Use of Resource-Efficient Plants to Reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Pesticide Runoff in Residential and Commercial Landscapes

Abstract

Runoff from typical urban and suburban landscapes may contain significant levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and a broad spectrum of various pesticides (mainly herbicides and insecticides) due to excessive application rates of these chemicals and high irrigation requirements of most commonly used landscape plant species. Preliminary water quality data (runoff) from a comparative study of 20 microwatersheds using 4 different levels of maintenance, show reductions in these types of pollutants in runoff for microwatersheds planted to resource efficient plants. Utilization of plants indigenous to an ecoregion (and other resource efficient plants) in landscape design and management allows considerable reduction in inputs from fertilizer, water, and pesticides. This results in lower pollutant concentrations in runoff and is estimated to result in lower total pollutant loadings from such systems. Installation of native or resource efficient plants in new developments (commercial and residential) and replacement of existing landscapes with these plants as older plants die or neighborhoods are updated could provide cities and suburban areas with a cost-effective, low-maintenance, and aesthetically-pleasing pollution control technology. Data from the comparative study should provide municipalities charged with meeting the new requirements of the National Pollutant Elimination Discharge System with a way to compare the pollution prevention effectiveness of resource-efficient landscapes with more traditional structural urban runoff controls.

Nutrient Leaching from Mixed-Species Florida Residential Landscapes

“…Researchers have recommended the use of alternative plant materials in place of turfgrass in residential landscapes to conserve water resources and minimize environmental impacts (Hipp et al, 1993; Sacamano and Jones, 1975). The University of Florida–Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF‐IFAS) Florida‐Friendly Landscaping program promotes landscape best management practices to reduce the environmental impacts associated with urban landscape management.…”

Does a Mixed‐Species Landscape Reduce Inorganic‐Nitrogen Leaching Compared to a Conventional St. Augustinegrass Lawn?

“…Given environmental problems associated with loss of fertilizer nutrients from managed systems, there is great interest in research to evaluate residential landscape models for their potential to reduce N leaching. As a result, recent studies have demonstrated the potential for residential landscape models (i.e., vegetation type and associated maintenance regimes) to influence N leaching (Hipp et al, 1993; Broschat, 1995; Erickson et al, 2001; Bowman et al, 2002; Easton and Petrovic, 2004; Frank et al, 2005; Amador et al, 2007). Currently, the predominant residential landscape model in Florida consists of a monoculture of St. Augustinegrass [SA; Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.)…”

Characterization of Turf Practices in Five North Carolina Communities

“…The contribution of turf fertilization to total N nonpoint‐source losses appears to be relatively small on a river basin scale. Researchers have measured only small amounts of N in surface runoff from turf (Gross et al, 1990, 1991; Hipp et al, 1993). These results reflect the fact that most water generally moves through turf, rather than over turf, and that most applied N, unless in a slow release or organic form, is readily converted to NO 3 –N and moves through the soil profile rather than being lost through runoff.…”