Tuesday, 8 November 2005
5

Effects of Biosolids Application on Turfgrass Performance.

Pauline Lindo, Albert Cox, and Thomas Granato. MWRD-Chicago, R&D Complex, 6001 W Pershing Rd., Cicero, IL 60804

A study was established on a golf course located in Hickory Hills, Illinois to demonstrate the benefits of using biosolids generated by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago as a soil amendment and to evaluate the effects of shading on turfgrass performance in biosolids.  A total of 40 plots was established on an area of the golf course shaded by trees, and 40 in an unshaded area.  The biosolids treatments consisted of an unamended control (C), and two rates of anaerobically digested, lagoon-aged, air-dried biosolids applied at a low (LBS) and a high (HBS) rate of 627 and 1,254 Mg ha-1, respectively, incorporated in the 0- to 15-cm depth of the soil.  Each of the biosolids rates was seeded to four individual turfgrasses: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L. cvs. Arcadia and SR 2100), and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.).  The growth and performance of the turfgrass were evaluated visually.  The results showed that the two Kentucky bluegrass cultivars performed best under no shade at the LBS rate, but Arcadia performed better than SR 2100 under both shaded and unshaded conditions at both LBS and HBS rates.  The perennial ryegrass performed best at the LBS rate under unshaded conditions.  The creeping fescue performed best under no shade at the HBS rate, and fairly well in the shaded area at the HBS rate.  Overall, the turfgrass performance was better in all the treatments receiving BS than in the unamended control, and in the unshaded rather than in the shaded area. These results showed that BS are an effective and productive soil amendment when used for establishing and maintaining turfgrass, and can  provide monetary savings to golf course operators.


Handout (.pps format, 213.0 kb)

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