Landscape irrigation currently accounts for up to 70% of the use of all publicly supplied drinking water in Florida. With a growing population, Florida governmental agencies are mandating water use restrictions to protect the quality and supply of Florida's water resources. One recommendation is to have strict scheduling of landscape irrigation. A two-year study evaluated the effect of irrigation maintenance practices on turfgrass quality, clipping yield and N leaching from St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secumdatum walt. kuntze) lawn landscapes. St. Augustinegrass plots were irrigated at one of three rates: either at 125% ETp or 70% ETp during the first year, and either 70% ETp or irrigation upon visual wilt during the second year. The rate of irrigation played a role in reducing N leaching and maintaining turf quality during the dry season cycles. However during the wet season cycles, reduced irrigation was not effective in reducing N leaching. Water use can be minimized without loss of turfgrass quality and increased N leaching from St. Augustinegrass lawns when irrigation strategies account for seasonal weather patterns.
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