Long-Term Objectives

1. Determine the factors affecting chemical constituents in drainage from a golf green.

2. Develop and evaluate Best Management Practices for managing a golf green to minimize off-site movement of fertilizer and pesticides.

3. Establish irrigation scheduling which minimizes water losses in drainage.

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Short-Term Objectives

1. Determine the impacts of irrigation rate and timing on drainage water chemistry.

2. Develop and/or evaluate models for predicting water and chemical movement in a green.

3. Integrate pest management recommendations with water quality considerations.

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Accomplishments

1. Constructed a golf green Iysimeter system of 16 plots with computer-controlled irrigation and individual drainage collection and automatic sampling (completed l995).

2. Developed flow measurement system for a wide range of drainage rates.

3. Nutrient leaching tests initiated.

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Significance

The golf industry is very important in North Carolina, with more than 500 golf courses currently in use and many more planned. The most intensively managed area are the greens, which receive more irrigation and chemical inputs than elsewhere on a course. Because of concerns about off-site movement of these chemicals, much more information is needed on how to manage a green to the highest quality standard while minimizing potential impacts on nearby aquatic environments. This facility will be used to determine such Best Management Practices and as a demonstration area for transferring our recommendations.

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Future Plans

1. Make decision-support tools available through the NCSU World Wide Web site.

2. Conduct similar tests on Coastal and Mountain golf course environments.

3. Establish or adopt a water quality protection certification program for golf courses.

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