Identifying high-risk areas of N leaching in the Salt Lake Valley

Nitrogen (N) fertilization of urban turf areas, and potential nitrate (NO3-N) leaching, may pose a hazard to groundwater quality. This research utilized a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to estimate NO3-N leaching mass from urban turf areas based on a one-dimensional N leaching model and to classify the NO3-N leaching risk in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA, based on soil texture. The methodology integrated a calibrated and verified Hydrus-1D N model, soil textures and urban turf areas to predict NO3-N leaching to groundwater. Thirty United States Geological Survey (USGS) residential wells were installed and sampled in 1999 for NO3-N concentration. A relationship between estimated NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes and groundwater NO3-N concentration was developed to determine the effect of soil texture and landscaped area on NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes. The GIS approach was used to estimate the NO3-N leaching risk to groundwater under efficient irrigation and fertilization scenarios and over-irrigation and over-fertilization scenarios. The results showed that soil texture played a role in NO3-N leaching from urban landscapes to groundwater, and shallow groundwater was more susceptible to surface contamination compared to deep groundwater. The GIS technique identified areas where improved irrigation and fertilization management could reduce landscape NO3-N leaching significantly, resulting in fewer NO3-N leaching risk areas in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA

Turfgrass Water Use in Utah

The goal of turfgrass irrigation is to maintain quality by replacing water lost to the atmosphere from the soil by evaporation, and from leaf surfaces by transpiration. The combination of evaporation and transpiration is referred to as evapotranspiration (Et), or simply water use

Turfgrass Water Use in Utah

The goal of turfgrass irrigation is to maintain quality by replacing water lost to the atmosphere from the soil by evaporation, and from leaf surfaces by transpiration. The combination of evaporation and transpiration is referred to as evapotranspiration (Et), or simply water use

Simple Sprinkler Performance Testing for Weber County

This fact sheet describes how to perform a site inspection and a sprinkler test so you can irrigate your landscape more efficiently, and provides an irigation schedule for Weber County

Designing a Low Water Use Landscape

A landscape design should meet the needs of the people who will use and maintain the area while incorporating the site’s existing environmental conditions into the design. Water is a limiting resource in Utah, so designing the landscape to efficiently use water is important. Conserving water in the landscape can be accomplished by selecting low water use plants, designing and scheduling irrigation systems efficiently, grouping plants according to their water requirements, and using hardscaping materials (patios, stone paths, decks, etc.) appropriately to reduce the area requiring irrigation

Water-Conserving Landscapes: An Evaluation of Homeowner Preference

Landscape preferences were assessed for three identically designed Xeriscapes™, differing only in the plant material, under both well-watered and drought conditions. The classes of plant material included traditional (high water use), intermediate (moderate water use), and native/adapted plant species of the Intermountain West (low water use). Landscapes were subjected to a 5-week dry-down period. Under drought conditions, respondents preferred drought/adapted and intermediate landscapes to traditional landscapes. A focus on Xeriscape™ education, practices, and visual exposure may result in greater adoption of Xeriscape™ practices by homeowners and may also result in significant residential water savings

Water-conserving landscapes: an evaluation of homeowner preference

Landscape preferences were assessed for three identically designed Xeriscapes™, differing only in the plant material, under both well-watered and drought conditions. The classes of plant material included traditional (high water use), intermediate (moderate water use), and native/adapted plant species of the Intermountain West (low water use). Landscapes were subjected to a 5-week dry-down period. Under drought conditions, respondents preferred drought/adapted and intermediate landscapes to traditional landscapes. A focus on Xeriscape™ education, practices, and visual exposure may result in greater adoption of Xeriscape™ practices by homeowners and may also result in significant residential water savings

Quantifying turfgrass-available N from returned clippings using anion exchange membranes

Returning clippings can provide N to turf, but the amount of plant-available N derived from clippings is not easy to quantify. An accurate estimate of N released by clippings would be useful in guiding turf N fertilizer recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine if anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) could be used to quantify plant-available soil N when clippings are returned. A greenhouse and two field experiments were set out in randomized block designs using a factorial arrangement of 2 clipping practices [removed (CRM) and returned (CRT)] and 4 rates of N fertilization (0 to 392 kg N ha-1 yr-1) on a cool-season lawn turf. Cumulative N uptake in the clippings was determined and correlated to AEM desorbed NO3–N. Returning clippings resulted in greater overall N uptake and AEM desorbed NO3–N. However, the response of N uptake to AEM desorbed NO3–N was not the same for CRM and CRT treatments. Uptake was greater for CRT than CRM at any given AEM desorbed NO3–N level past the minimum values. This suggests that, in addition to NO3–N, other N forms (most likely NH4–N) are being released from the clippings and taken up by the turf. Anion exchange membranes alone are not adequate to quantify the plant-available N provided by returned clippings. To accurately assess the total pool of plant-available N to turf when clippings are returned with ion-exchange technology, cation- and anion-exchange resins are needed to quantify the total plant-available N pool derived from clippings