Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199032
Title: AERATION IN GRASSLANDS, IT ONLY WORKS SOME-OF-THE-TIME.

Author
item Franklin, Dorcas
item CABRERA, M - UGA
item WEST, L - UGA
item BUTLER, D - UGA
item CALVERT, V - UGA
item REMA, J - UGA

Submitted to: World Congress of Soil Science
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/9/2006
Publication Date: 7/9/2006
Citation: Franklin, D.H., Cabrera, M.L., West, L.T., Butler, D.M., Calvert, V., Rema, J.A. 2006. Aeration in grasslands, it only works some-of-the-time [abstract]. 18th World Congress of Soil Science, July 9-15, 2006, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CD-ROM.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In an effort to efficiently utilize natural resources and leave them in best possible condition, it is necessary to build the soil and reduce unnecessary losses of nutrients beyond the site or point of intended use. Improving infiltration of rainfall or reducing losses to overland flow can help extend grass or forage productivity during droughty periods or it can retard flooding during periods of heavy rainfall. Application of broiler litter to grasslands may lead to elevated concentrations of phosphorus (P) in surface runoff, with its potential effect on eutrophication of surface waters. Thus, management practices are currently needed to reduce the amount of P loss in runoff from grasslands fertilized with broiler litter. Reductions in runoff P loss can be achieved by reducing the volume of runoff and/or reducing the concentration of P in runoff. A practice that may accomplish these results is aeration. In this presentation we will present the results from two small plot aeration studies and one field scale paired watershed study. Over all objective of all three studies was to determine the impact of aeration on runoff volume and P losses in runoff from a tall fescue-bermudagrass grasslands fertilized with inorganic fertilizer and different manures (diary slurry, layer manure and broiler litter). The small scale plots were done on two different soils using three different types of aeration implements. The field scale study was conducted in six 0.7–ha, tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)/bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) bermed fields or field-scale watersheds, located at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Central Research and Education Center, near Eatonton, Georgia. Bermed fields were paired based on their propensity to generate surface runoff. We used PROC REG in SAS 8.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC) to regress loss of runoff volume, DRP and TKP from the aerated plots against loss of runoff volume, DRP, and TKP from the non-aerated plot before and after application of the aeration treatment. Then, PROC GLM in SAS 8.0 was used to determine if the slopes of the regression lines were different before and after applying aeration. Results varied depending on soils regardless of soil texture. Small plot studies showed that core aeration decreased Total P and dissolved P from plots fertilized with broiler litter by 46 and 62%. Results from between paired watersheds varied while results of runoff and DRP loss were usually similar on each set of watersheds. In the fields with well drained soils, aeration reduced DRP losses by 35%. This overall reduction appeared to have been caused by a combination of reductions in runoff volume and DRP concentration.