Response of tropical turfgrasses to recycled water in southern Queensland
C. M. Menzel A C and P. Broomhall BA Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, PO Box 5083, SCMC, Nambour, Qld 4560, Australia.
B Hortech Services Pty Ltd, PO Box 126, Amiens, Qld 4352, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: chris.menzel@dpi.qld.gov.au
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(12) 1645-1652 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04245
Submitted: 18 November 2004 Accepted: 4 August 2005 Published: 10 November 2006
Abstract
The effects of recycled water (effluent) on 8 tropical grasses growing in 100-L bags of sand were studied in Murrumba Downs, just north of Brisbane in southern Queensland (27.4°S, 153.1°E). The species used were: Axonopus compressus (broad-leaf carpetgrass), Cynodon dactylon (bermudagrass ‘Winter Green’) and C. dactylon × C. transvaalensis hybrid (‘Tifgreen’), Digitaria didactyla (Queensland blue couch), Paspalum notatum (bahiagrass ‘38824’), Stenotaphrum secundatum (buffalograss ‘Palmetto’), Eremochloa ophiuroides (centipedegrass ‘Centec’) and Zoysia japonica (zoysiagrass ‘ZT-11’). From May 2002 to June 2003, control plots were irrigated with potable water and fertilised monthly. Plots irrigated with effluent received no fertiliser from May to August 2002 (deficient phase), complete fertilisers at control rates from September to December 2002 (recovery phase) and nitrogen (N) only at control rates from January to June 2003 (supplementary phase). In October 2002, the average shoot weight of plants from the effluent plots was 4% of that from potable plots, with centipedegrass less affected than the other species (relative growth of 20%). Shoot N concentrations declined by 40% in the effluent plots from May to August 2002 (1.8 ± 0.1%) along with phosphorus (P, 0.46 ± 0.02%), potassium (K, 1.6 ± 0.2%), sulfur (S, 0.28 ± 0.02%) and manganese (Mn, 19 ± 2 mg/kg) concentrations. Only the N and Mn concentrations were below the optimum for grasses. The grasses grew satisfactorily when irrigated with effluent if it was supplemented with N. Between January and June 2003 the average weight of shoots from the effluent plots was 116% of the weight of shoots from the control plots. Shoot nutrient concentrations were also similar in the 2 regimes at this time. The recycled water supplied 23% of the N required for maximum shoot growth, 80–100% of the P and K, and 500–880% of the S, calcium and magnesium. The use of recycled water represents savings in irrigation and fertiliser costs, and reductions in the discharge of N and P to local waterways. Effluent is currently about 50% of the cost of potable water with a saving of about AU$8000/ha.year for a typical sporting field.
Additional keywords: effluent, fertiliser, growth, nitrogen, phosphorus, shoot nutrient concentrations, warm-season grasses, wastewater.
Acknowledgments
We thank Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), Lend Lease (Rob Ball and Gary Searle) and Lensworth (Alex Plusnin) through their developments in Brisbane, Pine Rivers Shire Council (Michael Gash, Nursery Technician, Bob Bannon, Supervisor and Helen Walker, Assistant Chemist), Calliope Shire Council (Jeff Kidner), Townsville City Council (Ross Pillar), Jimboomba Turf (Lynn Davidson) and Twin View Turf (Max Stephenson). Special appreciation to Roger Smart, Lin O’Brien and Matt Limpus from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and Neil Power from Brisbane.
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