Introduction:

Over application of fertilizer to lawns causes nutrient runoff into local ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. This results in algee blooms that are damaging to the environment.

Our main concern:

Excess fertilizer runoff damages both local and regional water ways. The issue is wide spread and at the same time local. Water runoff from local lawns eventually flows into the Ohio River and from there contributes to algee blooms in the Gulf of Mexico.

Obstacles and supporting information:

Home owners have limited knowledge about this topic and even less ability to know what to do about this issue.

There are professional tests that can be conducted on soil to test levels of phosphorous and nitrogen. However, these are costly (about $20/sample) and directed mostly to professional farmers in the region.

Many homes have been built on soil that is high in clay which contributes to fertilizer runoff. Sometimes this is aggravated by local developers stripping the top surface layer of top soil off the land during the development process.

Who is engaged in this concern?

There are some efforts to educate farmers in the region. An example is here.

http://indiana.clearchoicescleanwater.org/lawns/fertilizer-impacts

There are local businesses that offer organic fertilizer options for home owners and offer a limited supply of free soil test kits are part of their marketing techniques.

https://theorganicturfcompany.com/

I do not know of any local non-profit resources directed at homeowners.

Manufacturers of home lawn fertilizer give specific directions for use on the label. But based on visual evidence the aggregate community over use of fertilizers is significant.

What are the initial questions?

Has anyone attempted to address this issue via Public Lab or similar?

What can be reapplied from similar topics?

Are there low cost citizen science sensors available to help measure and quantify the issue? If not, does anyone have ideas on how to develop a low cost sensor to measure phosphorus and/or nitrogen?