Effects of deer grazing and fence-line pacing on water and soil quality

Abstract. We studied the effects of red deer grazing and fence-line pacing on soil losses of contaminants (suspended sediment, Escherichia coli , phosphorus) and nitrogen species (ammonia, nitrate) via overland flow and soil physical properties (macroporosity, bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, K _sat) soon after (1 day) and 6 weeks after grazing on a Pallic pastoral soil in southern New Zealand. Fence-line pacing decreased the soil volume occupied by water, macroporosity and K _sat, while increasing suspended sediment (to 0.226 g 100 mL⁻¹), total P (to 2.0 mg L⁻¹), mainly as particulate P (up to 90% of total P), and E. coli (to 3.52 log₁₀ c.f.u. 100 mL⁻¹) concentrations in overland flow at 1 day after grazing compared with soils from the rest of the paddock (0.148 g 100 mL⁻¹, 0.86 mg L⁻¹ and 2.86 log₁₀ c.f.u. 100 mL⁻¹, respectively). Although concentrations in overland flow were less at 6 weeks after grazing than at 1 day after grazing, losses of P, especially in fence-line soils, were still above recommended limits for surface water quality. Compared to P, losses of N species would be unlikely to have a significant impact on downstream water quality. Management strategies should be directed towards minimizing the occurrence of fence-line pacing to prevent contaminant loss and maintain water and soil quality.     

Impact of horse grazing and feeding on phosphorus concentrations in soil and drainage water

The number of horses in Sweden has increased, from 77 300 in 1970 to 283 000 in 2003 (ca. 250%). These horses are kept on 300 000 ha, which represents 10% of total agricultural land in Sweden. Maximum recommended livestock density in Sweden is 2.5 units/ha for grazed pasture, but no limits have yet been set for outdoor keeping and feeding areas (paddocks) for horses. This study characterized the potential risk of phosphorus (P) losses from a horse paddock established on a heavy clay soil with a stocking rate of 3.75 livestock units/ha compared with nearby arable land. The horse paddock received 15 kg P/ha/yr and 75 kg N/ha/yr through horse excreta, while annual input of P and N to the adjacent arable land was 13 and 112 kg/ha, respectively. There was no significant difference in water‐soluble P (WSP) in fresh and dried soil samples between the horse paddock (mean values: 0.62 and 0.43 mg/100 g soil; n = 15) and the arable field (mean values: 0.52 and 0.37 mg/100 g soil; n = 5). In contrast, phosphorus extractable in ammonium acetate lactate (extractable P) in the topsoil of the horse paddock (mean: 15 mg/100 g soil) was significantly higher (P = 0.03; n = 15) than in the arable land, whereas total P extracted with nitric acid (total P) showed no statistically significant differences. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in lactate‐extractable iron and aluminium (extractable Fe and Al), organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N) or phosphorus sorption index between the two parcels of land. However, the degree of P saturation in soil was significantly higher (P = 0.02; n = 15) in the horse paddock. Extractable Al and Fe were highly correlated to extractable P (P < 0.001; n = 69), the correlation being negative for Al. No relationship was found with calcium, but soil C content was found to be correlated with extractable P (P < 0.001; n = 69). Over the past 8 yr, high P concentrations (up to 1.5 mg/L), mainly in dissolved reactive form, have been recorded in drainage water from the grazed catchment. We concluded that horse grazing at high stocking rates (>2.5 livestock units/ha) may pose a risk of high P losses to nearby water bodies.     

Nutrient,Sediment, and Bacterial Losses in Overland Flow from Pasture and Cropping Soils Following Cattle Dung Deposition

Abstract

The loss of phosphorus (P), suspended sediment (SS), ammonia (NH₄ ⁺‐N), nitrate (NO₃ ^?‐N), and Escherichia coli in overland flow (OF) from dairy cattle dung can impair surface water quality. However, the risk of P and N loss from grazed pastures varies with time. Current practice in southern New Zealand is to select a field, cultivate, sow in Brassica spp., and graze in winter to save remaining pasture from damage. This deposits dung when soil is wet and OF likely. Hence, we determined P, NH₄ ⁺‐N, NO₃ ^?‐N, and E. coli loss from dung in OF via simulated rainfall from intact grazed pasture and cropland treatments of a soil. Analysis of OF, 0, 1, 4, 11, 24, and 43 days after dung deposition at the upslope end of soil boxes indicated that total P (TP), NH₄ ⁺‐N, and SS concentrations decreased sharply from day zero and leveled out after 11 days. More particulate P and SS were lost from the cultivated than pasture treatment, whereas the reverse occurred for dissolved organic P because of greater sorption of phytase active materials. Escherichia coli losses were high (1×10⁵ 100 mL^?1) in both treatments throughout. Using the equations of fit in an example field site indicated that management of dung deposition could affect up to 25–33% of TP lost in OF.     

Management options to decrease phosphorus and sediment losses from irrigated cropland grazed by cattle and sheep

In southern New Zealand, grazing of forage crops is common practice to satisfy feed requirements of animals in winter when pasture growth is limited. This practice has been shown to cause soil physical damage and increased loss of surface water contaminants sediment and phosphorus (P) to water bodies. Strategies to mitigate the loss of sediment and P were trialled on a Pallic soil type (Aeric Fragiaquept) in the North Otago Rolling Downlands of New Zealand. All sites were irrigated and measurements were made of losses in overland and sub‐surface flow from intensive cattle or sheep grazed, winter forage crops, and sheep grazed pasture. Two mitigations (restricted grazing of crop to three hours and the application of aluminium sulphate) were assessed for their potential to decrease contaminant loss from cropland. Volumes of surface runoff and loss of total P, filterable reactive P and sediment showed significant differences (P < 0.05) between the control treatments (i.e. no mitigation) with cattle crop (88 mm surface runoff) > sheep crop (67 mm) > sheep pasture (33 mm). The contribution of irrigation water to overland flow water, as a result of saturation‐excess conditions, varied between treatments with more loss under cattle crop (20% of total) compared with sheep crop (15%) and sheep pasture (11%). These differences are probably an effect of soil physical condition and highlight the importance of accurate irrigation scheduling to keep soil moisture below field capacity. Restricted winter grazing and alum application after grazing significantly (P < 0.05) decreased P losses in surface runoff under cattle (from 1.4 to 0.9 kg P/ha) and sheep (from 1.0 to 0.7 kg/P/ha) grazed crop plots by about 30%. In cattle grazed plots, restricted grazing also decreased suspended sediments (SS) by 60%. The use of restricted grazing is suggested as a means of decreasing P and SS loss from grazed winter forage crops. The use of alum shows some promise for decreasing P losses, but requires further work to determine its long‐term effectiveness and use in other soils and management regimes.     

Sediment and phosphorus transfer in overland flow from a maize field receiving manure

Abstract. The transfer of suspended sediment (SS) and phosphorus (P) in overland flow from 30 m² field plots receiving either nil, surface‐applied or incorporated manure (slurry) were monitored to determine the vulnerability of land cropped to continuous forage maize to diffuse pollutant transfer in winter runoff. In the absence of slurry, P export was dominated by particulate forms, with up to 1 t SS ha^?1 and 0.75 kg total P ha^?1 collected from an individual storm event. Background concentrations of P in soluble (<0.45 μm) form were large (c. 0.5 mg L^?1) by eutrophication standards due to the previous build‐up of soil P, and largely independent of SS concentrations. Largest P exports (representing up to 23% of the slurry P applied) were measured when dairy slurry (3–13% dry solids) was surface‐applied. The P mobilized from the slurry accounted for up to 60% of total plot P export, with the majority occurring in a soluble bioavailable form during the first storm event. Initial P concentrations in runoff were in proportion to the amount of slurry P applied and significantly lower where rainfall was delayed after application. In one year, splitting the slurry application (3 × 10 kg ha^?1) reduced total P export by 25% compared to a single surface application (30 kg P ha^?1). In two years, incorporation of slurry, either by ploughing, or by tine cultivation, reduced the amount of overland flow by 50%, and the amount of P export by up to 60%, compared to the surface‐applied slurry treatments. Timeliness of slurry spreading to avoid periods of wet weather and simple cultivation of maize fields after harvest are practical and effective options to minimize SS and P transfer in land runoff from maize fields. The results also draw attention to the need to grow maize, and apply slurry to fields with a low P loss risk.     

Pasture renovation practices of farmers in the neotropical savannahs

Degradation of sown pastures in the neotropics is a well known but poorly documented phenomenon. The paper reports the results of a survey conducted in the eastern savannahs of Colombia to quantify farmers' reactions to perceived pasture degradation. The survey was conducted in an area of 23 644 km². The sample consisted of 46 farms, which had 19 012 ha of Brachiaria decumbens pastures distributed in 374 paddocks. Of these paddocks, 196 had been sown with vegetative seed, and 281 had received modest rates of P fertilization at planting. Pastures sown on flat lands had younger modal ages (three years) and were renovated more frequently than those sown on hilly or dissected savannahs (10 years). These differences were probably a result of variations in infrastructure and relative stage of development of the two topographies, but slight differences in inherent soil fertility may also have played a role. We found no relationship between grazing management and frequency of pasture renovation. Implications for future research on pasture reclamation are discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

荒漠绿洲农田防护林伐根嫁接毛白杨更新技术

 为抵御病虫害侵袭,提高干旱荒漠区防护林的防风固沙效益,在不同种的杨树伐根上,嫁接二倍体、三倍体毛白杨,嫁接亲和力强、接穗成活率高、生长旺盛、越冬成活率高、伐根为青杨组和黑杨组树种,则表现较差。引种不同品系的二倍体、三倍体毛白杨种(穗)条,实施箭杆杨农防林伐根嫁接的结果是:二倍体毛白杨品种中河北毛白杨表现最优;三倍体毛白杨品种中YX-128表现最优。对二白杨伐根嫁接的三倍体毛白杨,更新林存活率调查(3个冬季后)结果为:伐根上保存1株以上嫁接苗的占888%;杨树伐根直径与接穗苗数(1～3)对嫁接毛白杨的高生长差异不显著,二倍体、三倍体毛白杨品种间的高生长差异也不显著,但随着接穗数的增加,高生长有降低的趋势,而对嫁接苗的地径生长,则差异显著,其与伐根直径呈正相关,并随着嫁接苗数的增加显著下降,且三倍体毛白杨嫁接苗的地径生长,明显大于二倍体毛白杨。试验表明:正常情况下,伐根嫁接毛白杨,当年苗木高度达2.0～4.4m,2年后,林带平均高度达6.2m,3年后,二倍体、三倍体毛白杨林带的平均高度和地径,分别为73m、7.65cm和7.4m、8.87cm,防护效益显著,预计更新林生长4年后,高度与原防护林相近,防护效益可超过原防护林的90%。     

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.     

Die‐off of Escherichia coli in intact and disrupted cowpats

Diffuse pollution from grazed pastures is recognised as an important source of faecal microbial contamination of surface waters, and farmers urgently require mitigation options to reduce this impact of their farming activities. An obvious mitigation strategy is to reduce the size of the reservoir of faecal material in pastures during critical periods when overland flow is most likely. This work tested the hypothesis that smearing fresh cowpats to increase their surface area would increase exposure to solar radiation and increase desiccation, which in turn would accelerate the die‐off of Escherichia coli in the faecal material. The total solids content and E. coli concentration in intact and disrupted cowpats were monitored during the four seasons. The total solids content was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the disrupted cowpats compared to the intact cowpats. This indicates that increased desiccation of the faecal material was successful. However, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in E. coli concentrations in the disrupted and intact cowpats. The physical disruption of cowpats did not therefore accelerate the die‐off of E. coli in the faecal material. The disrupted cowpats did appear to decompose faster than the intact cowpats. Mitigation options to reduce faecal micro‐organism losses in overland flow from grazed pastures will now need to focus on other methods to reduce the build up of reservoirs of faecal material on farm.     

Agricultural soil acidity and phosphorus leaching risk at farm level in two focus areas

Poland has the largest agricultural area within the Baltic Sea drainage basin and reducing the risk of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) leaching from Polish soils to water is therefore essential. Increased acidity is known to reduce soil fertility and may trigger P leaching from non-calcareous soils. As part of advisor training, 25 farms each in Pomerania and north-western Mazovia were visited and 1500?ha arable soil, including 180?ha grassland soil, were monitored in 2013–2014. The soil was mainly coarse textured, but 25% of the Pomeranian farms were dominated by silty or clayey soils. More or less regular drainage systems were found on 20% of the farms, while 50% had simpler, older (>30 years) systems with a few single pipes. The farmers often used only ammonium sulphate or other acidifying N mineral fertiliser. Median pH on the Pomeranian farms, analysed in potassium chloride solution [pH_(KCl)], was 5.2 and liming was advised for fields on most (72%) of these farms. Soil P content, measured by double-lactate extraction (P_DL), was positively and significantly correlated (Pearson coefficient 0.57; p?DL (P given in elemental form) tended to be lower on dairy farms and arable farms and was significantly lower (mean 51?mg?P_DL?kg^?1 soil) on mixed farms (with just a few cows and poultry) than on pig farms (mean 122?mg?P_DL?kg^?1 soil). Farm-gate balances indicated deficits of P and potassium (K) on many of the small mixed farms in Pomerania and the soil can be expected to be nutrient depleted. In contrast, the pig farms demonstrated surplus farm-gate P balances (mean 27?kg?ha^?1). The P leaching risk is discussed relative to soil threshold values and to results from Swedish long-term field experiments.     

Pampas deer conservation with respect to habitat loss and protected area considerations in San Luis, Argentina

Ozotoceros bezoarticus celer is the most endangered subspecies of pampas deer. Although common in the Argentine Pampas 100 years ago, it persists in only two small populations. The largest population has survived due to the rarity of roads, internal farm subdivisions, and the low cattle density. However, habitat condition for this population has changed dramatically in the last 16 years. Five Landsat images (1985, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2001), covering 4608 km², were used to quantify pampas deer habitat loss due to the replacement of natural grassland by exotic pastures and crops. Image classification showed that natural grassland cover was reduced from 84.5 to 37.8% between 1985 and 2001. The annual transformation rate increased significantly from 1.4 to 10.9%. Average paddock size was significantly reduced from 1470 to 873 ha, and the number of paddocks increased from 129 to 227. The land within this area proposed for a national park has not escaped these habitat changes. In the last 6 years the amount of replaced area within the proposed park has increased from 9.1 to 51.1% due to actions by ranchers to avoid inclusion within park boundaries. Three patches of natural grassland still remain within the pampas deer distribution, one of which is the proposed national park. The implementation of a national park is a decisive challenge for the survival of pampas deer and its habitat in Argentina.     

SEVERITY OF SALINITY ACCURATELY DETECTED AND CLASSIFIED ON A PADDOCK SCALE WITH HIGH RESOLUTION MULTISPECTRAL SATELLITE IMAGERY

We hypothesised that digital mapping of various forms of salt‐affected soils using high resolution satellite imagery, supported by field studies, would be an efficient method to classify and map salinity, sodicity or both at paddock level, particularly in areas where salt‐affected patches are small and the effort to map these by field‐based soil survey methods alone would be inordinately time consuming. To test this hypothesis, QuickBird satellite data (pan‐sharpened four band multispectral imagery) was used to map various forms of surface‐expressed salinity in an agricultural area of South Australia. Ground‐truthing was performed by collecting 160 soil samples over the study area of 159 km². Unsupervised classification of the imagery covering the study area allowed differentiation of severity levels of salt‐affected soils, but these levels did not match those based on measured electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) of the soil samples, primarily because the expression of salinity was strongly influenced by paddock‐level variations in crop type, growth and prior land management. Segmentation of the whole image into 450 paddocks and unsupervised classification using a paddock‐by‐paddock approach resulted in a more accurate discrimination of salinity and sodicity levels that was correlated with EC and SAR. Image‐based classes discriminating severity levels of salt‐affected soils were significantly related with EC but not with SAR. Of the spectral bands, bands 2 (green, 520–600 nm) and 4 (near‐infrared, 760–900 nm) explained the majority of the variation (99 per cent) in the spectral values. Thus, paddock‐by‐paddock classification of QuickBird imagery has the potential to accurately delineate salinity at farm level, which will allow more informed decisions about sustainable agricultural management of soils. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Enzyme activity in soils showing enhanced degradation of organophosphate insecticides

Summary Studies were conducted to determine whether soils that showed enhanced biodegradation of organophosphate insecticides had significantly different enzyme activities from those in the same soils with no previous exposure to the insecticides. Twenty-one pairs of soils were collected from farms in the Midwest where chlorpyrifos, terbufos, fonofos, or phorate had failed to protect corn (Zea mays L) from corn rootworm (Diabrotica sp). Each soil was analyzed for acid and alkaline phosphatase, phosphodiesterase, phosphotriesterase, and dehydrogenase activities. Over 40% of the insecticide-treated soils had higher acid phosphatase activity than the fence row soils which had no previous exposure to the insecticide. Over twothirds of the soils treated with fonofos had higher acid phosphatase and phosphotriesterase activity than the fence row soils. If these enzymes are not directly involved in the biodegradation of the insecticitde, they may be indicative of enhanced biodegradation and may be used to predict which soils may be prone to insecticide failure.Contribution from the Soil-Microbial Systems Laboratory, Natural Resources Institute, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA     

Phosphorus Source Effects on Soil Organic Phosphorus: A 31P NMR Study

The nature of organic phosphorus (P_o) in animal waste and in soil is important from both plant nutrition and environmental perspectives. The objectives of this study were (1) to monitor the nature of P_o in different animal wastes and biosolids using solution state ³¹P NMR spectroscopy and (2) to understand the nature of P_o as affected by crop P removal in soil amended with different animal wastes and biosolids under greenhouse conditions. Two types of stockpiled cattle (Bos taurus) manure (CM1 and CM2), solid turkey (Meleagris gallopava) litter (TL), solid hog (Sus scrofa) manure (HM), and aerobically digested biosolids (SS) were used. Two kg of Wabash silt loam soil was amended with 0 or 150 mg P kg^?1 from the P sources. Seven harvests of corn (Zea mays L.) were collected, each 35 days after sowing. Organic P was extracted with 0.4 M NaOH from soil samples collected before cropping and after the seventh harvest, as well as from each P source. ³¹P NMR analysis suggested that sugar phosphomonoester was present in all P sources and was the dominant constituent of both CM1 and CM2. Phosphomonoester was detected in large amounts in TL, HM, and SS. Prior to crop P removal, the application of all P sources caused the relative content of sugar phosphomonoester to be greater than the control. Crop P removal resulted in reductions in the relative content of sugar phosphodiesters and phosphodiester in CM1‐ and CM2‐amended soils, respectively. Phosphomonoester was also decreased in TL‐, HM‐, and SS‐amended soils in response to cropping.     

Potential loss of nutrients from different rearing strategies for fattening pigs on pasture

Nutrient load and distribution on pasture were investigated with fattening pigs that: (1) spent a proportion of or their entire life on pasture; (2) were fed either restrictively or ad libitum; and (3) were weaned at different times of the year. N and P retention in pigs decreased the longer they were kept on pasture. The contents of soil inorganic N and exchangeable K were significantly raised compared with the soil outside the enclosures but with no differences between treatments. Pig grazing did not affect extractable soil P. Regular moving of huts, feeding and water troughs was effective in ensuring that nutrients were more evenly distributed on the paddocks. Grass cover, as determined by spectral reflectance, was not related to the experimental treatments but only to the time of year. During spring and summer, grass was present in parts of the paddocks, whereas during autumn and winter, the pigs kept grass cover below 10%. Fattening pigs on pasture carry a high risk of nutrient loss and it is concluded that the most environmentally acceptable way of keeping them on pasture involves a combination of reduced dietary N intake, reduced stocking rate and seasonal rather than round the year production.     

Nutrient leaching from clay soil monoliths with variable past manure inputs

Overall, arable soils in Sweden are currently generally close to phosphorus (P) balance, but excessive P accumulation has occurred on animal fur farms, i.e., those rearing mink (Mustela vison) and foxes (Alopex lagopus and Vulpes vulpes). Manure P from these farms has sometimes regarded as sparingly soluble. Laboratory lysimeter topsoil trials with simulated rain demonstrated that potential leaching of P in dissolved reactive form (DRP) can be very high, even for heavy clay (50%–65%) soils. The Swedish/Norwegian soil test P‐AL (soil P extracted with acid NH₄ lactate, AL) proved useful as a potential indicator of DRP leaching risk (regression coefficient [R²] = 0.89) from fur farms. The upper 5‐cm soil layer, with 190% higher (median) soil P status than the 5–20 cm layer, was the major source of potential DRP leaching through soil columns at the site, despite having been under grass or green fallow for the past 8 y. In percolate from topsoil lysimeters, DRP concentration increased by 0.29 mg L^–1 after the long‐term manure application but only by 0.14 mg L^–1 after the single slurry application when compared to no addition of slurry. Therefore, the build‐up to a high soil P status due to the long‐term application of mink manure was more important than a single application of pig slurry at a rate corresponding to 22 kg P ha^–1 with respect to soil leachate DRP losses in this lysimeter study. The study stresses the importance of precision farming, in which the amount of slurry‐P applied is based on testing the already existing soil P content.     

Vadose Zone Microbial Transport Below At-Grade Distribution of Wastewater Effluent

The attenuation of Escherichia coli and total coliform from secondary treated wastewater effluent under two “at-grade” effluent distribution systems was evaluated in a sandy silt vadose zone in a cold climate. The two at-grade distribution lines had different designs and hydraulic loading rates. Effluent transport was examined using chloride as a tracer. Coliform fate was evaluated relative to the chloride using a combination of in situ pore water sampling and destructive soil sampling, combined with the observation of a dye tracer along excavation sidewalls. Although bacteria attenuation in the subsoil appeared to decrease during colder, winter temperatures (likely due to decreased viability and decreased predation), the subsoil provided about a four log reduction in E. coli over 90 cm of vertical transport. Horizontal transport of bacteria (up to 1.5 m from the line) was likely aided by flow on top of a microbial biomat observed at the soil surface. Both the subsurface dye patterns and the E. coli sampling suggested less preferential flow occurred below the lower loading rate design. At-grade distribution of secondary treated wastewater appears to be a viable alternative to conventional distribution fields at sites with similar climate and soils.     

The effect of soil phosphorus on particulate phosphorus in land runoff

Accumulation of surplus phosphorus (P) in the soil and the resulting increased transport of P in land runoff contribute to freshwater eutrophication. The effects of increasing soil P (19–194 mg Olsen‐P (OP) kg⁻¹) on the concentrations of particulate P (PP), and sorption properties (Q_max, k and EPCo) of suspended solids (SS) in overland flow from 15 unreplicated field plots established on a dispersive arable soil were measured over three monitoring periods under natural rainfall. Concentrations of PP in plot runoff increased linearly at a rate of 2.6 μg litre⁻¹ per mg OP kg⁻¹ of soil, but this rate was approximately 50% of the rate of increase in dissolved P (< 0.45 μm). Concentrations of SS in runoff were similar across all plots and contained a greater P sorption capacity (mean + 57%) than the soil because of enrichment with fine silt and clay (0.45–20 μm). As soil P increased, the P enrichment ratio of the SS declined exponentially, and the values of P saturation (P_sat; 15–42%) and equilibrium P concentration (EPCo; 0.7–5.5 mg litre⁻¹) in the SS fell within narrower ranges compared with the soils (6–74% and 0.1–10 mg litre⁻¹, respectively). When OP was < 100 mg kg⁻¹, P_sat and EPCo values in the SS were smaller than those in the soil and vice‐versa, suggesting that eroding particles from soils with both average and high P fertility would release P on entering the local (Rosemaund) stream. Increasing soil OP from average to high P fertility increased the P content of the SS by approximately 10%, but had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on the P_sat, or EPCo, of the SS. Management options to reduce soil P status as a means of reducing P losses in land runoff and minimizing eutrophication risk may therefore have more limited effect than is currently assumed in catchment management.     

Change Point in Phosphorus Release from Variously Managed Soils with Contrasting Properties

Abstract

Investigating the relation between concentration or release of phosphorus (P) into soil solution (CaCl₂‐P, determined by 0.01 M CaCl₂ extraction of soils) and soil test phosphorus (Olsen P, or 0.5 N NaHCO₃‐extractable soil phosphorus) for 10 widely ranging and variously managed soils from central Italy, a change point was evident where the slopes of two linear relationships meet. In other words, it was possible to distinguish two sections of the plots of CaCl₂‐P against Olsen P, for which increases of CaCl₂‐P per unit of soil test P increase were significantly (p<0.05) greater above than below these change points. Values of change point ranged from 14.8 to 253.1 mg kg^?1 Olsen P and were very closely correlated (p<0.001) to phosphorus sorption capacity of soils. Similar change points were also previously observed when Olsen P (and also Mehlich 3 P) of surface soils was related to the P concentration of surface runoff and subsurface drainage. Because insufficient data are available relating P in surface soils and amount of P loss by overland, subsurface, or drainage flow, using the CaCl₂ extraction of soil can be convenient to determine a change point in soil test P, which may be used in support of agricultural and environmental P management.     

台田措施下坡面流土壤侵蚀水动力学特征

通过野外径流小区放水试验,研究2种台田类型(土坎,石坎)、3种台田级数(1,2,3级)、1种坡度(10°)、3种放水流量(0.5,1,1.5m~3/h)下坡面流土壤侵蚀过程,分析台田措施下坡面流土壤侵蚀水动力学特征。结果表明,台田级数对坡面流流态影响较大,增加台田级数可使坡面流波动性降低,台田类型对雷诺数影响相对较小。土壤分离速率总体随流量增大而增大,相同流量条件下,呈波动性增加后减少且逐渐趋于平稳的特征,两者相关关系用指数函数回归方程拟合(R20.840)。同类台田且田面宽度和相同条件下,土壤分离速率与台田级数呈负相关关系,阻力系数与流量呈负相关关系,坡面流土壤分离速率与阻力系数呈负相关关系。研究结果对认识坡面流土壤侵蚀的过程和规律具有重要意义,也为坡面侵蚀物理模型的建立提供参考。