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| Web URL(s): | http://web.archive.org/web/20101216000922/http://eifg.org/programs/GCSAAnutrientsurvey_fullreport.pdf
Last checked: 07/19/2016
Requires: PDF Reader |
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| Publication Type:
| Professional |
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| Material Type: | Book |
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| Monographic Corporate Author(s): | Golf Course Superintendents Association of America |
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| Monograph Title: | Golf Course Environmental Profile: Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume III - [Full Report], 2009. |
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| Publishing Information: | Lawrence, Kansas: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America |
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| # of Pages: | 43 |
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| Collation: | 43 pp. |
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| Abstract/Contents: | "For the first time the golf course management industry has accurate data on nutrient use on golf courses in the U.S. The Golf Course Environmental Profile developed by GCSAA and the EIFG provides data that give new insight into property features, management practices and inputs associated with golf courses across the U.S. The first two reports are on golf facility land use and environmental stewardship and water use and conservation and can be found at www.eifg.org. The third volume, 'Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses,' provides a baseline for comparison with results from future surveys to document changes in nutrient use and management practices over time. This information can help guide the agronomic and environmental initiatives of the golf course management industry. The objectives of the nutrient use and management survey were to determine: the amount of nutrients applied to golf courses; the sources of the nutrients applied; how superintendents make decisions about nutrient applications; whether superintendents use written nutrient management plans or operate under governmental restrictions; how fertilizers are stored and how often fertilizer application equipment was calibrated. Methodology: Superintendents at all golf facilities in the U.S. (16,386) were invited to participate in this survey. A total of 2,561 completed surveys were returned, yielding a 15.6% return rate. Analysis of the returned surveys indicated a representative sample of golf facilities was received with the exception of facility type. Responses from private facilities accounted for 40% of the returned surveys but made up 29% of golf facilities. Therefore, proportions of the collected sample were weighted to resemble known golf course demographics. The data were analyzed and compared across facility types, maintenance budgets and agronomic regions. Results and Recommendations: Nutrient Use: Summed over all golf course components and all golf courses, in 2006 a total of 101,096 tons of nitrogen were applied to 1,311,000 acres (154 pounds of nitrogen per acre); 36,810 tons of phosphate were applied to 1,131,000 acres (65 pounds of phosphate per acre); and 99,005 tons of potash were applied to 1,260,000 acres (157 pounds of potash per acre). These application rates are within the guidelines recommended by university scientists. To offer context, it is helpful to compare the rate of fertilizer applied to turfgrass on golf courses with agricultural crops like corn and tomatoes. Corn is a widely grown agronomic crop and tomatoes are a high-value, intensely maintained vegetable crop. Turfgrass on golf courses is fertilized at a slightly higher rate than corn and at a slightly lower rate than tomatoes.; Nitrogen Fertilizer Sources: For 18-hole golf facilities nationally, slow-release nitrogen sources accounted for 64% of the nitrogen applied, and quick-release nitrogen sources accounted for 36%. Organic nutrient sources were applied to 66% of 18-hole golf facilities in 2006. Organic sources of nutrients comprise 24% of the total annual amount of nutrients applied on 18-hole golf facilities.; Soil Amendments and Turfgrass Supplements: In 2006, 43% of 18-hole facilities did not use soil amendments. The highest use of soil amendments was in the Southwest, where it is common for soil and irrigation water to have a high sodium content. A much larger percentage of respondents, 74%, use a turfgrass supplement such as biostimulants, humates and amino acids/proteins.; Nutrient Management Plans and Fertilizer Restrictions: Of 18-hole golf facilities, 49% had a written nutrient management plan or written fertilizer program in 2006, but only 6% of facilities were required by government or tribal authorities to have such a plan. A higher maintenance budget correlates with the likelihood that a golf facility would use a written nutrient plan or fertilizer program. Nationally, only 9% of 18-hole golf facilities reported restrictions on fertilizer applications. Restrictions were most likely in the North Central (16%) and Pacific (10%) agronomic regions. Recommendation for Nutrient Management Plans: GCSAA recommends that all golf facilities use guidelines developed by university scientists to develop written nutrient management plans based on the characteristics and expectations unique to each facility.; Nutrient Application Decisions: Superintendents consider multiple factors when making nutrient application decisions. Integrating many variables into their decisions leads to effective applications for the turfgrass while protecting the environment. The most common factors superintendents used to make decisions about nutrient applications and the percentage of 18-hole golf facilities using that factor were: visual observations of turfgrass (85%), previous product performance (84%), soils/soil analysis (84%) precipitation/temperature/weather (83%), turfgrass species (81%) and disease pressure (79%). Recommendation for Nutrient Application Decisions: In order to foster sustainability at the golf facility, superintendents should consider the location, climate and condition of the turfgrass as well as the rate, time of year and products to be used when making nutrient management decisions.; Soil Testing: From 2002 to 2006, 95% of 18-hole golf facilities performed soil testing on greens, 75% on tees, 80% on fairways and 26% on rough. Recommendation for Soil Testing: GCSAA recommends that superintendents routinely conduct soil tests on the rough, because it receives the greatest total amount of phosphate and potash. Soil testing has the potential to curtail costs and promote fertilizer programs that meet, but do not exceed, the nutritional needs of the turfgrass.; Fertilizer Storage and Equipment Calibration: On average, superintendents at 18-hole golf facilities calibrated their fertilizer application equipment before 67% of applications, thereby improving the accuracy of their fertilizer applications. Nationally, 91% of 18-hole golf facilities stored fertilizer on site for three consecutive calendar days or more in 2006. Half of those golf facilities used a dedicated storage facility. Recommendation for Ferilizer Storage: GCSAA recommends that golf facilities that store fertilizer should use a dedicated fertilizer storage area designed for that purpose.; Conclusions: The Golf Course Environmental Profile surveys have established the percentage of facilities that are carrying out particular management practices, making it possible for GCSAA and the EIFG to communicate results and make recommendations for improving golf course management practices throughout the country. Additional recommendations will be made as the results of the remaining surveys are published." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 12 |
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| See Also: | See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Property Profile and Environmental Stewardship of Golf Courses: Volume I - [Full Report], 2007, R=144966. R=144966
See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Water Use and Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume II - [Full Report], 2009, R=144968. R=144968
See also related summary, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume III - Summary, 2009, R=158568. R=158568
See also related booklet, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Energy Use and Energy Conservation Practices on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume IV, 2012, R=204777. R=204777
See also article "Golf course environmental profile measures nutrient use and management and fertilizer restrictions, storage, and equipment calibration" Applied Turfgrass Science, December 2009, p. 1-18, R=158414. R=158414
See also related booklet, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Pesticide Use on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume V, 2012, R=233472. R=233472
See also related book, Golf Course Environmental Profile: Nutrient Use and Management Practices on U.S. Golf Courses: Phase II, Volume II, 2016, R=272853. R=272853 |
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| Note: | Includes "Acknowledgments"; p. 5
Includes "Foreword" by Greg Norman, Advisory Council Chair, The Environmental Institute for Golf; p. 6
Includes "Foreword" by Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS and 2009 GCSAA President; p. 7
Includes "Appendix"; pp. 34-42
Hole layouts
Maps
Pictures, color
Tables
Graphs |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. 2009. Golf Course Environmental Profile: Nutrient Use and Management on U.S. Golf Courses: Volume III - [Full Report]. 43 pp. Lawrence, Kansas: Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. |
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Last checked: 07/19/2016
Requires: PDF Reader |
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