Tuesday, November 14, 2006
168-13

Development of an In-line Drain Tile Filter to Capture and Quantify Nitrate and Phosphate Leachates from Sand-Based Putting Greens.

Adam Nichols, Matthew Eick, Mike Goatley, and Erik Ervin. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 335 Smyth Hall, CSES Dept, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0404

During the establishment of sand-based putting greens, a large portion of nutrients in the form of nitrates (NO3-) and phosphates (PO4) have the potential to leach into the subsurface drainage installed below the green.  This can lead to environmental problems in surface and groundwater systems.  A two-part study was conducted to determine if using an in-line drainage filter effectively removes these nutrients from leachate coming through new greens.  The first part of the study was conducted in the laboratory to determine if the filter material was capable of removing nitrates and phosphates from leachate.  The second-part consists of a greenhouse lysimeter study.  This study simulated the establishment of a green under six different soils [100% sand, 90% sand:10% sphagnum peat (v:v), 90% sand:10% Dakota peat, 80% sand:20% sphagnum peat, 80% sand:20% Dakota peat, and a Biofilter soil). Leachate flows equally through one of two filters connected to the lysimeters, one containing inert material (control), and the other containing the filter material. Efficacy and longevity of nitrate and phosphate removal from the leachate were determined. Results of the laboratory study has shown the filter material to have a capture efficiency of phosphates greater than 99.9% through 30L of leachate with an initial concentration of 15 mg L-1.  Nitrate capture efficiency was even greater.  Ongoing results from the lysimeter study will be presented. This study should show that an in-line drainage filter can be made to remove nitrates and phosphates from the leachate of sand-based greens during the establishment phase and beyond.