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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Soil Dynamics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #281689

Title: Impact of FGD gypsum application on water quality in a coastal plain soil

Author
item Torbert, Henry - Allen
item Watts, Dexter

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/21/2012
Publication Date: 10/21/2012
Citation: Torbert III, H.A., Watts, D.B. 2012. Impact of FGD gypsum application on water quality in a coastal plain soil. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. CDROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: There are growing concerns regarding the fate of nutrients, especially P, from land application of animal waste. One approach to reduce runoff losses of P is to treat manure or the soil receiving manure with chemical amendments such as gypsum. This study used rainfall simulations to examine the impact of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum application on runoff nutrient losses on a Coastal Plains soil (Luverne fine, mixed, semiactive, thermic typic hapludults). Four rates of FGD gypsum (0, 1, 2, and 4 Tons ha-1) were applied to plots of Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) which had received application of 6 Ton ha-1 poultry litter. Plots with 4 Tons ha-1 but no poultry litter and plots with no litter or FGD gypsum were also utilized. Rainfall simulator was used to generate water runoff for 60 min and samples were analyzed for dissolved reactive P (SRP) and soluble Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, and Zn. Total concentration of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn and concentration of heavy metals Ar, Hg, AL, Sb, Ba, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, Si, V, Se, Tl, and Hexavalent Chromium were also analyzed. Results indicated that up to 61% reduction in SRP concentration in runoff with the application of 4 Ton ha-1 FGD gypsum. This translated to a 51% reduction in total SRP load during the 60 min runoff event. Measurement of heavy metals in runoff where all found to be below detection limits. The results indicate that use of FGD gypsum on pastures receiving poultry litter in the Coastal Plains would be an effective method of reducing SRP losses to the environment.