ASHS 2024 Conference

Adherence to the Florida Department of Agriculture's (FDACS) Best Management Practices (BMP) program is crucial for sod producers to protect water quality. Challenges arise due to perceived low fertilization rates and accelerated production cycles, particularly in South Florida. Challenges are exacerbated by the nutrient export that occurs when harvested sod carries away soil-bound nutrients and residual fertilizer. The sod BMP manual is undergoing revision, with a proposed emphasis on achieving a nutrient balance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) inputs/exports in sod operations. However, current published data on nutrient export needs to be more comprehensive, necessitating research efforts to fill this knowledge gap. This project, funded by a 2022-2023 FDACS BMP grant, aims to educate and improve sod producer BMPs by assessing current practices and quantifying nutrient inputs/exports through sod slab analysis. A Qualtrics survey was designed to measure sod producers' current BMP practices. Visits to sod farms were employed to collect sod slab samples for nutrient inputs/exports data processing. Results, particularly regarding N and P export, revealed variability across turfgrass species, highlighting the need for further research to determine nutrient sinks and explore the influence of soil depth on nutrient export during harvest. The project's future focus involves providing targeted training based on results to Florida sod producers and exploring additional funding opportunities to address remaining key questions. Results of this project will improve nutrient management inputs/exports budgeting by sod producers and facilitate adoption of practices that improve nutrient management for sod production statewide.