Runoff of faecal microorganisms and nutrients from perennial grass ley after application of slurry and mineral fertiliser

2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (12) ◽  
pp. 143-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Heinonen-Tanski ◽  
J. Uusi-Kämppä

Perennial grass was fertilised with cattle slurry either surface-spread or injected into the soil. Slurry was spread once (early summer) in 1996 and 1997 and twice (both summer and autumn) in 1998 and 1999. The control was mineral fertilisation in summer. Faecal microbial numbers in surface runoff water were very high in late June 1998 soon after very heavy rains even though the last slurry application had been made almost one year earlier. There was no clear difference between slurry spreading methods. Autumn spreading of slurry lead to high microbial levels in runoff waters and water hygiene was protected better by slurry injection than by surface spreading. In spring, after snow melt, some faecal microorganisms were found in surface runoff water and the numbers of faecal microorganisms were less from plots with slurry surface spreading than those with slurry-injection. Losses of total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) in surface runoff were 2.7 and 7.7 kg/ha respectively from grass with surface-spread slurry in winter 1998-1999. The injection of slurry decreased TP and TN runoff by an average of 81% and 73% respectively. In 1999 there was little runoff because the summer was sunny and dry.

1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 569-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. TURTOLA ◽  
E. KEMPPAINEN

Losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from perennial grass ley on a fine sand soil were studied with five treatments: no fertilizer (1), cow slurry applied in autumn (2), winter (3) or spring (4), and mineral fertilizer applied in spring (5). For N, the total amounts applied (1992-96) were 0, 772, 807, 805 and 510 kg ha-1 and for P 0, 141, 119, 143 and 107 kg ha-1, respectively. In the first year (establishment of the ley, 1992-93), N losses (drainage + surface runoff) were slightly higher after application of slurry in autumn (with immediate ploughing, treatment 2) than in treatments 1, 4 and 5 (21 kg ha-1 vs. 17 kg ha-1), but the respective P losses (0.7-0.9 kg ha-1) were not affected. During the ley years (1993-96) the N and P losses were increased by surface application of fertilizers and by abundance of surface runoff (83-100% of the total runoff). Nutrient losses were extremely high after slurry application in autumn and winter, accounting for 11% and 33% of the applied N and 17% and 59% of the applied P, respectively. The N losses during the ley years from treatments 1-5 were 13, 62, 191, 23 and 24 kg ha-1, where the proportion of NH4-N was 21, 49, 56, 33 and 39%. The respective P losses were 0.73, 16, 54, 4.2 and 4.0 kg ha-1, where the proportion of PO4-P was 52, 85, 77, 68 and 64%.;


1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (8) ◽  
pp. 75-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. Amaral

The technology of treatment through landfarming for oily wastes has been more and more often utilized in Brazil, always successfully. The definition, the processes which occur, as well as the factors which affect its performance are herein presented. Design parameters, such as location, ground characterization, dimensioning of the area of application, groundwater protection, drainage, treatment of surface runoff water and percolated liquid, among others, are presented. Operational procedures and quality monitoring of effluents and environment are also described. PETROBRÁS is already operating two landfarming systems and has several others in the design stage. We present data from these projects and report that oily waste degradation has been achieved in around six months. Finally, we expect to be contributing to the affirmation and development of this technology in our Country.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1851-1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Lai ◽  
K. S. L. Lo

A mixing-based model for describing solute transfer to overland flow was developed. This model included a time-dependent mixing depth of the top layer and a complete-mixed surface runoff zone. In a series of laboratory experiments, runoff was passed at various velocities and depths over a medium bed. The media were saturated with uniform concentration of potassium chloride solution. Runoff water was sampled at the beginning and end of the flume and the potassium chloride concentration analyzed. Using this model, dimensionless ultimate mixing depth and dimensionless change rate of mixing depth from experimental data were investigated and implemented. The results showed that the Reynolds number and relative roughness are two important factors.


1994 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. T. Bowman ◽  
G. J. Wall ◽  
D. J. King

The risk of surface-water contamination by herbicides is greatest following application to cropland when the active ingredients are at the maximum concentration and the soil is the most vulnerable to erosion following cultivation. This study determined the magnitude of surface runoff losses of herbicide and nutrients at, and subsequent to, application. The first of three weekly 10-min, 2.6-cm rainfalls were simulated on triplicated 1-m plots (a set) on which corn had been planted and the herbicide (metolachlor/atrazine, 1.5:1.0) and fertilizer (28% N at 123 kg ha−1) had just been applied. Identical simulations were applied to two other adjacent plot sets (protected from rainfall) 1 and 2 wk following herbicide application. Runoff (natural, simulated) was monitored for soil, nutrient and herbicide losses. Concentrations of total phosphorus in surface runoff water and nitrate N in field-filtered samples were not significantly influenced by the time of the rainfall simulation but exceeded provincial water-quality objectives. Atrazine and metolachlor runoff losses were greatest from simulated rainfall (about 5% loss) immediately following application. Subsequent simulated rainfall usually resulted in < 1% herbicide runoff losses. Herbicide concentrations in all plot runoff samples exceeded provincial drinking-water quality objectives. Since herbicide surface transport is primarily in the solution phase (not via association with soil particles), water-management conservation technologies are the key to retaining these chemicals on cropland. Key words: Herbicide, runoff, rainfall simulation, partitioning, water quality


2012 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 4725-4735 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Temesgen ◽  
S. Uhlenbrook ◽  
B. Simane ◽  
P. van der Zaag ◽  
Y. Mohamed ◽  
...  

Abstract. Adoption of soil conservation structures (SCS) has been low in high rainfall areas of Ethiopia mainly due to crop yield reduction, increased soil erosion following breaching of SCS, incompatibility with the tradition of cross plowing and water-logging behind SCS. A new type of conservation tillage (CT) involving contour plowing and the construction of invisible subsoil barriers using a modified Maresha winged "subsoiler" is suggested as a means to tackle these problems as an integral part of the SCS. We investigated the effect of integrating the CT with SCS on the surface runoff, water-logging, soil loss, crop yield and plowing convenience. The new approach of conservation tillage has been compared with traditional tillage (TT) on 5 farmers' fields in a high rainfall area in the upper Blue Nile (Abbay) river basin. Test crops were wheat [triticum vulgare] and tef [eragrostis tef]. Farmers found CT convenient to apply between SCS. Surface runoff appeared to be reduced under CT by 48 and 15%, for wheat and tef, respectively. As a result, CT reduced sediment yield by 51 and 9.5%, for wheat and tef, respectively. Significantly reduced water-logging was observed behind SCS in CT compared to TT. Grain yields of wheat and tef increased by 35 and 10%, respectively, although the differences were not statistically significant apparently due to high fertility variations among fields of participating farmers. Farmers who tested CT indicated that they will continue this practice in the future.


2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 767 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Mitchell ◽  
J. M. Virgona ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
D. R. Kemp

Microlaena (Microlaena stipoides var. stipoides (Labill.) R.Br.) is a C3 perennial grass that is native to areas of south-eastern Australia. In this region, perennial grasses are important for the grazing industries because of their extended growing season and persistence over several years. This series of experiments focused on the population biology of Microlaena by studying the phenology (when seed was set), seed rain (how much seed was produced and where it fell), seed germination, germinable seedbank, seed predation and seedling recruitment in a pasture. Experiments were conducted at Chiltern, in north-eastern Victoria, on an existing native grass pasture dominated by Microlaena. Seed yields were substantial (mean 800 seeds m–2), with seed rain occurring over December–May. Microlaena has two distinct periods of high seed rain, in early summer and in early autumn. Seed predation is high. Within a 24-h period during peak seed production, up to 30% of Microlaena seed was removed from a pasture, primarily by ants. Microlaena seedlings recruited throughout an open paddock; however, seedling density was low (5 seedlings m–2). Microlaena represented only low numbers in the seedbank (0.01–0.05% of total); hence, any seedlings of Microlaena that germinate from the seedbank would face immense competition from other species. Management strategies for Microlaena-dominant pastures need to focus on the maintenance of existing plants.


Soil Research ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle P. Oliver ◽  
Rai S. Kookana

Off-site movement of nutrients and sediment from furrow-irrigated agriculture has been a concern in the Ord River Irrigation Area, Western Australia. After consultation with growers, a range of management strategies were tested to assess the effectiveness of various practices to minimise off-site movement of nutrients during irrigation. This paper reports on the effectiveness of the additions of high molecular weight, anionic, polyacrylamide (PAM) to irrigation water to minimise off-site movement of phosphorus, nitrogen, carbon, and sediment. Surface runoff water quantity and quality from 4 separate irrigation bays, which contained 25 furrows per irrigation bay, was monitored over time for a single irrigation 35 days after sowing. Addition of PAM as a puck (cylindrical disc 55 mm diameter by 23 mm height) to the head of each irrigation furrow significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the average volume of surface runoff water leaving the irrigation bays by 54%, from 599 kL for the control irrigation bays to 277 kL for the PAM-treated irrigation bays. The addition of PAM also significantly (P < 0.001) decreased the average total suspended sediment load for the duration of the irrigation from 94.9 kg/ha for the control bays to 13.4 kg/ha for the PAM-treated irrigation bays. The concentrations of the different forms of N, P, and C measured in the runoff water were not significantly different between the 2 treatments. The amounts (g) of particulate (>0.45 µm) P and dissolved organic C were significantly (P < 0.01) less from the PAM-treated bays than from the control bays. There was a consistent trend for the addition of PAM to decrease the cumulative mass loss of all nutrients (N, P, and C) measured. However, significant decreases were only seen for particulate (>0.45 µm) P (by 94%), unfiltered (or total) N (by 56%), and unfiltered (or total) C (by 60%). This experiment demonstrated that the addition of PAM to irrigation waters has the potential to decrease the off-site movement of nutrients bound to colloidal material. However, in this study off-site movement of contaminants present in the ‘soluble’ (<0.45 µm) fraction is unlikely to be mitigated by the addition of PAM to irrigation water. The mode of application of PAM, however, may affect water infiltration and hence vertical movement of ‘soluble’ contaminants and requires further investigation to ensure that while off-site surface transport is being minimised, contamination of groundwater is not being increased. Other strategies to minimise off-site movement for contaminants in the dissolved phase also need investigation.


Author(s):  
E. S. Mohamed ◽  
Abdel-Aziz Belal ◽  
Mohamed Abu-hashim

Abstract Background Evaluation of surface runoff is an essential factor in the precision water and soil conservation management through their main extreme impacts on soil properties. The natural resource conservation service curve number model (NRCS-CN) model is used to estimate the magnitude of runoff. Collected topographic data is used to explain the effects of slope variation on water retention and surface runoff. Twenty-eight soil profiles are prepared in Nile delta, Egypt to cover different geomorphic units and hydrological soil groups in the study area. Results The results revealed that the highest value of surface runoff was distinguished close to the urban area and ranges between 40 and 50 mm. In urban areas, the surfaces are paved and there are no infiltration of water. Consequently, the runoff water directly flows to the storm channels. Runoff values ranging between 30 and 40 mm occurred at the north of the study area. The sloping surface and the nature of the clay soil contributed to generate more runoff than do lowland areas. Conclusion The study presented and tested the hydric runoff estimation based-model on the integrating of hydric balance parameters. The GIS tools analyze and compose these parameters to perform an indirect method for the quantity of water that results in direct surface runoff flow. This method helps to gain clear imaging of the surface runoff risks in the study area.


1997 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 618-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wondi Mersie ◽  
Cathy A. Seybold

This paper describes the design, construction, and operation of tilted beds to investigate the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips (VFS) in removing agricultural chemicals from runoff water. The beds are designed to catch surface runoff, leachate, and subsurface lateral flow. Switchgrass was established on beds filled with Cullen clay loam or Emporia sandy loam. Switchgrass establi shed on Cullen clay loam beds reduced surface runoff by 60% and by 11% in sandy loam containing switchgrass compared to respective bare soils. Infiltration was 64, 26, 17, and 8% for clay loam with switchgrass, clay loam without switchgrass, sandy loam with switchgrass, and sandy loam without switchgrass, respectively.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Wakiyama ◽  
Yasunori Igarashi ◽  
Yuichi Onda ◽  
Dmitry Samoilov ◽  
Hlib Lisovy ◽  
...  

&lt;p&gt;Long-term behaviors of Cesium-137 (&lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs) and Strontium-90 (&lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr) have been of great interest in Chernobyl and its downstream area. This study presents plot-scale observations of &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs and &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr wash-off in the Chernobyl exclusion zone since 2018 to date. Runoff plots were established on a pine forest in the Kopachi area (PF-KP), an abandoned farmland in the Korogod area (AF-KR) and a post wild fire territory in the Red Forest (WF-RF) in December 2017. Each runoff plot consists of eroding surface of 22.13 m length and 5 m width, a 30&amp;#176; V-notch weir with water level sensor for monitoring surface runoff and tanks for collecting runoff water and sediments. Since February 2018, runoff water and sediment samples trapped in the weir and tanks have been collected after rainfall events and analyzed for particulate &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs concentration, dissolved &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs concentration, and dissolved &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr concentration. Analyses of samples in 2, 4, and 3 wash-off events were completed for PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF, respectively. The ash/litter on soil surface, soil of 0-1 cm depth, soil of 1-2 cm depth, and soil of 2-3 cm depth were sampled with a scraper plate and subject to measurements of &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs and &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr concentrations. &amp;#160;Total volume of surface runoff from PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF were 0.97, 0.73, and 3.2 mm, respectively. Total sediment discharge from PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF were 0.29, 0.015, 1.7 g m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. The runoff and sediment discharge from PF-KP and WF-RF were mainly observed in summer and attributed to severe water repellency of the surface soils. Total particulate &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs wash-off from PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF were 51, 0.082, 270 Bq m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. Total dissolved &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs wash-off from PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF were 7.4, 0.024, 9.8 Bq m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively. Total dissolved &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr wash-off from PF-KP, AF-KR, and WF-RF were 55, 0.31, 230 Bq m&lt;sup&gt;-2&lt;/sup&gt;, respectively.&amp;#160; These results indicate that wild fire enhances surface runoff and sediment yield and result in greater wash-off of &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs and &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr. In comparisons between PF-KP and WF-RF, apparent Kd value for &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs at WF-RF was higher than at PF-KP. Ratio of dissolved &lt;sup&gt;137&lt;/sup&gt;Cs and &lt;sup&gt;90&lt;/sup&gt;Sr concentration to those in ash/litter layer at PF-KP was lower than those of WF-RF. The dissolution of these radionuclides into runoff water appeared to be restrained in the post wild-fire site.&lt;/p&gt;


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