Assessing the use of biosolids for establishment of turfgrass stands in sod production

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Biosolids are defined as the solid, organic matter recycled from sewage waste and are often processed in a way that allows for their use in agricultural farming. There are concerns, however, regarding the safety of biosolids amendments in agricultural soils, particularly with respect to potential leaching of nutrients through the soil. If these amendments are applied to soils at an appropriate rate, however, and to crops that germinate and grow quickly, they could be a safe and efficient source of organic fertilizer. Turfgrass is grown as a perennial crop that can create complete ground cover and has a rather high root to shoot ratio. Turfgrasses grown for maintained areas require high amounts of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, and can benefit from increase organic matter as many turfgrasses are grown on sandy soils. The use of biosolids for turfgrass growth could be mutually beneficial for waste treatment plants and for turgrass managers alike as biosolids could potentially be an excellent source of organic fertilizer for establishment and maintenance. The objectives of this study are to determine the potential use of LysteGro biosolids for the establishment and maintenance of turfgrass on sod farms and potentially on other areas where turfgrass is maintained. Additionally, we are interested in the leaching potential of LysteGro biolosolids to ensure that their use will not lead to pollution of groundwater systems. The results of this study could lead to the use of an alternative organic fertilizer for the growth of turfgrass plants, and with additional testing, potentially other crops as well.