Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

Nutrient pollution is one of America’s most challenging environmental problems. Leading the list of contaminants are nitrogen and phosphorous, which are commonly found in lawn and garden fertilizers and natural amendments. In Fayette County, 25 years (1990 – 2014) of soil test data show that 94% of home lawns and gardens exceed the maximum recommendations for phosphorous fertilizer applications and levels are increasing. Over fertilization and improperly timed nutrient applications increase nutrient loads to stormwater runoff which leads to impaired water quality in the Commonwealth.

In response to the abundance of phosphorous in Kentucky home lawns, UK’s Cooperative Extension Service is teaming with homeowner associations, master gardeners, and other community organizations to implement a public education program (No P on My Lawn) to engage Fayette County residents on proper nutrient management. The educational elements will emphasize the environmental and aesthetic ramifications of over fertilization, demonstrate the benefit and method of soil testing, explain how to interpret soil tests, and identify appropriate plant nutrients utilizing the 5R approach to nutrient management: right source, right time, right rate, right place, right price. While the program focus will be on phosphorous, the proposed strategies will result in a correlated reduced nitrogen and potassium load as well.

Program material will be delivered through workshops offered through neighborhood and community organizations and include grant supplemented soil tests for workshop participants. Current practices will be recorded through anonymous survey instruments and behavior change will be measured through pre - and post-surveys. It is our assumption that increased public education will reduce nutrient loads applied by homeowners resulting in reduced contribution to runoff and improved water quality.