Project Number: 3640-12130-005-01
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: May 31, 2005
End Date: Dec 31, 2008

Objective:
Evaluate the ability of turf management practices to mitigate pesticide and nutrient loads with rainfall runoff from fairway turf, and assess the transport of fall-applied snow-mold fungicides and late-fall fertilizers with runoff during spring thaw.

Approach:
Turf plots will be maintained using various management practices. Pesticides and fertilizers will be applied according to label rates and industry standards. Runoff, resulting from simulated rainfall, will be collected by automated samplers. Pesticide application rates, and pre- and post-rainfall soil moistures and core samples will be measured and collected. Runoff water will be extracted and analyzed for pesticides and nutrients to determine chemical loading with runoff. In the late fall, fungicides and fertilizer will be applied and runoff resulting from natural rainfall or snow melt will be collected and analyzed for fungicide and nutrient content. These data will then be used to determine which turf management practices are most effective in reducing off-site transport of applied chemicals with surface runoff.