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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #149908
Title: SEDIMENT POND EFFECTIVENESS FOR REMOVING P FROM PAM-TREATED IRRIGATED FURROWS

Author
item Bjorneberg, David - Dave
item Lentz, Rodrick

Submitted to: ASAE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2003
Publication Date: 7/27/2003
Citation: Bjorneberg, D.L., Lentz, R.D. 2003. Sediment pond effectiveness for removing P from pam-treated irrigated furrows. In: Proceedings of the ASAE Annual International Meeting, July 27-30, 2003, Las Vegas, Nevada. 2003 CDROM.

Interpretive Summary: Polyacrylamide (PAM) greatly reduces erosion on furrow irrigated fields. Sediment ponds are also useful for removing suspended sediment from irrigation runoff. PAM application and sediment ponds are approved agricultural practices for reducing phosphorus (P) loading in the Lower Boise River Effluent Trading Project in southern Idaho. The objective of this project was to measure the effectiveness of using PAM in combination with a sediment pond. Six sediment ponds were installed to receive runoff from PAM-treated and control furrow. Three crop-years of data showed that PAM reduced sediment and total P loading to the ponds 50 to 80%, which reduced the mass of sediment and total P retained in the ponds. PAM application did not affect the relative effectiveness of the ponds. On average, 87% of the sediment and 75% of the total P was retained in the sediment ponds. These results indicate that the effectiveness of PAM application and sediment pond practices is additive so full credit could be given for each practice on the Lower Boise River Effluent Trading Project.

Technical Abstract: Polyacrylamide (PAM) greatly reduces erosion on furrow irrigated fields. Sediment ponds are also useful for removing suspended sediment from irrigation runoff. PAM application and sediment ponds are approved agricultural practices for reducing phosphorus (P) loading in the Lower Boise River Effluent Trading Project in southern Idaho. The objective of this project was to measure the effectiveness of using PAM in combination with a sediment pond. Six sediment ponds were installed to receive runoff from PAM-treated and control furrow. Three crop-years of data showed that PAM reduced sediment and total P loading to the ponds 50 to 80%, which reduced the mass of sediment and total P retained in the ponds. PAM application did not affect the relative effectiveness of the ponds. On average, 87% of the sediment and 75% of the total P was retained in the sediment ponds. These results indicate that the effectiveness of PAM application and sediment pond practices is additive so full credit could be given for each practice on the Lower Boise River Effluent Trading Project.