Dissolved Reactive P Research Articles

Losses of phosphorus, nitrogen, dissolved organic carbon and soil from a small agricultural and forested catchment in east-central Finland

Livestock-derived phosphorus (P) loading values are largely based on studies performed in small experimental fields, leading to uncertainties when applying the results at larger scale. This five-year study estimated annual loads of P, nitrogen (N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total suspended solids (TSS) in a small 3.2 km2 agricultural and forested catchment by monitoring water quality and discharge in four ditches reflecting different land uses. The monitored catchment has intensive livestock production, with proportions of grassland, cereal and forest area typical for east-central Finland. Typically, spring runoff started in early April under snow cover and peaked during snowmelt. There was great variation in the amount and pattern of discharge between years. Mean annual total P (TP) load (± SD) from an agricultural sub-catchment was 1.0 ± 0.37 kg ha−1. Mean TP load from a forested (PS) sub-catchment was 0.4 ± 0.17 kg ha−1 when a point source of pollution (PS) was included and 0.06 kg ha-1 when it was excluded. The point source of pollution contributed 12 % of the TP load from the whole 3.2 km2 catchment. The proportion of dissolved reactive P (DRP) to TP load varied between 34 % and 67 % in the study period (largest for the forested (PS) sub-catchment and smallest for the whole catchment). Observed erosion rates were very low when measured as TSS, with the highest (115 ± 103 kg ha−1) and lowest (3.4 ± 2.3 kg ha−1) mean annual erosion rate in the agricultural and forested (PS) sub-catchments, respectively. In the agricultural sub-catchment, the relationship between TP and DOC tended to be stronger than that between TP and TSS. Mean annual total N load from the agricultural sub-catchment was 19.0 ± 7.2 kg ha−1 and from the whole catchment 10 ± 2.7 kg ha−1, while mean annual DOC load was 45 ± 13 kg ha-1 and 92 ± 28 kg ha−1, respectively. These results are important in developing, implementing and targeting mitigation measures to control agricultural nutrient losses to surface waters.

Potential loss of nutrients, carbon and metals in simulated runoff associated with dairy processing sludge application

Dairy processing wastewater treatment sludge (DPWTS) is applied to grassland to recycle valuable nutrients and organic matter. Until recently the chemical composition of the dominant DPWTS types (calcium, aluminium or iron rich) was unknown, but the latest study (Ashekuzzaman et al. in J Clean Prod 230:1266–1275, 2019) indicates that DPWTS has high nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content and their inherent chemical properties may influence their availability and losses. Herein for the first time edge of field-losses and plant-available P changes are simulated in an agitator test 48 h after application. In terms of overall losses, metals are not of concern across treatment types, iron-rich DPWTS has the highest losses in terms of concentration of ammonium-N and carbon, whereas calcium-rich DPWTS has the highest dissolved reactive P (DRP) losses but lowest losses of ammonium-N and carbon. The loss of DRP was found to be strongly positively associated with the increase in water-extractable P, degree of P saturation, Morgan’s and Mehlich-3 extractable phosphorus (Pm, M3-P), respectively. Runoff concentrations presented here represent edge of field-losses and may not represent final concentrations entering a surface waterbody. In terms of plant-available P, there were no negative effects with Pm exhibiting a positive trend across DPWTS types and soils. In particular, a significant increase was found for the calcium-rich DPWTS across all soils (average increase in Pm by fivefold). As applying DPWTS to grassland is an understudied area, further field trials should focus on emissions to air and water and examine the fertilizer value from N and P perspectives. Thus a better management of DPWTS as fertiliser can be maintained from an agronomic and environmental context.

Legacy phosphorus concentration-discharge relationships in surface runoff and tile drainage from Ohio crop fields.

Legacy phosphorus (P) in agricultural soils can be transported to surface waters via runoff and tile drainage, where it contributes to the development of harmful and nuisance algal blooms and hypoxia. However, a limited understanding of legacy P loss dynamics impedes the identification of mitigation strategies. Edge-of-field data from 41 agricultural fields in northwestern Ohio, USA, were used to develop regressions between legacy P concentrations (C) and discharge (Q) for two P fractions: total P (TP) and dissolved reactive P (DRP). Tile drainage TP concentration (CTP ) and DRP concentration (CDRP ) both increased as Q increased, and CTP tended to increase at a greater rate than CDRP . Surface runoff showed greater variation in C-Q regressions, indicating that the response of TP and DRP to elevated Q was field specific. The relative variability of C and Q was explored using a ratio of CVs (CVC /CVQ ), which indicated that tile drainage TP and DRP losses were chemodynamic, whereas losses via surface runoff demonstrated both chemodynamic and chemostatic behavior. The chemodynamic behavior indicated that legacy P losses were strongly influenced by variation in P source availability and transport pathways. In addition, legacy P source size influenced C, as demonstrated by a positive relationship between soil-test P and the CTP and CDRP in both tile drainage and surface runoff. Progress towards legacy P mitigation will require further characterization of the drivers of variability in CTP and CDRP , including weather-, soil-, and management-related factors.

Runoff water quality after low-disturbance manure application in an alfalfa-grass hay crop forage system.

The impacts of low-disturbance manure application (LDMA) on runoff water quality in hay crop forages are not well known. Our objective in this study was to determine surface runoff losses of total nitrogen (TN), ammonium N (NH4 -N), nitrate N (NO3 -N), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and suspended sediment from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)-grass plots in central Wisconsin after surface broadcasting manure and LDMA compared with no application. Treatments were (a) surface banding (BAND), (b) surface banding with aeration (A/B), (c) shallow disk injection (INJECT), (d) surface broadcast (BCAST), and (e) a no-manure control (CONT). Runoff events were generated (n=7) from replicated plots following a standardized rainfall simulation protocol. Although runoff was variable across plots and within treatments, mean runoff concentrations of TN (P=.03), NH4 -N (P=.03), TP (P=.001), and DRP (P<.0001) were lower for incorporated (INJECT and A/B) vs. unincorporated (BCAST and BAND) treatments. INJECT had lower mean DRP concentration (P=.02) than A/B and was similar to CONT and had lower cumulative TN (P=.05), TP (P=.07), and DRP (P=.01) loads than A/B. Additionally, TP, TN, DRP, and NH4 -N loads and concentrations were strongly related with soil surface manure coverage extent (R2 = 0.50-0.84; P<.0001), suggesting that manure was a main source of N and P losses. Although INJECT appeared to be the most effective in mitigating nutrient loss in surface runoff, more research is needed to determine LDMA impacts on farm economics, soil properties, and runoff water quality.

Dynamics of phosphorus exchange between sediment and water in a gravel-bed river

ABSTRACT Phosphorus (P) stores in gravel-bed rivers are released for uptake by periphyton when pH levels exceed 8.5. The Tukituki River has low alkalinity water and frequently experiences periphyton blooms, and daytime pH > 9 during summer low-flows. We measured dissolved reactive P (DRP) and EPC0, the water concentration of DRP at which no net release or sorption from the river bed occurs, in sediment samples from the Tukituki River subject to controlled pH levels before (2014) and after (2017) changes to two wastewater discharges that reduced P release to the river by 95%. DRP released from 2014 sediments at pH 8.5–10 were 30 ± 10 mg/m3 above background (pH 8) whereas those released from 2017 sediments were 5 ± 3 mg/m3 above background. EPC0 levels in 2014 and 2017 were 11 ± 6 and 7 ± 2 mg/m3, respectively. Field estimates of released DRP calculated from continuous pH and the Redfield equation suggested that most of the readily available DRP released from sediments at elevated pH is derived from material attached to recently deposited sediment. Subsequently, a reduction in wastewater inputs or agricultural runoff should reduce sediment DRP stores, and hence sediment fluxes, within a few years and mitigate periphyton blooms in addition to directly lowering water column concentrations.

Winter Rye Cover Crop Impacts on Runoff Water Quality in a Northern New York (USA) Tile-Drained Maize Agroecosystem

Nonpoint source phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) pollution from agriculture is a global concern. Planting a cover crop after harvesting annual crops such as maize may help mitigate nutrient transport risk to surface and groundwater. Few studies have focused on the impact of a winter rye cover crop on both surface runoff (SR) and tile drainage (TD) water quality. Here, we measured N and P losses in SR and TD from maize plots grown with and without a winter rye cover crop. Four plots (46 × 23 m) in northern New York, USA, equipped with automated SR and TD flow monitoring were planted with winter rye (Secale cereal) in 2016 and 2017 after maize silage harvest. Plots were managed as typical silage fields for dairy farms in the region and received fertilizer and manure applications. Dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P (TP), nitrate-N, total N (TN), and total suspended solids (TSS) loads were monitored from 4/7/16 to 6/29/17. Cumulative SR (volumetric depth equivalent) was 1.8-fold lower for rye compared to control plots. Although runoff and loading were variable, cumulative TSS, TP, and DRP losses were approximately 3-fold lower for rye plots compared to control. Cumulative TN and nitrate-N loads for TD were similar; however, cumulative TN loss for SR was lower for rye plots. Surface runoff was the main pathway of P loss (> 90% of DRP and TP loss) with > 90% of cumulative P exported from 2017 snowmelt events. Results suggest winter rye mitigated N and P transport risk in SR compared to the common practice of leaving maize silage fields bare after harvest.

Degree of Phosphorus Saturation as a Predictor of Redox‐Induced Phosphorus Release from Flooded Soils to Floodwater

Phosphorus (P) loss from soils is often enhanced under flooded, anaerobic conditions, increasing the risk of freshwater eutrophication. We aimed to develop a predictive tool to identify soils with greater P release potential under summer‐flooded conditions, which would help in developing strategies to mitigate P losses. One in situ mesocosm study was conducted in field plots with three treatments: cattle manure amended, monoammonium phosphate amended, and unamended. Two ex situ field mesocosm studies were conducted, each having 12 surface soils from agricultural fields. Prior to flooding, soils were analyzed for various soil test P (STP, intensity) and P sorption measures (capacity), and degree of P saturation (DPS) indices were calculated using different intensity and capacity combinations. Mesocosms were flooded and redox potential, pore water, and floodwater dissolved reactive P (DRP) concentrations were determined periodically up to 42 (in situ) and 56 d (ex situ) after the onset of flooding. Floodwater DRP increased significantly in most soils with flooding time, and the maximum DRP (DRPmax) was considered as the flooding‐induced P release risk. Relationships between floodwater DRPmax and STP or DPS indices were established separately for low‐P (Olsen P ≤ 30 mg kg−1) and high‐P (&gt;30 mg kg−1) soils. Several STP indices effectively predicted the P release risk from high‐P soils, but not from low‐P soils. However, DPS calculated using Olsen P (intensity) and P sorption capacity or P saturation index (capacity) performed better in predicting summer flooding‐induced P release across all soil categories, with a higher predictive power.Core Ideas Floodwater P concentration increased with flooding time in most soils. High P release risk with flooding was shown even in soils with low soil test P. Soil test P was not a good predictor of flooding‐induced risk of P release from soils. Several degree of P saturation indices were better predictors than soil test P. Identifying soils with high P release risk can help in efforts to mitigate P losses.

Comparison of Extractants for Calibrating Phosphorus Application Rates in a Calcareous Soil

Preplant soil testing is essential for optimizing phosphorus (P) fertilization and minimizing the potential for soil P losses. Currently, there is no effective soil P extractant for calcareous soils in Florida. This study was conducted to compare Mehlich-3, ammonium bicarbonate–diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (AB-DTPA), and Olsen for evaluating P availability, estimating soil-test P (STP) critical levels, and calibrating P application rates for fresh-market tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production in a calcareous soil. Tomatoes were grown during Winter 2014 and 2015 with P application rates of 0, 29, 49, 78, 98, and 118 kg·ha‒1 P. Water-extractable P (water-P) and dissolved reactive P (DRP) in leachate were used to determine the STP change point of leaching potential. Results showed the greatest correlation occurred between Mehlich-3 and Olsen of the three STP extractants. For Mehlich-3-P, the medium STP level (producing 75% to 90% relative yield) was predicted from 76 to 89 mg·kg‒1 and the change point was predicted at 88 or 104 mg·kg‒1 by split-line models. The P requirement was calculated from 52 to 112 kg·ha‒1 when Mehlich-3-P was rated as low level (producing 50% to 75% relative yield), which was from 42 to 76 mg·kg‒1. The multiple regression models using AB-DTPA-P and Olsen-P could not predict either the medium STP level or the practical P application rates for the low level. Consequently, based on 2 years of data, Mehlich-3 was the most effective extractant for estimating soil P availability and calibrating P rates in calcareous soils with an extremely high calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content.

Soil phosphorus dynamics following land application of unsaturated and partially saturated red mud and water treatment residuals

The secondary use of P-sorbing industrial by-products as a fertilizer or soil conditioner is gaining increased attention, particularly in light of diminishing reserves of rock phosphate traditionally used to manufacture P fertilizer. This study examined applications of red mud (RM) and water treatment residuals (WTR) at two levels of P saturation (i.e. ‘as received’ and partially saturated) in a soil incubation and runoff plot study. When incubated with soils ranging in texture and initial P concentration, P-sorbing residuals that were less enriched with P decreased water-extractable soil P (WEP) concentration to a greater extent than more P saturated residuals. In contrast to WTR treatments, not all of the RM applications decreased soil WEP concentrations below those of the control soils. The runoff study investigated soil P dynamics when partially P-saturated RM and WTR's were surface applied to grass plots at 2 t ha−1 on Day 0, followed by three rainfall simulations (7 cm h−1 for 30 min, Days 2, 7 and 28) and at 3 t ha−1 on Day 70 followed by two more rainfall simulations (Days 77 and 96). Application of residuals at these rates did not significantly increase dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff compared with unamended controls during the study. Forage cuttings taken 90 days after the first rainfall simulation indicated that nutrient uptake was not compromised by the application of the residuals. Overall results indicate that WTRs may be a more suitable soil amendment than RM residuals given their greater ability to reduce soil WEP across a range of soils without simultaneously increasing Mehlich-3 extractable soil P concentrations above the upper threshold limit (150 mg P kg−1), and their minimal impact on plant nutrient uptake.

Long-term Variation in Agricultural Edge-of-Field Phosphorus Transport during Snowmelt, Rain, and Mixed Runoff Events.

Runoff of nutrients and erosion of soil from agricultural lands affect soil fertility and are important nonpoint contributors of P and N to surface and ground waters, yet studies of edge-of-field nutrient transport from snowmelt or rainfall runoff on frozen ground are limited. The objective of this study was to quantify the temporal and spatial variation in edge-of-field snowmelt, rain, and mixed (rain on snow) runoff events for sediment and P loadings in five agricultural subwatersheds over a 12-yr period. Edge-of-field runoff events from five subwatersheds at Pioneer Farm near Platteville, WI, ranging in size from approximately 4 to 30 ha were sampled using automated samplers from 2002 through 2014 to determine sediment and P yields (mass loads). Mean dissolved reactive P (DRP) runoff concentrations for each event type (rain = 1.24 mg L, snow = 1.90 mg L, mix = 2.23 mg L) were above total P (TP) water quality guidelines for surface waters. The percentages of TP that was DRP for snow, mixed, and rain events were 74, 84, and 39%, respectively. Although variation in total annual P yield in edge-of-field runoff was noted between years and among sites within a given year, when aggregated over the study period, the subwatersheds showed similar transport characteristics with respect to DRP and TP yield. This study highlights the importance of examining long-term datasets in quantifying annual yields and understanding the timing of DRP and TP transport for developing best management practices and improving model accuracy in cold weather agricultural systems.

Impact of the North Atlantic Oscillation on Swedish Winter Climate and Nutrient Leaching.

The winter climate in northwestern Europe is commonly influenced by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Its intensity, expressed as an index (NAO), has been suggested for use in assessing nutrient leaching from arable land to water and the effects of mitigation measures. We found significant ( < 0.05) positive linear relationships between NAO and an air freezing-thawing index in central and southern Sweden for 2004 to 2016. This period covered winters with both extreme low and high NAO. There were significant negative linear relationships between NAO and a snow depth index. Management and nutrient leaching were studied simultaneously in two agricultural catchments (20.7 ha, code 11M; 788 ha, code M36) in southwestern Sweden. Catchments 11M (silty-clay soil) and M36 (sandy hills with a central, heavy clay plain) are both artificially drained. Total N and total P leaching increased significantly with winter (November-April) NAO in both catchments. In contrast, leaching of dissolved reactive P (DRP) was not related to NAO. The highest DRP concentrations were observed in connection with specific agricultural practices, whereas moderately elevated DRP concentrations were linked to snowmelt events. Concentrations of P in other forms (other P) were even more elevated (1.02 mg L) in 11M in winter 2014-2015, probably due to a large (32% of area) internal buffer (ley-fallow) in a central ravine being plowed down in autumn 2014. No general trend in P or N fertilization was found in catchment M36. Thus NAO may be appropriate for use in trend analyses of nutrient load in the study region.

Phosphorus Release from Unamended and Gypsum‐ or Biochar‐Amended Soils under Simulated Snowmelt and Summer Flooding Conditions

Prolonged flooding changes the oxidation-reduction status of soils, often enhancing P release to overlying floodwater. We studied P release from unamended, gypsum-amended, and biochar-amended soils under simulated snowmelt flooding (previously frozen, cold flooding at +4°C) and summer flooding (unfrozen, warm flooding at +22°C) using two soils, Fyala clay (FYL-Cl) and Neuenberg sandy loam (NBG-SL), from Manitoba, Canada. Amended and unamended soils were packed into vessels and flooded under cold and warm temperatures in the laboratory. Pore water and floodwater samples were taken weekly for 6 wk after flooding (WAF) and thereafter biweekly for 10 WAF and analyzed for dissolved reactive P (DRP), pH, and cation concentrations. The NBG-SL showed a significantly higher DRP concentration in pore water and floodwater despite its low Olsen P content. Redox potential (Eh) decreased slowly under cold versus warm flooding; hence, redox-induced P release was substantially lower under cold flooding. Gypsum amendment significantly decreased the floodwater DRP concentrations in NBG-SL by 38 and 35% under cold and warm flooding, respectively, but had no significant effect in FYL-Cl, which had low DRP concentrations (<1.2 mg L) throughout the flooding period. Biochar amendment significantly increased floodwater DRP concentrations by 27 to 68% in FYL-Cl under cold and warm flooding, respectively, but had no significant effect in NBG-SL. The results indicate substantially less P release under cold than under warm flooding. Gypsum was effective in reducing floodwater DRP concentrations only at high DRP concentrations; thus, the effectiveness was greater under warm than under cold flooding conditions.

Synergistic effects of anionic polyacrylamide and gypsum to control phosphorus losses from biogas slurry applied soils

Excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertilizer to the agriculture soil can lead to the P loss to the aquatic ecosystem. Three soils from different land use (tea, paddy, and vegetable soils) were treated with biogas slurry (BS) at rate of 79.8 kg ha−1, anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) at rate of 12.5, 25 and 50 kg ha−1, Gypsum (Gy) at rate of 5t ha−1, and the control (Ck) without treatment, to control P losses in a laboratory batch experiment. The soil solution was analyzed for total P (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP) and total dissolved P (TDP). Particulate P (PP) and dissolved unreactive P (DURP) were calculated by subtracting DRP from TP and TDP, respectively. The DRP was within a range of 68–98% of TP whereas PP varied in a range of 2–32% of TP and DURP was within a range of 0.1–19% of TP, depending on soil types and different treatments. The addition of PAM at a high rate and Gy together on the soil after BS application reduced the release of TP by 54, 46, and 51% and that of DRP by 61, 49, and 53% for tea, paddy and vegetable soils, respectively. However, the application of BS with PAM alone promoted the release of DRP by 77, 86, 70% for tea, paddy, and vegetable soils, respectively. This study suggests that the synergic application of PAM and Gy on soils after BS addition can be a good strategy to reduce P losses.

Factors influencing student success in a senior-level horse management course

The Baltic Sea is one of the most eutrophied water bodies in northern Europe and more than 50% of its total anthropogenic waterborne phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) loads derive from agricultural sources. Sweden is the second largest contributor of waterborne N and the third largest contributor of waterborne P to the Baltic Sea. Horse farms now occupy almost 10% of Swedish agricultural land, but are not well investigated with regard to their environmental impact. In this study, potential P, N and carbon (C) leaching losses were measured from two representative horse paddock topsoils (0–20 cm; a clay and a loamy sand) following simulated rainfall events in the laboratory. Results showed that the leachate concentrations and net release of P, N and dissolved organic C (DOC) from paddock topsoils were highest in feeding and excretion areas and considerably higher from the loamy sand than the clay paddock topsoil. Leaching losses of dissolved reactive P (DRP) were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with concentrations of water-soluble P and ammonium acetate lactate-extractable P (P-AL) in the soil, while leaching losses of dissolved organic P and total organic N were significantly correlated with DOC concentration in leachate. Leaching loads of P and N from paddock topsoils greatly exceeded average figures for Swedish agricultural topsoils. It was concluded that: i) horse paddocks pose a potential threat to water quality via leaching of excess P and N, ii) feeding and excretion areas are potential hotspots for highly enhanced leaching losses, and iii) paddocks established on sandy soils are particularly susceptible to high N leaching losses.

Miscanthus and hemp as alternative bedding material for horses

The Baltic Sea is one of the most eutrophied water bodies in northern Europe and more than 50% of its total anthropogenic waterborne phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) loads derive from agricultural sources. Sweden is the second largest contributor of waterborne N and the third largest contributor of waterborne P to the Baltic Sea. Horse farms now occupy almost 10% of Swedish agricultural land, but are not well investigated with regard to their environmental impact. In this study, potential P, N and carbon (C) leaching losses were measured from two representative horse paddock topsoils (0–20 cm; a clay and a loamy sand) following simulated rainfall events in the laboratory. Results showed that the leachate concentrations and net release of P, N and dissolved organic C (DOC) from paddock topsoils were highest in feeding and excretion areas and considerably higher from the loamy sand than the clay paddock topsoil. Leaching losses of dissolved reactive P (DRP) were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with concentrations of water-soluble P and ammonium acetate lactate-extractable P (P-AL) in the soil, while leaching losses of dissolved organic P and total organic N were significantly correlated with DOC concentration in leachate. Leaching loads of P and N from paddock topsoils greatly exceeded average figures for Swedish agricultural topsoils. It was concluded that: i) horse paddocks pose a potential threat to water quality via leaching of excess P and N, ii) feeding and excretion areas are potential hotspots for highly enhanced leaching losses, and iii) paddocks established on sandy soils are particularly susceptible to high N leaching losses.

Catchment-scale Phosphorus Export through Surface and Drainage Pathways.

The site-specific nature of P fate and transport in drained areas exemplifies the need for additional data to guide implementation of conservation practices at the catchment scale. Total P (TP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and total suspended solids (TSS) were monitored at five sites-two streams, two tile outlets, and a grassed waterway-in three agricultural subwatersheds (221.2-822.5 ha) draining to Black Hawk Lake in western Iowa. Median TP concentrations ranged from 0.034 to 1.490 and 0.008 to 0.055 mg P L for event and baseflow samples, respectively. The majority of P and TSS export occurred during precipitation events and high-flow conditions with greater than 75% of DRP, 66% of TP, and 59% of TSS export occurring during the top 25% of flows from all sites. In one subwatershed, a single event (annual recurrence interval < 1 yr) was responsible for 46.6, 84.0, and 81.0% of the annual export of TP, DRP, and TSS, respectively, indicating that frequent, small storms have the potential to result in extreme losses. Isolated monitoring of surface and drainage transport pathways indicated significant P and TSS losses occurring through drainage; over the 2-yr study period, the drainage pathway was responsible for 69.8, 59.2, and 82.6% of the cumulative TP, DRP, and TSS export, respectively. Finally, the results provided evidence that particulate P losses in drainage were greater than dissolved P losses. Understanding relationships between flow, precipitation, transport pathway, and P fraction at the catchment scale is needed for effective conservation practice implementation.

Biogas Digestate Application Modifies Solute Transport Conditions in Soils and Increases the Release of Phosphorus

Core Ideas Severe rainfall events cause increased phosphorus release from soils. The proportion of DRP increases with increasing rainfall duration. Digestate application causes a 400‐fold increase in pore water P concentrations. The DRP fraction is clearly dominant immediately after fertilization. Digestate application facilitates a flux regime shift with preferential flow pathways. The application of fertilizers to soils may impair the quality of both surface and subsurface waters. Severe rainfall events that follow fertilizer application can increase P release from soils. In this study, suction plates were installed in a loamy soil with the aim of determining the P transport patterns and processes in the soil before and after the application of biogas digestate. Prior to the application of biogas digestate, the pore water concentrations of dissolved reactive P (DRP) were significantly lower than the total P (TP) concentrations, with DRP/TP ratios increasing from 0.03 to 0.89. After fertilizer application, the TP and DRP pore water concentrations increased 400‐fold. The DRP/TP ratio remained almost constant at 0.83. After 220 mm of precipitation, 4.5% of the P mass applied was leached to below the 50‐cm soil depth, indicating the general mobility of P in soils during high‐intensity rainfall. Brilliant Blue dye tracing experiments revealed that organic‐matter‐rich biogas digestate obviously changes the flow and transport patterns in soils from being homogenous to moderately heterogeneous, including preferential flow. Although the P loading across the flux plane had been equilibrated prior to treatment, after the application it was found to be concentrated in preferred transport regions. The emerging conclusion is that the risk of ground and subsequent surface water pollution with P after fertilization with biogas digestate originates not only from the applied P mass but also from the shift in the flow and transport regime caused by the organic‐matter‐rich slurry.

Modeling the Impacts of Manure on Phosphorus Loss in Surface Runoff and Subsurface Drainage.

Simulation of phosphorus (P) transfer from manured agricultural lands to water bodies via surface runoff and subsurface drainage is potentially of great help in evaluating the risks and effects of eutrophication under a range of best management practice scenarios. However, it remains a challenge since few models are capable of providing a reasonably accurate prediction of P losses under manure treatment. The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) model was applied to simulate the impacts on dissolved reactive P (DRP) losses through surface runoff and subsurface drainage from a solid cattle manure-amended corn ( L.)-soybean [ (L.) Merr.] rotation on a clay loam soil (Vertisol) located in the Lake Erie region. Simulations of DRP loss in surface runoff and tile drainage were satisfactory; however, EPIC did not consider DRP loss directly from manure, weakening its accuracy in the prediction of DRP loss in surface runoff. Having previously drawn on EPIC-predicted surface runoff to initiate SurPhos (Surface Phosphorus and Runoff Model) predictions of DRP losses strictly in surface runoff, no comparison had been made of differences in manure application impacts on EPIC- or SurPhos-predicted DRP losses-accordingly, this was assessed. The SurPhos improved the estimation of DRP loss in surface runoff (Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient, 0.53), especially when large rain events occurred immediately after or within 6 wk of manure application. Generally, EPIC can capture the impacts of manure application on DRP loss in surface runoff and subsurface drainage; however, coupling of the EPIC and SurPhos models increased the accuracy of simulation of runoff DRP losses.

Gypsum Amendment Reduces Redox-Induced Phosphorous Release from Freshly Manured, Flooded Soils to Floodwater.

The effectiveness of gypsum in reducing runoff P losses from soils and the mechanisms responsible are well documented; however, gypsum amendment effects in reducing redox-induced P losses from flooded soils are less researched and documented. We examined the effect of gypsum amendment on P release from freshly manured soils to pore water and floodwater with continuous flooding for 56 d in the laboratory. Three soils (Pembina, Denham, and Dencross series) collected from Manitoba, Canada, were preincubated with liquid swine manure. Each preincubated manured soil was packed into vessels with or without recycled wallboard gypsum in triplicates and flooded for 56 d, during which pore water and floodwater were sampled weekly and analyzed for pH and dissolved reactive P (DRP), Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn concentrations. Change in soil redox potential (Eh) with flooding was also monitored. Wallboard gypsum amendment significantly decreased the pore water and surface floodwater DRP concentrations in all three soils for most days after flooding (DAF). The Dencross soil, which had Olsen P about fivefold greater than the other soils, showed the greatest magnitude decrease in DRP concentration with gypsum amendment, by 1.27 mg L on 49 DAF and 0.99 mg L on 21 DAF for pore water and floodwater, respectively. Gypsum amendment (i) delayed the Eh reduction with flooding beyond +200 mV, (ii) decreased pore water pH, and (iii) increased concentrations of Ca, Mg, and Mn in pore water favoring precipitation of P, all of which may have directly or indirectly reduced the P release from flooded soils to overlying floodwater.

Seasonal and Intra-Event Nutrient Levels in Farmed Prairie Potholes of the Des Moines Lobe

HighlightsNitrogen, total phosphorus, and total suspended solids concentrations were higher in early season inundation.Nitrate concentrations in farmed potholes decreased with multiday ponding.Farmed potholes act as hotspots, contributing P to drainage through surface intakes.Abstract. The prairie pothole region ranges from central Iowa to the northwest into Montana and south-central Canada, totaling around 700,000 km2. This area contains millions of potholes, or enclosed topographical depressions, which often inundate with rainfall. Many are located in areas that have been converted to agricultural land through installation of artificial drainage. However, even with drainage, potholes pond or remain saturated during and after significant rain events. In this two-year study, surface water depth was collected hourly (typically from after planting through harvest) from eight farmed potholes (drained and under corn-soybean rotation) on the Des Moines Lobe in central Iowa. Nutrient data were collected daily and tested for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) when inundation depth exceeded 10 cm. The data were analyzed in two ways. First, seasonal differences were investigated using samples from the first day of each inundation event. Surface water concentrations were higher in the early growing season than late season for total N (TN), NO3-N, NH3-N, total P (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS). Secondly, average event concentration changes were determined. Nitrate reductions occurred in 85% of multiday events, but these reductions were offset by increases in P. Total P and dissolved reactive P (DRP) had significant increases that averaged 0.51 and 0.46 mg L-1 per event, respectively, with event lengths of 2 to 19 days. This study demonstrates that inundated farmed potholes reduce NO3-N but serve as in-field hotspots, contributing elevated TP and DRP to drainage waters. When a surface intake directly connects inundated farmed potholes to drainage, new strategies, such as field management or engineered technologies, are needed to mitigate P export. This study is useful in informing policy regarding field management and conservation of farmed potholes. Keywords: Farmed wetland, Nitrogen, Nutrients, Phosphorus, Prairie pothole.