Management Practices That Reduce Runoff Transport of Nutrients and Pesticides from Turfgrass

Research in crop production and turfgrass has identified grass swards and grass buffer strips as impediments to the transport of nutrients and pesticides in runoff. Dense grass swards have unique characteristics that encourage water to infiltrate soil and impede and filter runoff. Research has also demonstrated that the runoff-reduction characteristics that naturally occur in a grass sward are not sufficient to prevent the substantial runoff caused by major storm events. Urban turfgrasses are usually managed to provide relatively high aesthetic and functional value. Maintenance applications of fertilizer and pesticides required to satisfy consumer expectations, when followed by major storm events, can result in unsatisfactory product transport to surface water features. Practicing runoff reduction management strategies can significantly reduce the occurrence of nutrient and pesticide runoff from turfgrass sites.