How management practices carried out by Deane Golf Club may have an adverse effect upon water quality, specifically on the concentration levels of nitrate within an adjacent watercourse.

Abstract

Water resources cover 70% of the world’s surface area and provide habitable environments for
all its flora and fauna (USGS, 2013). Additionally human life cannot survive without its water
resources. It is imperative that we look to protect and improve the quality of water upon which
we have an impact.

There have been numerous studies undertaken to investigate the effects of nitrate concentrations
found within watercourses adjacent to agricultural land, particularly where slurry is intensively
used (Zebarth et al, 1988,) or fertilisers regularly applied (Balogh & Anderson, 1992). In
contrast, very few studies have examined nitrate effects upon other land uses in differing
environs; in particular golf courses, and how management practices carried out, may possibly
have an adverse effect upon water quality (Starr & DeRoo, 1981). Golf courses regularly receive
“point source” pollution in the form of inorganic fertilisers in order to promote rapid growth.

Nitrate is a necessity for plant development; however it is highly soluble and easily lost to water
through run-off and leaching, posing issues to water quality within river systems (Addiscott,
1996). Therefore as a result, The Environment Agency now considers nitrate as a potential water
pollutant (Gaines, 1994). Between 1950-1985, the demand for protein and grain amplified as a
result of the rapidly growing world population, leading to alternate management practices of
agricultural land such as regular inorganic fertiliser treatment, as a consequence of rapid nitrate
release after application. Within this thirty five year period, various research studies revealed a
dramatic increase in the global use of fertilisers along with increased levels of nitrate in water
supplies, especially in cultivated areas (Saull, 1990). Due to the similar trend between fertiliser
treatment and nitrate concentrations, Academics often draw conclusion that the two correlate
strongly and the vast majority of nitrate volume found to be present within river systems derives
from fertiliser, as a consequence of their nitrogen base (Addiscott, 1996). However other
atmospheric, environmental and geological sources provide nutrients and are repeatedly recycled
through the soil, indicating fertilisers are not the only source of leached nitrate, combined with
additional variables such as nitrate concentrations within differing fertilisers (Puri, 2002).

Although recent studies reveal an improvement of chemical and biological quality for rivers, a
large percentage still exceed threshold levels established by the EU Directive of 50mg NO3/l
(ADAS, 2007) .
This raises concerns with respect to the impact of nitrate and its potential links with serious
health problems, encouraging more research into sources of contamination as well as looking at
appropriate measures to minimise pollution of potable and recreational waters (Addiscott, 1996).