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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #393830
Research Project: Managing Manure as a Soil Resource for Improved Biosecurity, Nutrient Availability, and Soil Sustainability

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Title: Legacy nutrient transport by overland sheet flow

Author
item Gilley, John
item MCGEHEE, RYAN - Iowa State University
item Wacha, Kenneth

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2025
Publication Date: 5/7/2025
Citation: Gilley, J.E., Mcgehee, R.P., Wacha, K.M. 2025. Legacy nutrient transport by overland sheet flow. Journal of Environmental Engineering. 151(7). https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-8077.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/JOEEDU.EEENG-8077

Interpretive Summary: An inductive meta-study was conducted to identify the effects of varying rates of overland sheet flow on the transport of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from sites containing legacy nutrients. The data examined was collected during previously reported field rainfall simulation investigations performed in cropland areas of southeast Nebraska, USA. Nutrients obtained from both organic and inorganic sources had been applied at the study sites. Inflow was added to the top of the experimental plots in four successive increments during the field tests to simulate runoff rates occurring at greater downslope distances. Runoff rates on the experimental sites ranged from 2.20 to 19.5 L min-1 and maximum equivalent downslope distances varied from 4.1 to 108 m. Transport rates for dissolved P, total P, nitrate as nitrogen, and total N (TN) ranged from 3.3 – 22.5, 4.0 – 190, 4.65 – 995, and 39 – 1290 g ha-1 min-1, respectively. It was observed that P and N transport rates increased in a linear fashion with runoff rate in both organic and inorganic amended soils. Nutrient transport rates were thought to be influenced by the quantity of nutrients released by soil at a particular runoff rate and the amount of overland sheet flow available to transport the released nutrients. The slope of the linear equations relating P transport rates to runoff rates were found to be related to soil P content. Transport rates for TN were related directly to runoff rates on sites containing varying amounts of soil N. Additional assessment is needed at other locations with varying soil, cropping, and management conditions to further improve our understanding of legacy nutrient transport by overland sheet flow.

Technical Abstract: A study was conducted to identify the effects of varying runoff rates on the transport of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from sites where manure or fertilizer had been previously applied. The data examined was collected during previously reported field rainfall simulation investigations performed in cropland areas of southeast Nebraska. Inflow was added to the top of the experimental plots in four successive increments during the field tests to simulate runoff rates occurring at greater downslope distances. It was observed that P and N transport rates increased in a linear fashion with runoff rate. Nutrient transport rates were thought to be influenced by the quantity of nutrients released by soil at a particular runoff rate and the amount of runoff available to transport the released nutrients. The equations relating P transport rates to runoff rates were found to be related to soil P content. Transport rates for TN were related directly to runoff rates on sites containing varying amounts of soil N. Additional assessment is needed at other locations with varying soil, cropping, and management conditions to further improve our understanding of nutrient transport by runoff.