Turfgrass and Landscape Irrigation Water Quality: Assessment and Management

 

With increased use of alternative irrigation water sources on turfgrass and landscape sites, management challenges related to irrigation water are becoming more complex and whole ecosystems-oriented. In response to this, three of the US turf industry’s most prominent figures have combined to pen a book which provides a comprehensive, science-based and practical-based understanding of irrigation water quality.

Two of the authors will be well known to Australian turf practitioners. Ronny Duncan and Bob Carrow have established themselves as two of the world’s foremost experts in turf and together have written a plethora of books and research articles which have become essential reference tools for superintendents and turf managers. For this book, Duncan and Carrow have teamed with former Southern Californian golf course superintendent and USGA agronomist Michael Huck, who since 2003 has provided independent consulting to the industry regarding turfgrass, soils, water quality, irrigation audits and water management.

Together the triumvirate has produced the authoritative ‘Turfgrass and Landscape Irrigation Water Quality: Assessment and Management.’ Over 464 pages, they identify and present practical management options for problems that may occur over the whole spectrum of irrigation water movement, from issues occurring at the initial water source, delivery system, storage in lakes or ponds, application on grasses and soils and subsurface or surface environmental concerns.

The book, which is dedicated to US water expert Dr. James Watson for his many years of educational and research activities for the turfgrass industry, is split into four distinct sections. Part One is titled Understanding Assessment of Irrigation Water and contains four chapters looking at irrigation water quality concerns, constituents of concern in irrigation water, water quality tests and field monitoring.

In Part Two – Irrigation Water Quality Situations and Management – best management practices are presented for irrigation water sources ranging from ultrapure, saline (slightly brackish to seawater blends), reclaimed, stormwater runoff and drainage water reuse. Part Three examines in detail management options for site-specific problems including irrigation system design for poor quality water, effective leaching of saline/sodic sites, water treatment, nutritional considerations with variable quality water, and lake, pond and stream management.

The concluding section addresses potential environmental concerns related to the use of variable quality irrigation sources on landscapes and recreational turfgrass areas from the landscape to watershed levels. This section also contains eight case studies, while there is an extensive list of global landscape plants relative to their salinity tolerance presented in the appendix.

The diversity and nature of various water quality related challenges are quite daunting, even for the most seasoned profession. This book provides a foundation for understanding the complexities of water quality that is certain to lead to science-based management decisions that are environmentally friendly and sustainable for years to come.

To order this book, contact AGCSA membership coordinator Lyndel Conway on (03) 9548 8600 or email info@agcsa.com.au.