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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #127131
Title: UTILIZATION OF SOIL AMENDMENTS TO REDUCE PHOSPHOROUS IN RUNOFF AND CONTROL EROSION

Author
item Norton, Lloyd
item Livingston, Stanley
item Aiken, Glen

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2001
Publication Date: 10/21/2001
Citation: Norton, L.D., Livingston, S.J., Aiken, G.E. Utilization of soil amendments to reduce phosphorous in runoff and control erosion. CD-ROM. Charlotte, NC: American Society of Agronomy Meetings. 2001.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Phosphorus (P) in runoff is considered a major environmental problem. This problem is further problematic by confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) that concentrate nutrients in limited areas. In eroding area, runoff transported P is particularly problematic. We conducted a 3-year study on an area that received excessive P loading from a CAFO for the past 40 years to determine if the use of soil amendments could reduce runoff volume and soluble reactive P (SRP) in runoff on a fine, smectitic, thermic Udertic Paleustalf from near College Station, TX. The treatments included: Control, gypsum (surface applied at 5 MT/ha) and a composted waste paper product with a C:N ratio of 20:1. Rainfall simulation was applied at 56 mm/hr and runoff, sediment loss and soluble P measured in 5- minute intervals. Cultivated and consolidated plots were compared. Runoff volume was not significantly affected by the soil amendments, however, SRP and sediment yield were significantly reduced. Cultivated plots had greater soil loss and SRP and non-disturbed plots but no differences in runoff volume. The use of soil amendments such as gypsum and waste paper appears to be a viable option to reduce the environmental threat from areas that have received excessive amounts of P loading from CAFOs.