RD396 - Report on the Use of Slowly Available Nitrogen in Lawn Fertilizer and Lawn Maintenance Fertilizer - December 2011


Executive Summary:
The 2011 session of the Virginia General Assembly tasked the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), in consultation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) and the Chesapeake Bay Commission (CBC), with the preparation of a report concerning the use of slowly available nitrogen in lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer. This report, which is predicated upon extensive discussions with a technical advisory committee (TAC) of stakeholders, includes discussion and recommendations regarding:

• The most effective means to encourage the use of slowly available nitrogen in lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer

• The most appropriate percentages of slowly available nitrogen to be included in lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer

• The most appropriate effective date for any change

• Costs to the manufacturer and consumer

• Recommendations on related issues

The TAC met three times at VDACS’ office in Richmond during the summer of 2011. Attendees included representatives from Agrium, Inc., Chesapeake Bay Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, DCR, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), Scotts Miracle-Gro, Southern States, University of Florida, Virginia Agribusiness Council, Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Crop Production Association, Virginia Farm Bureau, Virginia Green Lawn Care, Virginia Homebuilders Association, Virginia Municipal League, Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, Virginia Tech, and Virginia Turfgrass Council.

The TAC’s discussions began with a presentation by Dr. Mark Alley, with Virginia Tech, regarding the nitrogen cycle and a presentation by Dr. Jerry Sartain, with the University of Florida, regarding Florida’s experience addressing slow release nitrogen products. The TAC went on to discuss application rates for slowly available nitrogen in lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer and found that the most appropriate and practical method to address application rates is through amendments to DCR’s Virginia Nutrient Management Standards and Criteria, rather than through amendments to the statute. The recommended application rates for slowly available nitrogen in lawn fertilizer and lawn maintenance fertilizer, “slow or controlled release fertilizer”, and “enhanced efficiency” lawn maintenance fertilizer are detailed in the Recommendations section of this report.