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Fertilize your lawn with at least 50% slow release nitrogen, don’t fertilize near waterways, and take a fertilizing holiday during the warmer months.
Nitrogen pollution has become a problem due to expanding fertilizer use. Land for agricultural use was found to increase nutrient loading by 100%. However the same land for suburban lawns increases nutrient loading by 500%. If applied during summer rains, nitrogen from lawn fertilizers washes unchecked into waterways. The EPA estimates that the Indian River Lagoon receives over 3 millions pounds of nitrogen per year. This is over 1 million pounds in excess than can be absorbed.
Feeding the lawn 50% slow release nitrogen, or preferably 100%, at the beginning of the growing season in the spring is the best practice. Nitrogen bits are encapsulated in sulfur that dissolves overtime to feed the lawn for many months. Slow-release means more nitrogen for the grass, less nitrogen running off to waterways, and fewer applications. Plus, you will save money while enjoying green lawns and cleaner water.
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How can you reduce nitrogen pollution in the oceans?
- Posted to Ocean River Institute by Harper Dangler
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Did not see a button for do NOT use any.....that was my choice...so I took the natural manure button......I have no idea what gunpowder fertilizer is!
Living In Kansas, We have friends who own Farms. Farms Have Animals. Animals Make PLENTY of Natural Fertilizer. Who needs chemicals when you have an adequit supply of the NATURAL Stuff.
Gunpowder fertilizer was put in as a joke. We assume nobody wants gunpowder in their yards. However after WWII the US gov had an excess of gunpowder (no surprise). Gov let it be spread on cornfields and production went up 10%. Every since corn industry has insisted on growing by 10% and when our appetites did not increase that much in a year, they made corn syrup and then supersized servings all to move more corn in the market 'cause of gunpowder fertilizer. Don't try this at home.
Oceans must be preserved.
And I like swimme in it every summer. Thankfully I never had enough money in my life to pollute that big.
This breaks my heart, Please help save and protect our Oceans. It starts with you and me!
How's MaryBelle?
Lawns are waste of valuable resources. There are literally hundreds of beautiful ground cover alternatives that require very little maintenance. Too many homeowners are contaminating our groundwater and soil out of pure ignorance. Nitrogen runoff is contributing to dead spots in our oceans and destruction of habitat for all marine life.
Well said!
Get rid of the lawn! Replace with plants that are native to your region. You will never need to fertilize at all, though a bit of compost can perk things up. The native plants will provide forage and habitat for native pollinators and birds, (currently facing declines and even extinction from the lack of habitat and forage). In this way, you can protect the life in the waters while preventing species loss on land RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! As an added benefit, future generations of pollinators...
…Get rid of the lawn! Replace with plants that are native to your region. You will never need to fertilize at all, though a bit of compost can perk things up. The native plants will provide forage and habitat for native pollinators and birds, (currently facing declines and even extinction from the lack of habitat and forage). In this way, you can protect the life in the waters while preventing species loss on land RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY! As an added benefit, future generations of pollinators will ensure your children and grandchildren will have access to fruits and vegetables which cannot grow and set seed/fruit without pollination.