Six State Survey of Container Nursery Nitrate Nitrogen Runoff

Abstract

Container nursery bed runoff, reservoirs or ponds that contained runoff, wells, and surface water discharged from the property or at the property border were sampled at approximately 6-week intervals during April–October 1990 in Alabama, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia. Runoff from container beds averaged 8 and 20 ppm NO 3 -N, respectively, for nurseries using controlled-release fertilizers (CRF) and controlled-release fertilizers supplemented with solution fertilizers (CRFSS). Average NO 3 -N levels for runoff collection ponds, property borders, and wells were each less than 10 ppm, the drinking water limit, regardless of fertilizers used. However, ppm NO 3 -N for some samples exceeded the drinking water standard. In general, these data indicate reason for concern and nursery operators need to implement best management practices.