A Comparison of Rainfall Simulation and Turfgrass Irrigation for Their Effects on Nutrient Runoff From Bermudagrass.

Researchers have demonstrated that the type of irrigation applied to crop production fields to simulate natural rainfall during runoff studies affects the outcome of the experiments.  However, these effects may not be consistent with runoff that occurs from turf and it would simplify turfgrass runoff studies if researchers could produce runoff by using an existing turfgrass irrigation system.  This study was executed to determine if nutrient runoff results caused by a typical natural rainfall simulator differed from results caused by a sprinkler irrigation system on mature bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) turf.  Nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers were applied prior to creating runoff using a rainfall simulator and a typical sprinkler irrigation system four times in 2006 and four times in 2007 on a research site designed for that purpose.  Researchers found no significant difference in runoff flow rates, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, or nitrogen and phosphorus losses between the rainfall simulator and the turfgrass irrigation system.