A Preliminary Campus Nitrogen Mass Balance -Evaluation of Sustainability At the University of Florida.

American environmental scientists recently began to address the ecology in urban areas. Two case studies are the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research study and the Baltimore Ecosystem study. Concurrently, colleges have raised their attention to sustainability education programs on campuses around the country. The University of Florida, likewise has a sustainability initiative for the Gainesville campus that includes water quality monitoring of streams and lakes on campus. This study was undertaken to determine a nitrogen mass budget for the campus by studying N inputs and losses for different land uses at the University of Florida. Periodic sampling and continuous flow sensors are being used to measure NO3- and total N concentrations in stormwater runoff from three landuses. Recreational fields receive intensive synthetic fertilizer applications, public buildings areas receive reclaimed water, and parking and roads areas receive no irrigation water. Knowledge about nutrient runoff loads may help make decisions about nutrient application and irrigation practices that lead to less nutrient loss.