Biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in cool-season turfgrass systems

Managed turf areas are both a source and a sink for greenhouse gases (GHGs). Management practices, including turfgrass selection and mowing, influence the amount of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stored in the soil, as well as the associated GHG emissions. The objective of this research was to determine the net C and N balance (i. e. the amount of C and N stored less the amount emitted) of managed turfgrass systems with different grasses (species and cultivars) and management practices (mowing frequency and grass clippings management). Data explicitly quantified in this experiment include annual mowing requirements and accompanying GHG emissions, annual dry matter yield, soil C and N accumulation, and GHG flux of tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) cultivars with varying growth rates. Leaf, verdure, and root tissue C and N were also determined, along with the corresponding biomass. Estimations of emissions from fertilization, irrigation, and pesticide applications were also included in the net balance calculations. All of the turfgrasses and management practices in this experiment resulted in a system-wide net C sink, though the magnitude of the sink varied by turfgrass selection and management strategy. In general, higheryielding grasses and management practices increased soil C but also increased mowing requirements and thus emissions. Returning grass clippings was found to increase yield, soil and leaf tissue N, and soil C, but it also marginally increased mowing requirements. The results of this experiment support the assertion that managed turfgrass areas can act as a net C sink to help curb the increasing atmospheric GHG concentrations. The C sequestration potential of managed turfgrass is another of the numerous functional benefits of urban grasslands.