SUSPHOS: Sustainable phosphorus (P) fertilization on golf courses
Summary
WP1 and WP2 were completed in 2019 (see STERF yearbook for 2019) and published scientifically in Agronomy Journal in June 2020.
WP3: Data were collected in field trials in China, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Germany comparing the three different P fertilisation recommendations: MLSN, SLAN (old American standard), and ‘Scandinavian Precision Fertilization (SPF). The results showed few significant effects on turfgrass quality, which means that switching from SLAN-based fertilisation to MLSN- or SPF-based fertilisation can reduce P use and P losses on putting greens with low sorption capacity for P, without negatively affecting turfgrass quality. The MLSN recommendation of > 18 mg P/kg soil (Mehlich-3-P) was confirmed for established putting greens under a wide range of climate and management conditions, while the SPF guideline (12 % P relative to N rate) might result in too high P application rates on soils with high Mehlich-3 values, as soil analyses are not considered.
The project was completed in autumn 2021, with a final report accepted by STERF’s board on 16 November 2021. Results were presented in popular and scientific articles, an update of STERF’s handbook on precision fertilisation and a webinar. On 29 October 2021, Anne F. Borchert defended her M.Sc. thesis at Osnabrück University, Germany, based on SUSPHOS WP3. On 28 December 2021, a scientific paper from WP 3 was accepted with minor revisions in International Turfgrass Society Research Journal.
Project background:
Phosphorus (P) results in eutrophication of freshwater and is the plant nutrient for which global reserves are most limited. Many countries have lowered fertilizer guidelines for P in agriculture, but not for turf. STERF’s Precision Fertilization recommends P inputs at a constant ratio of 12 % relative to nitrogen, but this seems redundant for many soil types. The objective of this project is to generate knowledge on how fertilizer costs and environmental impact can be reduced by adjusting P fertilization to soil P according to ‘Minimum Levels of Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN)’ (Woods et al. 2016). In the study, the need for more P at low temperature and during turfgrass (re)establishment is tested in greenhouse trials, while the MLSN guideline for P is tested on golf greens in Europe and China. Results are spread through STERF, GEO and FEGGA.
Fosfor (P) er en kilde til forurensning av ferskvann og samtidig det plantenæringsstoff der verdens reserver er mest begrenset. Mange land har redusert gjødslingsnormene for P i landbruk, men ikke for gress til grøntanlegg. STERFs gjødslingshåndbok tilrår gjødsling med 12 % P i forhold til N, men dette er trolig overflødig på mange golfbaner. Målet med dette prosjektet er å skaffe kunnskap om hvordan gjødslingskostnader og skadelige miljøvirkninger kan reduseres ved å tilpasse fosforgjødslinga til ‘Minimum Levels of Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN)’ (Woods et al. 2016). I prosjektet skal behovet for ekstra fosfor ved lav temperatur om våren og i forbindelse med (re)etablering av greener undersøkes i fytotron, og MLSNs grenseverdi for P skal etterprøves på golfgreener i Europa og Kina. Resultater vil bli kommunisert gjennom STERF, GEO and FEGGA.
Hållbar fosforgödsling på golfbanor
Fosfor är en källa till förorening av sjöar och hav och det är en begränsad naturresurs med risk att ta slut inom en nära framtid. I många länder finns stränga restriktioner när det gäller fosforgödsling. Det är därför viktigt att skapa optimala gödslingsstrategier för nordiska golfbanor dvs strategier för hur gödslingskostnader och negativ miljöpåverkan kan minimeras. I projektet medverkar forskare och praktiker från flera länder i Norden, övriga Europa och Asien. Projektet kommer att pågå under fyra år och genomförs vid NIBIO försöksstation i Norge med fältförsök på olika platser i världen.
Trygve S. Aamlid
Trygve S. Aamlid, NIBIO Division for Environment and Natural Resources, Turfgrass Research Group, Landvik, N-4886 Grimstad, Tel: + 47 90 52 83 78. E-mail: trygve.aamlid@nibio.no
Category: Water, nutrients, construction
Status: Finished
Project period: 2017 - 2021
Fundings (kSEK)
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total | |
| STERF | 525 | 551 | 452 | 258 | 200 | 1 986 |
| Other | 149 | 177 | 177 | 173 | 124 | 800 |
| Total | 674 | 728 | 629 | 431 | 324 | 2786 |
Objectives
Principal objective:
Economic savings and lower environmental impact by reduced and more targeted fertilization with phosphorus (P) according to soil analyses.
Subgoals (corresponding to workpackages (WPs)):
- Determine the need for extra P fertilizer for turfgrass establishment or reestablishment on sand-based golf greens with low soil P values and at various temperatures (WP 1)
- Determine the effect on time of green-up and turfgrass quality of foliar or granular applications of increasing amounts of P at various soil temperatures in spring (WP 2)
- Document effects on turfgrass quality and fertilizer costs by switching form conventional SLAN-based fertilization to SPF or MLSN-based fertilization on golf course representing a range of climatic zones, soil types and turfgrass species.
Project participants
Trygve S. Aamlid
Head of Research
Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO), Department for Urban Greening and Environmental Technology, Turfgrass Research Group, Landvik, Reddalsveien 215, 4886 Grimstad, Norway.
About STERF
STERF is a research foundation that supports existing and future R&D efforts and delivers ‘ready-to-use research results’ that benefit the Nordic golf sector. STERF was set up in 2006 by the golf federations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland and the Nordic Greenkeepers’ Associations.
