Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Runoff following Beef Cattle Manure or Compost Application

Abstract

Manure or compost from beef cattie feediots can be an excellent sources of nutrients and organic matter when added to soils, but they can also pollute runoff. We determined the effects of simulated rainfall on runoff losses of P and N, and EC and pH following application of manure and compost to a Sharpsburg silty clay loam (fine smectitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) soil having grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) residues. Manure, compost, and fertilizer were applied to no‐till fields at rates required to meet N or P requirements for corn (Zea mays L.) production and were either left on the soil surface or disked to 8 cm. There were also untreated checks. Runoff concentrations of dissolved P (DP), bioavailable P (BAP), and NH4‐N were significantly greater when the soil was not disked. Total and particulate P concentrations in runoff were generally less under wheat than sorghum residue and were less for the no‐till than the disked condition. In the disked system, N or P‐based manure or compost application resulted in DP concentration <1 mg L−1. Manure and compost application resulted in greater runoff EC values than fertilizer application. Phosphorus concentration of runoff receiving P fertilizer or N‐based manure and compost application can be an environmental concern when these sources are applied under no‐till conditions without incorporation.

Nutrient loads and sediment losses in sprinkler irrigation runoff affected by compost and manure

“…This finding suggests that under the conditions we studied, compost and manure applied as we did would result in no more NO 3 -N loss or NH 4 -N loss in sprinkler runoff than from unamended fields. In contrast to our findings, Eghball and Gilley (1999) reported generally greater NO 3 -N loads in runoff from plots treated with compost rather than manure, and Little et al (2005) reported greater NO 3 -N and NH 4 -N loads from manured plots than controls. In both those contrasting studies, loads in simulated rainfall runoff were measured within 7 days of amendment incorporation but in our study 252 days after incorporation.…”

“…Delays between amendment incorporation and runoff measurement likely affected nutrient loads (Lentz and Lehrsch 2010). In the current study, NH 4 -N loads in sprinkler runoff did not differ among treatments, as was also found by Eghball and Gilley (1999) and Miller et al (2006). Phosphorus Loads.…”

“…Only a few studies have compared the runoff quality from soils treated with manure and composted manure (hereafter simply termed compost) (Eghball and Gilley 1999;Qu et al 1999;Miller et al 2006). Eghball and Gilley (1999) found no or little effects of compost or manure on concentrations of DRP or FeO P in runoff. Concentrations of TP and NO 3 -N in runoff tended to be higher, but NH 4 -N in runoff tended to be lower under compost than manure.…”

Perdas de solo e água e qualidade do escoamento superficial associadas à erosão entre sulcos em área cultivada sob semeadura direta e submetida às adubações mineral e orgânica

“…Os valores mais elevados de CE foram observados no tratamento com dejeto líquido de suíno (DLS), sendo eles, aproximadamente, duas vezes maiores do que os observados na adubação mineral (NPK) e em torno de três vezes mais elevado do que no tratamento testemunha (T). Esses resultados podem ter sido influenciados pelo sódio (Na) presente no dejeto líquido de suíno, em decorrência de a ração fornecida aos animais conter NaCl, concordando com o observado por Eghball & Gilley (1999), os quais, avaliando a CE em diferentes sistemas de manejo do solo, com diferentes tipos de adubação, encontraram maior valor no solo que recebeu dejeto líquido de bovinos, comparado com o solo que recebeu adubação mineral. Pode-se também considerar que os resultados observados no tratamento sem adubação (T) foram expressivos (próximos dos valores do tratamento NPK), refletindo o acúmulo de nutrientes na superfície do solo sob semeadura direta, em relação ao método convencional de preparo do solo, conforme também constatado por Eghball & Gilley (1999).…”

Perdas de solo, água e nitrogênio por erosão hídrica em diferentes sistemas de manejo

“…Nesse mesmo trabalho, o autor observou perdas de N da ordem de 10 kg ha -1 ano -1 em áreas descobertas, enquanto, em áreas cobertas com resíduo vegetal, as perdas foram de 1 kg ha -1 ano -1 . Eghball & Gilley (1999), por outro lado, avaliando o efeito dos sistemas de semeadura direta e preparo convencional, observaram menores perdas de N na enxurrada quando o esterco bovino foi incorporado ao solo do que quando foi mantido na superfície.…”