Abstract Turfgrass systems have been identified as potential sources of nitrate leaching and subsequent groundwater contamination. The HYDRUS (2D/3D) model was used to quantify nitrate leaching from bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] and buffalograss [ Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm] established by either seed or sod and irrigated with either tailored (defined as reclaimed water with an N concentration of 15 mg L −1 ) or potable water and fertilized with calcium nitrate. A parameter sensitivity analysis conducted prior to model calibration revealed that soil texture, denitrification rate, and plant uptake all affected nitrate leaching. Simulated nitrate flux matched the experimental data more accurately when denitrification rate varied by soil depth. Moreover, nitrate leaching also differed between turfgrass species and between establishment methods. Leaching was higher from grasses propagated by seed than from sod at the beginning of the establishment period. Increasing the concentration of nitrate in tailored water from 0 to 200 mg L –1 increased concentrations at 50‐cm depths for both species but the increase was significantly higher under buffalograss than bermudagrass and was attributed to lower nutrient uptake and denitrification rates under buffalograss. Nitrate concentrations at 50‐cm depth were significantly higher for coarse sand compared with loamy sand, which was attributed to differences in retention times of the two soil types. Soil texture was even more important than nitrate application rate in predicting nitrate leaching losses and the results of the sensitivity analysis demonstrated that nitrate leaching was affected more by denitrification than by plant uptake.
Six plant species were tested for their ability to accumulate depleted uranium in their above-ground biomass from deployed munitions contaminated soil in New Mexico. In greenhouse experiments, Kochia (Kochia scoparia L. Schrad.) and pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L) were grown with steer manure added at rates of 22.4, 44.8, and 89.6 Mg ha(-1). Citric acid and glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) applied at the end of the growing season increased DU concentrations from 2.5 to 17 times. Leaf and stem DU concentrations in kochia increased from 17.0 to 41.9 mg kg(-1) and from 3.5 to 18.0 mg kg(-1), respectively. In pigweed, leaf and stem DU concentrations increased from 1.0 to 17.3 and from 1.0 to 4.7 mg kg(-1), respectively. Manure generally decreased or had no effect on DU uptake. The effect of citric acid and ammonium citrate on DU uptake by kochia, sunflower (Helianthus annuus L), and sweet corn (Zea mays L) was also studied. Ammonium citrate was just as effective in enhancing DU uptake as citric acid. This implies that the citrate ion is more important in DU uptake and translocation than the solubilization of DU through acidification. In both experiments, leaves had higher DU concentrations than stems.
Greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2017 to assess the feasibility of establishing three warm-season grasses-buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Natt.) Eng.] 'SWI 2000', inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata L.), and bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) 'Princess77'-with tailored water (tertiary treated effluent with 15 mg L-1 of NO3 -N) and to examine the impact on nitrate accumulation in soils and plant tissue and on root development. Grasses were established from seed in a loamy sand and irrigated with either tailored or potable water plus granular Ca(NO3 )2 fertilizer. Leachate collected at 10- and 30-cm depths was analyzed for NO3 -N and electrical conductivity. Root samples were collected to measure root length density (RLD) and root surface area (RSA). Weekly clippings were collected to determine total clipping yield and measure N content. Generally, there was no difference in establishment, RLD, or RSA between the two irrigation treatments. Highest RLD values were reported for bermudagrass, followed by buffalograss and inland saltgrass. Correlation analyses suggest that nitrate levels in leachate were lower in faster-growing grasses and in grasses with more extensive root systems, compared with slower-growing grasses with less roots, regardless of fertilization treatment. Total N in clippings was highest in inland saltgrass and lower in buffalograss and bermudagrass, indicating that N was limiting for faster-growing grasses. More research is needed to determine optimal N rates for establishing grasses that both optimize growth and minimize nitrate leaching.
Brewer's spent grain is a brewing industry waste product that contains various valuable biologically active substances. However, polymers can complicate their extraction. This article focuses on innovative extraction methods, including sustainable deep processing that destroys the internal structures of plant matrix. The research objective was to review publications on the sustainable brewer's spent grain processing as a source of secondary raw materials and plant matrix organic compounds.
The study featured the last 5–10 years of foreign and domestic analytical and technical publications on grain structure and extraction methods.
Unlike the traditional acidic, alkaline, and enzymatic methods of grain processing, physical and mechanical methods aim at extracting biogenic peptides, phenolic compounds, and fatty acids. The nature of the processing depends on the type of the extracted compound. Thus, for the extraction of reducing compounds intended for sorption, exposure to high temperatures (≥ 150°C) is the most effective method. A combined treatment with acids or alkalis of the cellulose-lignin complex makes it possible to achieve a 76.2% yield of hemicelluloses. Acid hydrolysis of arabinoxylans is effective at 120–160°C. Alkaline hydrolysis combined with physical treatment makes it possible to reach 60% of arabinoxylans in a mix with phenolic compounds. When extracting nitrogen-containing, phenolic, and lipid compounds, the degree of grinding of the biomaterial and the organic solvent is of great importance. The optimal degree makes it possible to preserve the spatial structure while maintaining a high yield (86%) of organic compounds. Ultrafiltration concentrates the isolated biogenic compound and preserves its activity with a high yield of up to 95%.
The analysis proved that the brewer's spent grain processing can be both feasible and environmentally friendly. It produces a high yield of pure organic compounds, e.g., peptides, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, etc.
Abstract Smart irrigation controllers have demonstrated potential for turfgrass water conservation in humid and temperate environments but have not been comprehensively tested in arid environments. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of a wireless capacitance sensor over a wide soil moisture range and to ascertain if smart irrigation controllers resulted in water savings without reducing quality of tall fescue [ Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.] and bermudagrass ( Cynodon dactylon L.). A two‐yr study was conducted to compare turfgrass quality, root morphology, and water use of plots irrigated with a constant run time to plots for which irrigation was scheduled using soil moisture sensors (SMS), evapotranspiration (ET) [Climate Logic (CL)] controllers, or 80% of historic ET (ET80) for tall fescue and 60% (ET60) for bermudagrass. Sensors accurately tracked soil moisture up to salinity levels of 4 dS m −1 . Turf performance and root morphology were not affected by irrigation treatments for either grass. Compared to tall fescue plots irrigated with constant run time, plots irrigated using ET80 and CL required 38% less water, and SMS plots used 44% less than tall fescue. Scheduling bermudagrass irrigation by ET60, CL, and SMS resulted in a 29, 42, and 39% reduction in water applied compared to constant run time. The majority of water savings was in spring and fall. Water requirement for bermudagrass during the summer did not differ between the scheduling treatments. Our study confirms that smart irrigation controllers can be used as an effective measure to conserve water in an arid environment.
Although treated effluent is being increasingly used to irrigate mature turfgrass, information on its use to establish grass is limited. Greenhouse experiments were conducted in 2015 and 2017 to examine establishment and nitrate leaching from three warm-season grasses: buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Natt.) Eng.] 'SWI 2000', inland saltgrass [Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene], and bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] 'Princess77'. All grasses were grown with tailored (tertiary treated effluent with 15 mg L-1 of NO3 -N) water. Grasses were established from seed in a loamy sand and irrigated with either tailored or potable water plus granular Ca(NO3 )2 fertilizer. Leachate collected at 10- and 30-cm depths was analyzed for NO3 -N and electrical conductivity. Overall, establishment was faster and coverage was greater in 2015 than in 2017, but neither differed between irrigation treatments when grasses were analyzed separately. At the end of both establishment periods, bermudagrass and buffalograss coverage was generally greater than that of inland saltgrass. In 2017, bermudagrass irrigated with tailored water resulted in greater coverage than buffalograss or inland saltgrass. In 2015, nitrate concentrations were greater in leachate collected from bermudagrass and inland saltgrass irrigated with tailored water than from grasses irrigated with potable water. Nitrate concentrations in leachate were generally lower in 2017, reaching a maximum value of 65.3 mg L-1 when averaged over all treatment combinations, and did not differ between treatments. Our data suggest that the three grasses studied can be successfully established from seed using tailored waters.
ISHS XXVIII International Horticultural Congress on Science and Horticulture for People (IHC2010): International Symposium on Environmental, Edaphic, and Genetic Factors Affecting Plants, Seeds and Turfgrass WATER DEMANDS AND WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGIES IN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT
ABSTRACT Irrigating turfgrass with treated effluent water has become a common practice in response to shrinking supplies of potable water. Newly developed decentralized water treatment systems produce recycled water containing varying quantities of N on short notice. Using such tailored water to irrigate turf areas would reduce or eliminate the need for additional mineral fertilizers if concentrations of nitrate in the water were raised during the growing season to meet the annual N requirement. On the basis of our estimates, in order for turfgrasses to receive their entire annual N requirements (20 to 25 g N m −2 yr −1 ) solely from effluent irrigation, nitrogen concentrations in irrigation water would need to range from as low as 11 mg L −1 for arid regions with a 12‐mo growing season to more than 50 mg L −1 in areas with only a 6‐mo growing season. Furthermore, tailored water should be applied with advanced irrigation systems with high distribution uniformity to minimize nitrate leaching. Subsurface irrigation systems distribute water more efficiently and uniformly and minimize human exposure to treated effluent, which would help dispel negative public perceptions regarding the use of effluent to irrigate public turf areas. As the use of treated effluent for turfgrass irrigation continues to increase, the idea of adjustable nutrient content in irrigation water combined with a subsurface irrigation delivery system could become an important means to sustainably maintain much‐needed urban green spaces.
Strategies to conserve water have been implemented by many municipalities in the US Southwest to minimize quantities of water used for irrigating urban landscapes. Some of them encourage and even enforce homeowners to remove the turfgrass to reduce the irrigation water demands. This strategy not only ignores the numerous benefits derived from the turfgrasses but also fails to recognize the energy savings for the buildings surrounded by green landscapes. Quantitative analysis of the effect and importance of different types of landscapes on urban heat load and the subsequent energy consumption inside those buildings is of great practical need. Field experiments were conducted at New Mexico State University to assess the effect of different landscapes on heat transfer and ambient air and surface temperatures from June 2017 to October 2018. Two standard wood frame walls covered with stucco and surrounded by either Kentucky bluegrass or by hardscape were set up and equipped with sensors, measuring wall and air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and the solar and far infrared radiation balance. Our results show that overall heat load from the xeric landscape is noticeably higher than the one from the grass landscape. Based on these data, we assessed the potential for energy savings by utilizing turfgrass landscaping.
Landscape irrigation in residential and industrial areas has been identified as a major source of high potable water use during the summer months. Consequently, water utilities and municipal ordinances encourage strategies aimed at conserving potable water use in landscape irrigation. There are several options to reduce or eliminate the amount of potable water used for irrigation. First, potable water could be eliminated completely and replaced by recycled or low quality ground water that does not meet standards for human consumption. This strategy has been applied by numerous communities for parks, athletic fields, and golf courses and is also being considered for residential developments. In order to make the use of recycled water a successful long term strategy, salinity tolerance needs to be included as a criterion for plant recommendations. Second, the planting of low water use and/or drought tolerant plants has been suggested and communities have published lists with low water-use plants. However, consumptive water use of plants is the result of the amount of water available in the rootzone and plants often exhibit luxury consumption (high water use) when abundant water is available. Recommending certain plants must be accompanied by education measures on sufficient irrigation and/or the installation of scheduling technology that enables irrigation in adequate amounts at the appropriate intervals. Third, adopting the most efficient method of irrigation available reduces water losses significantly and can have a significant impact on water conservation efforts. Subsurface irrigation systems and micro or streaming sprinkler technology have been shown to irrigate uniformly and keep losses to a minimum. The presentation will use water conservation goals set forth by municipalities or water utilities and discuss the impact of the aforementioned strategies on meeting these goals in urban landscape irrigation.
