Turf and landscape irrigation

The objectives of turf and landscape irrigation are aesthetic. Both design and management of urban landscape irrigation systems are critical to their success. Evapotranspiration rates of trees and shrubs are influenced by the microclimate. As with trees and shrubs, turf with greater root mass has greater drought tolerance. Salinity tolerance of turfgrass is an important criterion for turfgrass selection and management. Many water-stressed cities use reclaimed water for turf and landscape irrigation in order and to bridge the gap between supply and demand. Mature turfgrass is not a source of hazardous levels of chemical leaching or runoff if fertilization and irrigation are well managed. Factors that lead to excess nutrient leaching include maintaining soil at a saturated level and heavy rainfall. Landscape irrigation water use rates are governed by economics such as installation, water, maintenance, and plant replacement costs.