Effects of residue management on nitrogen losses in surface and sub-surface water from sugarcane fields

The effect of three sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) residue-management plans on nitrogen losses in surface runoff and sub-surface leachate was studied for 3 years. The three management plans evaluated were conventional burning (CB), compost application with burning (COMB), and remaining green cane trash blanketing (GCTB) treatment. In the CB treatment, sugarcane residue was burned after harvest. The COMB treatment consisted of compost applied at ‘off bar’ with sugarcane residue burned immediately after harvest. Compost was applied in the amount of 13.4 Mg ha^?1 annually. Surface runoff was collected with automatic refrigerated samplers and sub-surface leachate was collected with pan lysimeters over a period of 3 years. Total nitrogen (TN), NO₃/NO₂–N, and NH₄–N were measured. The mean losses of nitrogen (TN, NO₃/NO₂–N, and NH₄–N) from the COMB treatment after the burning procedure (post-harvest, years 2 and 3) were on average 2.7 times higher than those before harvest and burning (pre-harvest, year 1). Mean leaching losses of NO₃/NO₂–N were 0.36, 0.82, and 0.10 kg ha^?1 for the CB, COMB, and GCTB treatment, respectively. The losses of NO₃/NO₂–N from the GCTB treatment in surface runoff and sub-surface leachate were significantly reduced compared to the CB and COMB treatment.     

Surface Water Quality as Affected by Sugarcane Residue Management Techniques

This study evaluated the impacts of three sugarcane residue management techniques, namely postharvest burning of residue (BR), shredding of residue (SR), and full postharvest retention of residue (RR), on the water quality of surface runoff from February 2006 to September 2007 in Iberia, LA. Total runoff volumes recorded were 58,418, 57,923, and 46,578 L for the BR, SR, and RR treatments, respectively. Except for total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), which was higher for BR than RR or SR, there were no significant differences in total loads of total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand at 5 days (BOD₅), total phosphorus (TP), nitrate-N, nitrite-N, and sulfate among the three residue management techniques, although the RR treatment generally exported the lowest total loads. Regression analyses on the pollutant load and rainfall event showed that the load exported for each water quality parameter was positively correlated with precipitation, with the BR treatment being more sensitive to rainfall amount than the RR and SR treatments in TSS, TKN, TP, BOD, nitrate, and sulfate exports. Runoff TSS and turbidity were also highly correlated (R ²?=?0.95, P?<?0.001). The results suggested that the two sugarcane residue retention practices (RR and SR) had limited benefit on improving surface runoff water quality over the BR practice in subtropical region such as Louisiana.     

Treating farm dairy effluent with poly-ferric sulphate dramatically reduces phosphorus and E. coli leaching through subsurface drains—A physical drainage model study

Land application of farm dairy effluent (FDE) may lead to water contamination, by contaminants such as phosphorus (P) and E. coli. A new FDE treatment technology using poly-ferric sulphate (PFS) has been developed to recycle wastewater in FDE for washing the farmyard. A physical drainage model study was conducted to investigate the effect of treating FDE with PFS on phosphorus and E. coli leaching through model subsurface drains. Dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and total phosphorus (TP) leaching losses from untreated effluent (FDE) averaged 3.48 kg P ha⁻¹ and 11.44 kg P ha⁻¹, respectively. The application of PFS-treated effluent (TE) resulted in significantly lower DRP and TP leaching losses at 0.24 kg P ha⁻¹ and 4.52 kg P ha⁻¹ for fresh TE and 0.27 kg P ha⁻¹ and 6.31 kg P ha⁻¹ for TE stored for 3 weeks before application (TE-S). Cumulative DRP lost to drainage water from the TE and TE-S treatments was 93.1% and 92.2% lower than that from the FDE treatments. Compared with the FDE treatment, there was a 98.27% and 99.99% reduction in E. coli in the drainage water from the TE and TE-S treatments. Plant biomass and P uptake were not affected by the effluent treatments. These results indicate that land application of PFS-treated effluent, fresh or stored, on drained pasture soils can produce significant environmental benefits by reducing the concentration and amount of P and E. coli in the drainage water, without adversely impacting plant growth.     

退耕林地麻栎刺槐林壤中流及其磷素流失特征

为研究退耕还林后林地对壤中流磷素的调控效果,探究雨强对壤中流磷素流失的影响,选取鲁中南山区典型麻栎林、刺槐林和麻栎—刺槐混交林为研究对象,以荒草地为对照,采用模拟降雨试验方法,研究林地壤中流及磷素流失特征。结果表明:(1)林地壤中流占总产流的36.16%～46.93%,荒草地壤中流比例为18.58%,林地雨水下渗能力高于荒草地的,其中麻栎—刺槐混交林雨水下渗能力最好。随着雨强的增大,林地壤中流比例由54.34%减小到37.62%。(2)林地壤中流TP流失量低于荒草地的,为荒草地的45.88%～63.25%。林地TP总流失量比荒草地少55.32%～77.43%,与荒草地相比,林地对磷素的调控效果更优,其中麻栎—刺槐混交林的调控效果最好。随雨强的增大,林地壤中流TP流失量增加了0.68～1.33倍。(3)林地和荒草地的壤中流TP流失量占TP总流失量的12.12%～25.00%,壤中流TP流失在TP总流失中占据一定比例,在磷素流失中不容忽视。随着雨强增加,林地壤中流TP流失比例由30.66%下降到10.62%。研究成果对探究林地壤中流磷素流失规律和改善生态环境具有重要参考价值。     

Is mechanical soil aeration a strategy to alleviate soil compaction and decrease phosphorus and suspended sediment losses from irrigated and rain‐fed cattle‐grazed pastures?

Agriculture is a major source of phosphorus (P) and suspended sediment (SS) losses to aquatic ecosystems promoting eutrophication. Mechanical soil loosening equipments such as topsoil looseners or aerators have been reported to improve the physical quality and infiltration of soils susceptible to livestock damage resulting from treading. We hypothesized that soil aeration would significantly decrease the volume of surface runoff and consequent losses of P and SS compared with non‐aerated soil (control) in cattle‐grazed pasture on a poorly structured silt‐loam soil. Hydrologically isolated plots (2 m long × 1 m wide × 0.15 m deep) were installed in aerated and control plots to collect surface runoff following irrigation or rainfall and analysed for P and SS losses for 1 year. Soil physical properties [% macroporosity, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_sat) and unsaturated hydraulic conductivity (K_unsat at ?1kPa)] were measured in the aerated and control treatments and taken before each irrigation event (n = 12). Six months after mechanical aeration was employed, but before cattle grazing commenced, no significant differences in soil physical quality were found between aerated and control treatments, with the exception of a minor increase in K_unsat for the control plots. This lack of treatment difference continued after grazing and was largely attributed to the re‐settling of the poorly structured and dispersive soil. Flow‐weighted mean concentrations and annual loads of dissolved reactive P (DRP) on the mechanically aerated soil (2.24 kg DRP/ha) were approximately double those from the control treatment (1.20 kg DRP/ha). However, no significant differences were observed between treatments for surface runoff volumes and losses of total P and total SS, which may reflect the similar soil physical conditions exhibited between treatments throughout most of the trial. As observed elsewhere, time (days) since grazing or fertilizer application was found to influence P and/or SS losses. We conclude that aeration did not decrease P and SS losses. Any changes in soil physical properties such as macroporosity were short‐lived and therefore unlikely to influence surface runoff and subsequent P and SS losses for this soil type.     

Phosphorus Forms in Overland Flow from Agricultural Soils Representative of Mediterranean Areas

Abstract

Phosphorus (P) losses through overland flow (surface runoff) may contribute to eutrophication of water bodies. The main purpose of this work was to study P forms in overland flow (dissolved and particulate) to identify which can be potentially used by algae. To this end, rainfall on 17 representative soils from Mediterranean areas was simulated, and P forms in overland flow studied by chemical and sink (resin, iron oxide–impregnated paper strip) extraction; sequential chemical fractionation of the suspended sediments was also used to establish “operational pools” with a differential capacity of P release. Total P (TP) in runoff ranged from 0.089 to 0.765 mg L^?1 and was mainly related to suspended sediment (particulate P, 86% of TP on average). Iron oxide strip P, which is taken to be an estimate of algal‐available P, accounted for 34% of TP on average in runoff samples; most of the P extracted by this sink was particulate P (68%). In most cases, FeO strip P was equivalent to dissolved reactive P (DRP) plus P extracted by NaOH and citrate‐bicarbonate in suspended sediment (the more labile P fractions) (Y=X, R²=0.82; P<0.001; n=15). One can thus assume that Fe oxide extracts DRP, adsorbed P on sediments, and P related to highly soluble precipitated Ca phosphates, but it does not extract releasable P through reduction of sorbent surfaces or the organic P that can be mineralized in the bottom of water reservoirs, which must be taken in account to estimate the long‐term algal‐available P in runoff.     

Phosphorus losses from arable land in England

Abstract. Concentrations and annual loadings of molyhdate reactive P (MRP) and total (including particulate) P (TP) are reported from field drainage, catchment and erosion experiments in England. Annual losses through field drains and in catchment runoff were 0.037-0.74 kg MRP/ha and 0.37-2.64 kg TP/ha, but those in surface runoff from experimental plots measuring erosion were generally much greater (often > 3 kg MRP/ha and up to 32 kg TP/ha in a wet year). Amounts of TP in drainflow and catchment runoff depended upon factors influencing soil dispersibility, such as particle size distribution and calcium carbonate content. The results to date suggest that P losses in surface runoff and erosion from arable fields to water are best limited by: (a) maximizing crop cover, using minimal cultivation practices and where possible planting crop rows across rather than up and down the slope, (b) avoiding cultivation practices that result in dispersion of soil particles, and (c) avoiding application of P fertilizer to wet soils when rainfall is likely soon after application. Consideration should he given to maintaining field drains below peak efficiency to reduce subsurface P losses.     

糖厂酒精生产废液施用对蔗地水分、铜和氯利用及流失的影响

为促进甘蔗酒精生产废液的资源化利用,为农作物提供有效的肥料资源及相关水肥管理模式,对比研究了甘蔗地上施用甘蔗酒精生产废液、化肥及不施肥等处理对水分、铜和氯养分吸收及流失的影响,并对施用甘蔗酒精生产废液的食品安全性和对地表水环境污染的影响进行了评价.结果表明,与化肥处理CK_2相比,甘蔗酒精生产废液的施用提高了土壤的水分利用率,降低了甘蔗中铜的含量及铜的径流流失,提高了甘蔗中氯的含量,但各处理蔗汁或径流水中的铜、氯含量或浓度远低于国家标准值.认为在该试验条件下富含有机质的甘蔗酒精生产废液在蔗地上施用,对蔗糖及地表水环境质量没有不良影响,值得推广应用.     

Soil tillage methods to control phosphorus loss and potential side-effects: a Scandinavian review

In Scandinavia high losses of soil and particulate-bound phosphorus (PP) have been shown to occur from tine-cultivated and mouldboard-ploughed soils in clay soil areas, especially in relatively warm, wet winters. The omission in the autumn of primary tillage (not ploughing) and the maintenance of a continuous crop cover are generally used to control soil erosion. In Norway, ploughing and shallow cultivation of sloping fields in spring instead of ploughing in autumn have been shown to reduce particle transport by up to 89% on highly erodible soils. Particle erosion from clay soils can be reduced by 79% by direct drilling in spring compared with autumn ploughing. Field experiments in Scandinavia with ploughless tillage of clay loams and clay soils compared to conventional autumn ploughing usually show reductions in total P losses of 10–80% by both surface and subsurface runoff (lateral movements to drains). However, the effects of not ploughing during the autumn on losses of dissolved reactive P (DRP) are frequently negative, since the DRP losses without ploughing compared to conventional ploughing have increased up to fourfold in field experiments. In addition, a comprehensive Norwegian field experiment at a site with high erosion risk has shown that the proportion of DRP compared to total P was twice as high in runoff water after direct drilling compared to ploughing. Therefore, erosion control measures should be further evaluated for fields with an erosion risk since reduction in PP losses may be low and DRP losses still high. Ploughless tillage systems have potential side-effects, including an increased need for pesticides to control weeds [e.g. Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski] and plant diseases (e.g. Fusarium spp.) harboured by crop residues on the soil surface. Overall, soil tillage systems should be appraised for their positive and negative environmental effects before they are widely used for all types of soil, management practice, climate and landscape.     

绍兴平原水稻田表层及次表层的排水中磷的浓度及形态

Phosphorus (P) is the limiting factor for eutrophication in most freshwater ecosystems. In China, Ptransported from intensively cultivated land has been reported as an important source of P in surface waters.In this study, we investigated P concentration and forms in surface and subsurface drainage from wetland ricefields in the Shaoxing plain, Zhejiang Province, China. From selected rice fields, surface drainage sampleswere collected at rice-growing, non-growing and fertilization periods, and subsurface drainage samples atdrought and rewetting (irrigation or precipitation after 5～10 d drought period in the surface soils) and wet(drainage under long-term wet soil condition) periods. Water samples were characterized for their totalreactive P (TRP), dissolved reactive P (DRP) and particulate reactive P (PRP). Concentrations of the TRPand DRP in the surface drainage ranged from 0.08 to 1.50 and 0.06 to 1.27 mg L-1, respectively. The TRPand DRP were dependent on field operation activities, and decreased in the order of fertilization period ＞rice-growing period ＞ non-growing period. Phosphorus concentration of runoff receiving P fertilizer can bean environmental concern. The PRP concentration in the surface drainage, ranging from 0.01 to 0.57 mgL-1, accounted for 8%～78% of the TRP. Concentration of the TRP in the subsurface drainage was from0.026 to 0.090 mg L-1, consisting of 29%～90 % of the DRP and 10%～71% of the PRP. In the droughtand rewetting period, the PRP accounted for, on average, 63% of the TRP, much higher than in the wetperiod (23%), suggesting that there was transport of P in preferential flow during drainage events after ashort-term drought period in the surface soils. Therefore, P losses in particulate form may be importantin the subsurface drainage from rice fields when surface soils form cracks and favor rapid flow downwardthrough the soil profiles, suggesting the important role of water-dispersible colloid particles in mediating andco-transporting P in the subsurface drainage of rice fields.     

Phosphorus balance and risk assessment in the rice–canola cropping system under different drainage strategies

This research was conducted to quantify total phosphorus (TP) losses in poorly drained-consolidated paddy fields equipped with different surface and shallow subsurface drainage systems including drain depth of 0.9 m and drain spacing of 30 m (D_0.9L₃₀), drain depth of 0.65 m and drain spacing of 30 m (D_0.65L₃₀), drain depth of 0.65 m and drain spacing of 15 m (D_0.65L₁₅), drain spacing of 15 m and drain depths of 0.65 and 0.9 m as alternate depths (Bilevel). Typical surface drainage system of consolidated paddy fields was also considered as conventional practice of the study area (control). The subsurface drained fields were under year-round crop production of rice-canola, while the surface drained fields experienced only rice cropping once a year. During three rice-canola-rice growing seasons, TP losses through drainage and leaching in the D_0.9L₃₀, Bilevel, D_0.65L₃₀, D_0.65L₁₅ and control treatments were respectively, 1.12, 0.98, 1.44, 1.53 and 24.48 kg ha^?1, equivalent to about 3.9%, 3.4%, 5.1%, 5.3% and 85.7% of applied triple superphosphate fertilizer. In the rice growing seasons, TP losses through surface runoff were higher than those through subsurface drainage effluents. Shallow subsurface drainage systems were promising for the study area compared surface drainage as phosphorus risks were reduced by 79%, 77%, 64% and 57% through D_0.9L₃₀, Bilevel, D_0.65L₃₀ and D_0.65L₁₅, respectively. These results demonstrated that, by providing suitable condition for winter cropping, subsurface drainage systems can diminish concerns related to phosphorus losses from poorly drained paddy fields in the north of Iran.     

Delayed Sample Filtration and Storage Effects on Dissolved Nutrients Measured in Agricultural Runoff

Few research studies have examined the influence of delayed filtration on sample stability or runoff nutrient loss assessments. Runoff samples from irrigation furrows were each split into four volumes: two were filtered (45 μm) in the field and two were filtered 10 days later, with or without boric acid treatment, and stored at 4 °C. Sample dissolved reactive P (DRP), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃-N), and ammonium (NH₄)-N concentrations were measured in all filtered samples 10 and 107 days after collection. Samples filtered in the field and those with a 10-day delayed filtration had similar dissolved DRP, NO₃-N, and NH₄-N concentrations, whether or not boric acid was added. Boric acid stabilized DRP and NH₄-N sample concentrations, but not NO₃-N, during the 107 days of storage (relative to field-filtered samples). The effect of treatments on computed furrow stream concentration and runoff mass losses was similar to that for sample concentrations, except that furrow NH₄-N parameters were unaffected by treatments. The field-filtered or 10-d delayed filtration without boric acid treatments provided the best dissolved nutrient measurements for comparing agricultural management effects at the field edge; however, results suggest that an incubation-type test for field-edge runoff water may provide a more accurate estimate of field management effects on dissolved nutrient loads in downstream aquatic ecosystems.     

Source areas of phosphorus transfer in an agricultural catchment,south-eastern Norway

Abstract

The strategy to mitigate phosphorus (P) losses in areas of arable cropping in Norway has focused on measures to reduce erosion. Risk assessment of erosion has formed the basis for implementation of the measures. The soil P content has increased during recent decades, motivating an evaluation of its effect on P transfer in the landscape. The present study describes the spatial variability of runoff P concentrations from an agricultural dominated catchment (4.5 km²), representative for agriculture in south-eastern Norway. The concentrations of suspended sediments (SS), total P (TP) and dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff from 22 subcatchments (0.3–263 ha) during one year (monthly and during runoff-events) were evaluated. Contributions from point sources were 38 kg TP yr^?1 compared to a total P loss of 685 kg yr^?1 from the whole catchment. During low flow, mean diffuse TP concentration in runoff from subcatchments varied from 28 to 382 µg l^?1. The mean low flow TP concentration was 39 µg l^?1 from the housing area (only diffuse runoff) and 33 µg l^?1 from the forested area. During high flow the highest diffuse TP concentration was measured in an area with high erosion risk and high soil P status. At the subcatchment level the transfer of SS varied from 25 to 175% of the whole catchment SS transfer. Correspondingly for TP, the transfer varied from 50 to 260% of the whole catchment TP transfer. For each of five agricultural subcatchments the slope of the relationship between TP and SS concentrations reflected the mean soil P status of the subcatchment. Erosion risk estimates were closely related to the SS concentration (R²=0.83). The study illustrates that soil P status in addition to soil erosion is an important factor for P transfer.     

Evaluation of methods of nutrient and water management on tea performance and nutrient loss in the Danjiangkou Reservoir area,China

The long-term control of fertilizer pollution in the Danjiangkou Reservoir is an important task, and promoting good fertilizer pollution control methods is necessary to conserve water quality. A 3-year experiment was conducted to evaluate the fertilizer losses, economic benefits, and feasibility of different nutrient and water management methods in the area. The experiment included the following treatments: (1) local recommended fertilizer dose (450, 144, and 189 kg ha^?1 y^?1 of N, P₂O₅, and K₂O) under rain-fed conditions (CK); (2) chicken manure at 7500 kg ha^–1 without drip irrigation (OF); (3) same dosage of treatment OF but with drip irrigation (OFD); and (4) drip fertigation with 30% of the fertilization dose of CK (DF). The results showed that organic fertilizer and drip fertigation treatments reduced total N (TN) and total P (TP) losses compared to CK due to considerably less amounts of N and P nutrient inputs. Total N runoff losses, and TN and TP concentrations in leaching water did not differ significantly among treatments OF, OFD, and DF. Net income among the CK, OF, and OFD treatments did not differ significantly. Treatment DF resulted in 19.5% and 13.8% more net income than CK and OFD, respectively. Such results provided guidance for promotion to maximize benefits and minimize environmental impacts.     

Measuring Water-Extractable Phosphorus in Manures to Predict Phosphorus Concentrations in Runoff

Water-extractable phosphorus (WEP) in manures can influence the risk of phosphorus (P) losses in runoff when manures are land applied. We evaluated several manure handling and extraction variables to develop an extraction procedure for WEP that will minimize pre-analysis manure-sample-handling effects on WEP measurements. We also related manure WEP determinations to runoff dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) concentrations found in previously conducted field simulated rainfall experiments using the same manures to evaluate WEP as a predictor of P runoff losses. Dairy and poultry manure WEP concentrations increased with manure-to-water extraction ratio and shaking time. Relative to fresh manures, drying and grinding dairy manures before analysis usually decreased WEP concentrations, while WEP in poultry manures was often increased. Pre-analysis handling effects on WEP were minimized at the 1:1000 extraction ratio with a 1-h shaking time. Relationships between manure WEP and runoff DRP concentrations were strongly influenced by season of year and WEP extraction procedure. The best prediction of DRP concentration in spring runoff experiments was with manure WEP concentration at the 1:1000 extraction ratio. With fall runoff studies, DRP concentrations were best predicted with WEP application rate rather than concentration. These seasonal differences can be explained by the greater percentage of rainfall that ran off in the fall compared to the spring. For all studies, runoff DRP concentrations were strongly related (r² = 0.82) to the ratio of runoff to rainfall volumes, confirming that models need to take runoff hydrology into account as well as manure WEP in P-loss risk assessments.     

中国云南滇池流域农田径流磷污染负荷影响因素研究

Effects of factors such as slope, surface soil texture, fertilization and crop cover with different rainfall intensities on phosphorus (P) losses in farmland runoff of the Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan Province of China were studied through a rainfall simulation test using a red soil, one of the most widely distributed soils of the study area. Results showed that the runoff concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and P losses differed with the slope, being highest when the slope was 18°. At two different rainfall intensities, the runoff TP and P losses had a similar decreasing trend as the surface soil texture became coarser, therefore applying the grit would decrease P in runoff from soils of farmland on slopes with heavier textures. With wheat as a crop cover the runoff TP concentrations and P losses were significantly lower than those of the bare soil. This showed that plant cover would greatly decrease P in runoff from the farmland of the study area. The TP concentration in runoff from the soil two days after fertilization doubled when compared with that from the non-fertilized soil, indicating that fertilization could mean a dramatic rise in P runoff if irrigation or heavy rainfall occurred immediately after application and that no fertilization before a rain and no irrigation immediately after fertilization would reduce runoff P loss from the farmland of the study area.     

化肥氮磷优化减施对水稻产量和田面水氮磷流失的影响

为探讨氮(N)、磷(P)减量对降低稻田养分地表径流损失风险的影响,以毛里湖稻区为研究对象,连续两年(2016—2017年)进行田间小区试验,研究化肥氮磷优化减施对水稻产量和生长期内田面水N、P动态变化特征及径流流失的影响。结果表明:常规施肥处理(CF)和有机替代20%化肥N处理(0.8FN+0.2ON)稻田田面水总氮(TN)、NH_4~+-N和总磷(TP)浓度在施肥后迅速达到峰值,之后逐渐下降。而控释氮肥减N处理能有效减缓N素释放速度,田面水N素流失量远低于CF处理,且磷肥减量处理TP流失量低于CF处理。与CF处理相比,控释氮肥减N 20%(0.8N)和控释氮肥+过磷酸钙减量20%(0.8NP)处理水稻两年平均分别增产5.55%、3.22%,N素累积量分别提高19.01%、13.66%,氮肥偏生产力分别显著提高31.94%、28.83%,氮肥农学利用率分别提高47.52%、33.75%,氮肥吸收利用率分别提高95.30%、73.31%。0.8NP处理较0.8N处理水稻磷肥偏生产力两年平均显著提高22.08%,而0.8FN+0.2ON处理较CF处理P素累积量和磷肥吸收利用率分别降低11.14%、36.04%。总体而言,控释氮肥与磷肥减量既保证高产稳产,又有效降低稻田施肥初期N、P径流损失风险。在综合考虑农业生产节本增效和控制农田面源污染的前提下,可采用控释氮肥减量的施肥模式。     

Factors Influencing Runoff P Losses from Farmlandsof the Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan, China

Effects of factors such as slope, surface soil texture, fertilization and crop cover with different rainfall intensitieson phosphorus (P) losses in farmland runoff of the Dianchi Lake Watershed in Yunnan Province of China were studiedthrough a rainfall simulation test using a red soil, one of the most widely distributed soils of the study area. Resultsshowed that the runoff concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and P losses differed with the slope, being highest whenthe slope was 18~. At two different rainfall intensities, the runoff TP and P losses had a similar decreasing trend asthe surface soil texture became coarser, therefore applying the grit would decrease P in runoff from soils of farmland onslopes with heavier textures. With wheat as a crop cover the runoff TP concentrations and P losses were significantlylower than those of the bare soil. This showed that plant cover would greatly decrease P in runoff from the farmland ofthe study area. The TP concentration in runoff from the soil two days after fertilization doubled when compared withthat from the non-fertilized soil, indicating that fertilization could mean a dramatic rise in P runoff if irrigation or heavyrainfall occurred immediately after application and that no fertilization before a rain and no irrigation immediately afterfertilization would reduce runoff P loss from the farmland of the study area.     

Removal of Vegetative Clippings Reduces Dissolved Phosphorus Loss in Runoff

Rainfall simulation was used to study the vegetative filter strip (VFS) conditions under which losses of total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) leaching occur. Boxes containing silt loam soil were planted with ryegrass and cut at two different intervals prior to simulated rainfall 14 days apart. Grass clippings were either removed or retained. During the second simulated rainfall, runoff TDP and DRP were greater for treatments cut the day before irrigation with clippings retained as compared to treatments cut the same day as irrigation with clippings retained. Removing clippings yielded the lowest mean TDP and DRP concentrations. Increasing the senesced vegetative surface area for contact with water, and the amount of time for leaching to occur, resulted in the greatest DRP loss. The VFS management implications should consider clipping removal or no or reduced mowing during the growing season followed by end-of-season removal to reduce DRP leaching losses.     

The Effectiveness and Feasibility of Using Ochre as a Soil Amendment to Sequester Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus in Runoff

Incidental losses of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) to a surface waterbody originate from direct losses during land application of fertilizer, or where a rainfall event occurs immediately thereafter. Another source is the soil. One way of immobilising DRP in runoff before discharge to a surface waterbody, is to amend soil within the edge of field area with a high phosphorus (P) sequestration material. One such amendment is iron ochre, a by-product of acid mine drainage. Batch experiments utilising two grassland soils at two depths (topsoil and sub-soil), six ochre amendment rates (0, 0.15, 1.5, 7.5, 15 and 30 g kg⁻¹ mass per dry weight of soil) and five P concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg L⁻¹) were carried out. A proportional equation, which incorporated P sources and losses, was developed and used to form a statistical model. Back calculation identified optimal rates of ochre amendment to soil to ameliorate a specific DRP concentration in runoff. Ochre amendment of soils (with no further P inputs) was effective at decreasing DRP concentrations to acceptable levels. A rate of 30 g ochre kg⁻¹ soil was needed to decrease DRP concentrations to acceptable levels for P inputs of ≤10 mg L⁻¹, which represents the vast majority of cases in grassland runoff experiments. However, although very quick and sustained metal release above environmental limits occurred, which makes it unfeasible for use as a soil amendment to control P release to a waterbody, the methodology developed within this paper may be used to test the effectiveness and feasibility of other amendments.