ARS | Publication request: ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT IN GRASSLANDS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: August 1, 2006
Publication Date: November 12, 2006
Citation: Franklin, D.H., Cabrera, M.L., Steiner, J.L., Risse, L.M. 2006. Adaptive management in grasslands to improve water quality [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA 2006 Annual Meeting.

Technical Abstract: Grassland management practices may influence nutrient concentrations in streams, both base flow and storm flow, when nutrients are applied at recommended rates. We examined the extent to which nutrients (phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N)) were present (from 1999 to 2004) in both soluble and particulate forms for grasslands (hay and pasture) downstream of stream-side fields fertilized with broiler litter. Ratios of dissolved to total P were 0.68 in base flow and 0.62 in storm flow for hay fields and 0.57 in base flow and 0.48 in storm flow for pastures . Differences between management systems were more obvious with ratios of N than of P. Ratios of dissolved N (NH4+ & NO3) to total Kjeldahl N were 0.69 in base flow and 0.52 in storm flow for hay fields, and 0.82 in base flow and 0.45 in storm flow for pastures. As part of a participatory research project, group recommendations for whole farm management practices were to modify positions of hay fields. New hay field positions are on the lower side of each stream-side field with pastures on the upper side of each hay field.