Nitrogen Alternatives at Home

RESEARCH – NITROGEN – ALTERNATIVES AT HOME

Septic Systems
Approximately 1/3 of the U.S. population uses septic systems to treat domestic wastewater. When these systems work improperly or fail, nitrogen may be released into the groundwater. Alternative septic systems that remove additional N are being explored at Land Grant Universities.

New alternative and innovative onsite wastewater treatment systems are being developed to remove nitrogen and help protect sensitive water resources. The New England Onsite Wastewater Treatment Center has research systems installed in six communities. Recent research is assessing the variation in effluent nitrogen isotope signatures associated with the differing levels of treatment occurring in conventional and advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems.

As a result of research conducted at the University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program , a performance-based component was implemented and incorporated into Minnesota Rules Chapter 7080 that guides the proper location, design, installation, use and maintenance of individual sewage treatment systems.

Home Lawns
Over-fertilization of home lawns leads to nitrogen leaching to the groundwater, especially troublesome in urbanizing watersheds. Land Grant University researchers are exploring the fertilizer needs of turf grasses and creating new grass breeds that require less fertilizer.

To better determine fertilizer use patterns in urban areas, researchers at North Carolina State University conducted a door-to-door lawn care survey in five communities. They found a significant difference in application rate between high/medium income levels and the low-income level. Most household residents (53%) used instructions on the bag and either grass type and/or lawn area to guide them on fertilizer application rates. The information collected helped to establish a targeted educational program to urban audiences.

homeowner applying fertilizer Research at the University of Connecticut indicated that nitrate leaching losses from lawn turf in southern New England occur primarily during the late fall through the early spring. To reduce N leaching, lawn fertilizers should be formulated with a larger percentage of slow-release N than soluble N.

University of Massachusetts and Rhode Island researchers are evaluating the fate of nutrients associated with conventional and best management practices used in typical eastern turf management systems. Several new golf courses will be using the protocols developed.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Program sponsored the “From Our Backyards to the Bay: An Urban Nutrient Management Forum” in 2005. At this forum, University of Maryland researchers presented a research review of N losses from turfgrass. Other presenters discussed N inputs from residential lawncare practices.

Research was conducted at Colorado State University evaluating topdressing composted dairy manure on turfgrass. Nitrate leaching was not significant in any of the treatments.

Recent advances in understanding and managing N losses from rural and agricultural lands were highlighted at the 2006 CSREES National Water Conference Symposium “Advances and Challenges in Reducing Nitrogen Export from Rural Watersheds.” Suggestions to meet the research and extension needs to reduce the risk of watershed N export were offered.