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4. Unintended consequences We have been presenting what our Florida science says about potential unintended consequences to water quality of actions not based on science These publications (Unintended Consequences, FAQs, and FFL) have been made available to you previously Research in Florida is clearly supported by publications in the national peer-reviewed journals

5. The Nitrogen Cycle

6. National Studies Addressing similar water quality issues to ours in Florida Studying the same underlying biological and physical science principles Aimed at developing solutions in the form of BMPs Focus on education

7. Oklahoma Turf inhibits runoff better than any other surface Management practices can be designed to take greatest advantage of turf for protecting the environment Problems occured when BMPs were not followed

8. Wisconsin Factors of greatest importance to nutrient losses from lawns Depth of runoff Failure to fertilize-reduced stand Factors of lesser importance De-compacting the soil Type of fertilizer

10. Michigan Labeled N-15 urea nitrogen Leachate recovery of N was 0.23% of total applied over 2 years 80% N recovered in soil, thatch, and clippings Suggested volatile losses of remainder

11. Guelph, Ontario, Canada Uptake was related to top and root growth-more N removal associated with greater root and top growth Another study-positive linear relationship between plant N uptake and total plant biomass-healthier plants took up more N Negative linear relationship between plant N uptake and N leached-More N uptake=less N leached

12. North Carolina Nitrogen uptake greatest in most active growing periods < 10% N recovered in the soil after 3 days in growing period-summer > 80% N recovered in soil in dormant period Root mass-100,000 roots and 1 million root hairs per liter of soil

13. New Mexico N leaching less than 1% of applied N leaching related to photoperiod More N leached when PP was < 12 hours Slower growth N loses can be avoided by proper N fertilization practices

14. Texas Impervious : pervious surfaces Turfgrass (fertilized) versus native prairie grasses (unfertilized) Less runoff with more pervious surface and with turf compared to native grasses

15. Pennsylvania Runoff from turf on 9 to 13 % sloped areas Excellent turf health and good quality loam soil with high infiltration rate Nitrate in runoff was not different from concentration in the rain water

16. Georgia 40 to 70% of rainfall exited plots as runoff Only 16% N was found in the runoff from actively growing turf, from the fertilization event 24 hours before the rain event. 64% N was found in the runoff from dormant turf

17. Executive Order 13508 Draft Strategy for Protecting and Restoring the Chesapeake Bay-MarylandNovember 9, 2009

18. Scientifically proven benefits of turfgrass, in the national literature Healthy turf minimizes runoff Healthy turf prevents soil erosion Healthy turf is efficient at absorbing nutrients-dense root system-more so than other plants Less than 1% of applied N leaches in well managed turf (confirmed in many states) Seasonal variation in nutrient uptake-environmental implications

19. Funding for Turf and Landscape Water Quality Research Federal Grants-USDA, EPA, NSF, and others State Agency Grants-FDEP, FDACS Water Management Districts Local Government-Counties, municipalities, utilities Industry Grants-Turfgrass, sod, fertilizer, allied industries

20. Water quality research in Florida A FDEP-funded research project with turf cultivars, fertilization programs, and irrigation

22. Warm-season turfgrass growth over the year

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