MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

N013
Development of Landscape Fertilizer BMPs - Phase 1
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Water Quality
Basin(s) Alafia River, Hillsborough River, Northwest Hillsborough, Coastal Rivers, Pinellas-Anclote River,
Withlacoochee River, Peace River, Manasota
Cooperator(s)
University of Florida
Project Manager SMITH, RANDY
Task Manager(s)
Status Ongoing
Description
The objective of this project is to verify the accuracy of the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) and Florida Green
Industries best management practices (BMPs) fertilizer recommendations across a wide range of common landscape
plants. Plant growth, biomass allocation, shoot nutrient status, foliar characteristics and aesthetic quality will be
evaluated. Plants will be irrigated uniformly as needed according to IFAS recommendations. Irrigation amounts will be
recorded and will allow for water-use efficiency to be calculated when combined with plant biomass measurements.
The interaction between fertilizer rates and water-use efficiency of plants will offer insight into the effect of fertility
recommendations on landscape water consumption. Soil nutrient status will also be monitored over the evaluation
period.
Benefits
This project represents a significant step to develop and implement accurate, science-based fertilizer BMPs for urban
(residential and commercial) landscapes. This study aims to improve the quality of stormwater that leaves an urban
landscape by influencing the amount of fertilizer that is applied to these landscapes. The results of the project will be
applicable to ornamental plants grown in residential and commercial landscapes. This research will provide scientific
data on the fertilizer needs of landscape plants and will improve the accuracy, credibility and long-term viability of
statewide BMP programs, such as the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) program.
Costs
The total project cost is anticipated to be $1,132,158 with the District contributing $566,079 and the University
contributing $566,079 worth of in-kind services. The FY2009 budget amount for the first part of Phase I of this project
is $79,400, with the University of Florida - IFAS contributing $39,700 worth of in kind services and $39,700 to be
funded by the District. The District's share of the FY2009 budget was spilt evenly among all Basins. The University of
Florida - IFAS submitted a FY2010 Cooperative Funding request for $41,500 to continue Phase I of the project.
Additional funds are anticipated to be requested in FY2011 to complete Phase I of the project. Additional funds are
anticipated to be requested in FY2012, FY2013 and FY2014 to complete the final phase (Phase II) of the project. The
District funding amounts shown in the table include staff salaries, travel and central garage charges.
Additional Information
Non-point nutrient losses in stormwater runoff and leachate from urban landscapes have been implicated in the
degradation of water quality in Florida. Information on the nutrient requirements of plant material in a landscape setting
is very limited, most of which pertains only to trees and shrubs. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop more
accurate fertilizer recommendations and validate existing and proposed landscape fertilizer BMPs to quantify their
impact on water consumption and quality. In order to make reasonable fertilizer recommendations, it is necessary to
have information about the nutritional requirements of the most demanding components of the landscape. Additionally,
knowledge of the nutrient requirements allows plants to be zoned based on their fertilizer requirements, similar to the
zoning recommendations for water requirements promoted by FYN (right plant/right place). This zoning will result in a
more targeted and efficient approach to fertilizer application and reduce nutrient losses to the environment. The
University of Florida - IFAS is committed to the development of science-based water conservation and flood protection
ordinances and state-of-the art best management practices. The research activities of the faculty help to provide the
important scientific data to make these ordinances and BMPs possible. In addition, Extension activities of faculty at
the University of Florida - IFAS help to ensure that these science-based ordinances and BMPs are implemented.
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