Quality of runoff from plots with simulated grazing
-
-
Authors: D. R. Edwards, T. K. Hutchens, R. W. Rhodes, B. T. Larson, and L. Dunn
Date: 2000
Journal: Journal of the American Water Resources Association
Volume: 36
Number: 5
Pages: 1063-1073
Summary of Methods: The effects of simulated grazing on concentrations of N, P, and total suspended solids (TSS) in runoff from fescue dominated pastures were measured at the University of Kentucky Maine Chance Agriculture Experiment Station. Ten simulated grazing treatments combining 4 forage management treatments (ungrazed-no mowing, mowed to 10 cm, mowed to 20 cm, and overgrazed-mowed to 2.5 cm) and 3 fertilization rates (control-no fertilizer, manure alone and manure+urine) were applied to fescue dominated plots. Runoff samples were taken and tested for N, P and TSS after each simulated rainfall immediately following the 7 day application period and the 21 day rest period.
Article Summary / Main Points: All runoff scenario effects had generally higher concentrations measured when simulated rainfall followed relatively dry periods. The forage management treatments with the highest forage heights resulted in the highest runoff of total Kjeldahl N (TKN) and NO3-N concentrations. Application of manure/urine increased the concentrations of N only on sites with the tallest residual forage, though P concentrations increased on all sites with largest increase occurring sites with the shortest forage. These findings indicate that factors, such as amount and proximity of preceding rainfall, can have just as much impact on runoff concentrations of N and P as forage management. Managing forage to maximize uptake of N can reduce the amount of N left to pollute waters in a runoff event.
Vegetation Types: Riparian and Wetlands
MLRA Ecoregions: 121 Kentucky Bluegrass
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Grazing Runoff water
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Experimental Research
Keywords: runoff, nutrients, manure, cattle, forage, rainfall simulator
Annotation: The results of this study illustrate the effects of applying manure and manure alone on the pollutants in the runoff water. A major limitation of this study is the effect of trampling is not taken into account and the test where run in pasture situation that could differ greatly from a native range site.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-