Water quality implications of dairy slurry applied to cut pastures in the northeast USA |
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Authors: | WL Stout SR Weaver WJ Gburek GJ Folmar RR Schnabel |
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Institution: | Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Curtin Road, Building 3702, University Park, PA 16802-3702, USA. |
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Abstract: | Abstract. Nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) leaching from animal production systems in the northeast USA is a major non-point source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. We conducted a study to measure NO3-N leaching from dairy slurry applied to orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Pennlate) using large drainage lysimeters to measure the direct impact of four rates of slurry (urine and faeces) N application (0, 168, 336, 672 kg N ha?1 yr?1) on NO3-N leaching on three soil types. We then used experimentally-based relationships developed earlier between stocking density and NO3-N leaching loss and leachate NO3-N concentration to estimate the added impact of animal grazing. Nitrate N leaching losses from only dairy slurry applied at the 0, 158, 336, and 672 kg N ha?1 yr?1 rates were 5.85, 8.26, 8.83, and 12.1 kg N ha?1 yr?1, respectively with corresponding NO3-N concentrations of 1.60, 2.30, 2.46, and 3.48 mg l?1. These NO3-N concentrations met the 10 mg l?1 US EPA drinking water standard. However, when a scenario was constructed to include the effect of NO3-N leaching caused by animal grazing, the NO3-N drinking water standard was calculated to be exceeded. |
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Keywords: | Cattle slurry manures leaching nitrate groundwater pollution water quality |
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