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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #178508
Title: TREATMENT OF DRAINAGE WATER WITH INDUSTRIAL BY-PRODUCTS TO PREVENT PHOSPHORUS LOSS FORM TILE-DRAINED LAND RECEIVING EFFLUENT

Author
item MCDOWELL, RICHARD - AGRESEARCH
item Sharpley, Andrew
item BOURKE, BILL - STEELSERV
item HOPKINS, KEITH - GENESIS ENERGY

Submitted to: Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/7/2005
Publication Date: 3/9/2005
Citation: Mcdowell, R., Sharpley, A.N., Bourke, B., Hopkins, K. 2005. Treatment of drainage water with industrial by-products to prevent phosphorus loss form tile-drained land receiving effluent. New Zealand Land Treatment Collective Conference. p. 218-224.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Phosphorus (P) is central to the deterioration of surface water quality via eutrophication. Tile drained land that receives effluent from the dairy shed is prone to P loss especially if the site has been used for a long time. This study looked at industrial by-products from the steel and energy industries to mitigate P loss from tile-drains and ultimately flowing waters. For each by-product, P sorption maximum (Pmax) and strength (k) were determined, while a fluvarium trial assessed P uptake with time. Although two ash materials (fly-ash and bottom ash) had high Pmax and k values, heavy metal contents negated their use in the field. The fluvarium experiment determined that by-product uptake of P was best at low flow (0.05 L/s), but that P uptake was proportional to k at a higher flow rate (0.6 L s-1). A mixture of melter slag (< 10 mm) and basic slag was selected because large amounts of P were tightly bound (high Pmax and k values) over a range of flow rates. This mixture was installed in 8 drains on a South Auckland dairy farm. Four greywacke drains were constructed as controls. The site (1 ha) received weekly applications of dairy shed effluent (30 mg P/L). The mean dissolved reactive P concentration in drainage from slag drains (0.086 mg/L) was significantly less than the control drains (0.531 mg/L). However, pH, and PP were greater due to CaO in the basic slag and loss of P-rich fines via turbulence in drainflow. Overall, TP was significantly decreased by slag compared to the control and the material is recommended as a backfill to mitigate P loss. Further P loss may occur if drain pipes are installed higher than the bottom of the backfill to allow P-rich particles to settle-out.