Use of biosolids as a potential fertilizer for lawn turf

Abstract Ensuring turfgrass health through an effective fertilization program is crucial for stress tolerance and overall vigor. The use of organic fertilizers, in particular biosolids, has emerged as a promising alternative to mitigate the negative impacts associated with traditional inorganic fertilizers and to offer a sustainable and eco‐friendly approach to maintaining turfgrass health. The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of biosolids as a sole or supplemental source of fertilizer to improve turfgrass health. Two field trials were conducted in Guelph, ON, from 2018 to 2020. Fertilizer treatments consisted of a negative control with no fertilizer, two inorganic controls, and three organic fertilizers, two of which were biosolids, applied via topdressing either two or three times per season. The results demonstrated that biosolids were an appropriate form of fertilizer to maintain turfgrass health when used as a supplement to synthetic fertilizers. The biosolids performed similarly to traditional inorganic fertilizers across multiple health parameters, suggesting they are a viable alternative for sustaining high turf quality.