Is there scientific evidence that landscape fertilization is associated with the occurrence of red tide?
Recent studies have shown that increased nutrient levels are likely linked to the occurrence of red tide but, the source of the nutrients has not been determined. It is important to note, however, that most red tide events are initiated miles away from the shore. These outbreaks then move towards shore with the wind. The red tide-causing organism Karenia brevis does not require large amounts of nutrients to survive. Researchers have suggested that excessive loss of N from terrestrial landscapes may prolong the duration of red tide events. However, there is no hard science (in any research publication) to support the fact that fertilizer runoff and/or leaching leads to initiation of red tide blooms (Alcock, 2007). Proper application of fertilizers to landscapes cannot be overemphasized, so that the environmental value of turfgrasses becomes apparent.
