Irrigation of Turfgrass with Secondary Sewage Effluent: II. Turf Quality

Abstract

AbstractDue to limited water resources, golf course irrigation with municipal sewage effluent is a common practice, and, in some areas of the USA Desert Southwest mandatory. However, effluent irrigation changes soil properties and therefore different management practices are needed for good quality turfgrass. This field experiment evaluated the continuous use of secondary treated municipal sewage effluent on turfgrass quality over a 64‐wk period. In April 1987, common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) was seeded to a Sonoita gravelly sandy loam (coarse‐loamy, mixed, thermic Typic Haplargid) and maintained under fairway conditions. In October of that year, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) was overseeded to maintain an actively growing turf. Plots were irrigated identically with either effluent or potable water. Effluent irrigation led to significantly lower seed emergence but improved seed establishment. Turf quality was assessed under each irrigation with four N fertilization rates of 0, 16.1, 32.3 and 48.4 kg N ha−1 (4 wk)−1. Established effluent irrigated turf did not show signs of osmotic stress with the leaching fraction employed. Effluent provided significant amounts of nutrients at high application rates. No single fertilization rate or irrigation regime consistently produced a superior turf quality over the course of the whole study. Effluent irrigated turf showed signs of overfertilization, greater heat stress and chlorosis of overseeded ryegrass stands during the summer months on plots receiving N fertilizer amendments. Municipal effluent did produce a high quality turf, but, the greater soluble salt and nutrient content of the water necessitate special management strategies.