"Impact of Manure Application on Phosphorus Runoff and Soil Erosion" by Daniel T. Walters, C. Gossin et al.

Biological Systems Engineering, Department of

 

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2002

Citation

Proceedings of the Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference, Denver, Colorado, March 5-6, 2002, ed. Alan J. Schlegel.

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural land is a serious environmental issue because of the impact of P on freshwater eutrophication (McDowell, et al., 2001). The movement of P from soil to surface water is impacted by P input to soil and manure management practices that impact P transport processes. Twenty-one natural runoff plots were established to monitor the effect of time and method of composted beef feedlot manure application and feed P input on net losses of bio-available P and sediment in surface runoff. Reducing feed P inputs resulted in a 33% reduction in manure P content. Runoff losses of P were reduced in direct proportion to feed P inputs. Runoff volume and sediment losses were lowest in the year s of compost application and we observed that a longer time interval between compost application date and spring runoff season resulted in increase sediment, runoff and P loss. Bray-PI extractable soil P (0-15cm) increased from 27 ppm prior to compost application up to 400 ppm in direct proportion to manure P loading rate. Management criteria designed to assess the potential for landscape P loading (i.e. "P-index") correctly weight winter· applications as more hazardous than planting time applications. Results indicate that reduction of P input at the feedlot will have a long-term impact in reducing P loading to surface waters.

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