking lots,rooftops),fewer pervious environment.When properly sited, available form and movement within ground covers (forests and fields),less designed, installed and managed, soils (Table 1).A basic soil test per- water infiltration and greater runoff. they form a dense, perennial and formed in a soil-testing laboratory will As the volume of runoff increases,the erosion-resistant vegetative cover determine soil phosphorus,potassium .potential for pollution of surface waters capable of absorbing carbon dioxide and pH levels.Fertilization and liming with nutrients,sediments and other and water at low mowing heights. guidelines based on soil-test results most They also generate oxygen, cool often accompany the soil test results. compounds also increases. In 2005,based on satellite imagery, the air in summer, trap dust and Many people believe that lawn total turf area in the U.S.was estimated organic compounds (which are then fertilization contributes substantially to be 40.3 million+9.6 million acres degraded by soil microorganisms) to nutrient runoff in urban areas. Q4,ilesi et al.2005).Lawns and road and contribute organic matter to This perception has led to proposals sides account for the greatest and the soil. to limit inputs and reduce the size 301 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL September/October 2012 www.vaturf.org ��f