Drought Induced Canopy Effects On Surface Runoff Quality.
Poster Number 515
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Tampa Convention Center, East Hall, Third Floor
Charles Henry Fontanier1, Jacqueline Ann Aitkenhead-Peterson1 and Richard H. White2, (1)Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (2)Soil & Crop Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
Municipal water restrictions in combination with deficit irrigation practices and sustained drought can result in unacceptable turf quality. Recent droughts have demonstrated that low density, dessicated lawns may becoming more commonplace and potentially more accepted across Texas landscapes. This shift in the definition of 'acceptable' lawn quality could represent a significant alteration to the urban ecosystem. Such changes have not be evaluated for their impact on surface hydrology or nutrient loading into surface waters. Thus, a field study was initiated at the Texas A&M Surface Runoff Facility in College Station, TX, to measure runoff volumes and nutrient loading from St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze) lawns irrigated at diminishing fractions of FAO Penman Monteith ETo. Data from one growing season will be discussed.