Nutrient Concentrations In Runoff Research Articles

Window phase analysis of nutrient losses from a typical rice-planting area in the Yangtze river delta region of China

BackgroundRice paddy wetlands may serve as a nutrient source or sink in agricultural ecosystems. However, the pattern of nutrient loss on a watershed scale is not clear. A year-round on-site observation study based on 6-h intervals was conducted. Rainfall, temperature, runoff nutrient concentrations, and adjacent stream water samples were automatically monitored to uncover the temporal changes in the runoff losses of the predominant nutrient proxies (total N and total P) from a typical rice-planting area (120 ha) in the Yangtze river delta region of China.ResultsA high total N concentration in the rice-planting area was observed during the rice-planting season; however, significant fluctuation in the total P was evident throughout the year. The Δtotal N (drainage minus stream) parameter showed negative values with a mean of −0.25 mg L−1, while Δtotal P showed positive values with a mean of 0.06 mg L−1. The annual average N and P runoff from paddy field were 11.6 kg ha−1 and 1.5 kg ha−1, respectively. The window phases for the total N loss were mainly concentrated in the rice-growing season. However, the window phase for the total P loss was more dispersive throughout the year. No apparent relationships were found between rainfall and N and P concentrations by self-organizing map analysis.ConclusionsThe high-resolution monitoring, in this study, suggested that nutrient loss loading rather than nutrient concentration was strongly related to surface runoff Therefore, fertilization before high-intensity rainfall should be avoided to mitigate the nutrient runoff losses and maintain the rice wetland eco-function.

Relationship between land use and nutrients in surface runoff in upper catchment of Miyun Reservior, China.

Quantifying the relationship between the land use and water nutrient concentrations would help guide land use management and water eutrophication control. Previous studies mainly focus on the quantitative structure of land use and lack a comprehensive characterization of the intensity and spatial distribution of land use. Taking the upper catchment of Miyun Reservoir as the study area, we analyzed the impacts of land use on surface runoff nutrient concentrations. We set 52 water quality monitoring sites within sub-basins of the entire upper catchment of Miyun Reservoir and collected water samples in each month. Using the remote sensing interpretation and spatial analy-sis techniques, land use information was extracted, which included the intensity, slope, distance to the rivers and sampling sites, and spatial arrangement. The land use information was used as independent variables for the multiple regression models to predict the changes of total nitrogen, total phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand concentrations. The consideration of the above four aspects of land use information significantly promoted the explanatory capability of models, with the coefficients of determination of multiple linear regression models changing from 0.294, 0.471 and 0.223 to 0.532, 0.685 and 0.489, respectively. We also compared the mean cumulative contribution rates of land use to nutrients and the corresponding cumulative area percentages with different flow path distances to river. Results showed that the flowing migration path distance to the river in the range of one kilometer was the key area to control water eutrophication in the upper catchment of Miyun Reservoir. Finally, we proposed three measures to control and regulate the water eutrophication, including optimizing the farmland fertilizer management, strengthening the livestock manure handling, building forested filter strips and riparian buffer zones.

Effects of Biochar Treatment of Municipal Biosolids and Horse Manure on Quality of Runoff from Fescue Plots

<abstract> Land-applied horse manure and municipal biosolids can increase nutrient and bacteria concentrations in runoff. Biochar has been demonstrated to have beneficial impacts on nutrient retention and runoff quality when used to treat other land-applied organic soil amendments (e.g., poultry manure). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of biochar addition to horse manure and municipal biosolids on runoff concentrations of nutrients and fecal coliforms. Biochar was added at 5% to 8% (wet basis) to horse manure and biosolids that were applied to 2.4 m x 6.1 m fescue plots followed by application of simulated rainfall (102 mm h^-1). Analysis of runoff samples indicated that soil hydraulic characteristics, as reflected in the runoff curve number (CN), were a significant covariate for some analytical parameters. Analysis of covariance indicated that biochar addition decreased runoff concentrations of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N) when added to municipal biosolids, with all effects more prominent at higher CN values. When added to horse manure, biochar decreased runoff concentrations of NH₃-N, total suspended solids, and fecal coliforms. Although runoff concentrations of total P and TKN increased with CN, there was no significant biochar effect on these parameters when added to horse manure. The findings indicate potential for biochar addition to improve runoff quality when added to these organic amendments, but the effects may be dependent on the receiving soil‘s runoff production characteristics.

Comparing Bridge Deck Runoff and Stormwater Control Measure Quality in North Carolina

AbstractBridge deck runoff sometimes directly discharges through deck drains to water bodies. As such, the runoff is usually not treated; however, recent pressures have led Departments of Transportation to install closed pipe drainage systems beneath bridges to deliver stormwater to a stormwater control measure (SCM). This can be costly both in terms of up-front and long-term maintenance capital. This study compared bridge runoff concentrations of nutrients, sediment, and heavy metals to effluent concentrations from six commonly used SCMs. Runoff quality samples from 15 bridges in North Carolina were collected and compared to those from 41 different SCMs across North Carolina. The SCMs examined in this study were permeable friction course (PFC) overlays, wet retention ponds (WP), bioretention cells (BRC), vegetated filter strips (VFS), constructed stormwater wetlands (CSW), and grassed swales (GS). Bridge deck runoff concentrations were not statistically different from SCM effluent concentrations for tota...

Update on the Effects of a Sierran Wildfire on Surface Runoff Water Quality

Wildfire has been shown to increase the short-term (1-3 yr) mobilization of mineral N and P in forest ecosystems of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe Basin. The ensuing effects on tributary and lake water quality are uncertain. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the impacts on runoff water quality over an intermediate time frame of 5 yr (2002-2007) after a wildfire event. Our design included fixed plots randomly placed within burned and unburned areas. Because each plot was sampled repeatedly during the study, we treated plots as repeated random effects in the analysis. We used a mixed model approach to analyze nutrient runoff concentrations and load for NH-N, NON and P in phosphate form (designated as ortho P or PO-P) where treatment (unburned vs. burned), time (pre-wildfire, post-wildfire year 1, year 2, etc.), and their interaction were fixed effects. Concentrations and loads of mineral N and P were higher in runoff from the burned areas immediately after wildfire. Because high water years may also contribute to higher runoff nutrient concentrations and loading, a wildfire followed by a high water year within the first season after a wildfire would likely have a much greater impact on runoff (and hence tributary) water quality than a wildfire followed by a low runoff water year.

Runoff Quality from No-Till Cotton Fertilized with Broiler Litter in Subsurface Bands

Surface broadcast of broiler litter to no-till row crops exposes the litter and its nutrients to risks of loss in runoff water and volatilization and may limit the potential benefit of litter to the crops. Subsurface banding of litter could alleviate these risks. A field study was conducted in 2008 and 2009 on an upland Falkner silt loam soil to determine the effect of broiler litter placement on runoff nutrient losses from no-till cotton ( L.). Treatments included surface broadcast broiler litter applied manually, subsurface-banded litter applied by tractor-drawn equipment, and no broiler litter, all in combination with or without winter wheat ( L.) cover crop residue. Broiler litter rate was 5.6 Mg ha. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement of treatments replicated three times. In 2008, simulated rainfall was used to generate runoff 27 d after litter application. Subsurface-banded litter reduced runoff total C, N, P, NH, NO, Cu, Zn and water-soluble P (WP) concentrations by 72, 64, 51, 49, 70, 36, 65, and 77%, respectively, compared with surface broadcast. The reductions were greater in 2009 where runoff occurred 1 d after litter application. Bacterial runoff was decreased by one log with subsurface-banded litter compared to surface broadcast. Except for C, NH, N, and WP, the presence of winter cover crop residue did not affect the load or runoff nutrient concentrations in either year. The results indicate that subsurface banding litter to no-till cotton substantially reduces nutrient and bacterial losses in runoff compared with surface broadcasting.

Nutrient Runoff to Watershed from Land Application Area of Animal Waste

In many cases, compost and liquid fertilizer produced from animal waste were dumped to a farming site without considering the surrounding water environment including groundwater. Also, groundwater contamination by nitrate exceeded water quality criteria (10 mg NO3−-N/L) occur at animal farming site in Korea. The primary purpose of this study is to achieve the level of the nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) required to grow the planned crop by balancing the nutrients and to minimize of the nutrients movement to the ground and surface water. To get an optimized application loading of the animal waste, we surveyed the unit concentration of the animal waste resources produced from several pig and cattle farms, and compared the runoff nutrient concentrations from the each area applied with composted animal resources and liquid pig farm fertilizers. An artificial rainfall test and a controlled nutrient application test were also conducted in the field tests. A set of our field test with the liquid fertilizer presented that 79% of the input nitrogen was emitted to the ground water and only 1.5 % of that by surface runoff.

Crop Residue Effects on Runoff Nutrient Concentrations Following Manure Application

Manure is applied to cropland areas managed under diverse conditions, resulting in varying amounts of residue cover. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of crop residue on nutrient concentrations in runoff from areas where beef cattle or swine manure were recently applied but not incorporated. Plots 0.75 m wide by 2 m long were established at the study site. Existing residue materials were removed, and corn, soybean, or winter wheat residue was added at rates of 2, 4, or 8 Mg ha-1. Manure was then applied at rates required to meet estimated annual nitrogen requirements for corn. Control plots with manure but no residue, and plots with no residue and no manure were also established. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were conducted at an intensity of approximately 70 mm h-1. Dissolved phosphorus (DP), total phosphorus (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen, runoff, and soil loss were measured for each rainfall event. When beef cattle or swine manure was applied to plots containing residue materials, nutrient concentrations in runoff were not affected by the amount of crop residue on the soil surface. Concentrations of DP and NO3-N in runoff from the plots with beef cattle manure were significantly greater on the plots with residue than on the no-residue treatments. No significant differences in runoff nutrient concentrations were found between the residue and no-residue treatments with swine manure. Concentrations of DP and TP were significantly less on the no-residue/no-manure treatment than on the plots with beef cattle or swine manure.

Effects of Drying Intervals and Repeated Rain Events on Runoff Nutrient Dynamics from Soil Treated with Broiler Litter

ABSTRACT Even though the effect of poultry litter application on runoff nutrient concentrations has been thoroughly evaluated, the timing of broiler litter application and estimated runoff nutrient dynamics are not well documented. The objectives of this study were to evaluate how time to rainfall and repeated rain events affect nutrient concentrations and dynamics in runoff from a Ruston sandy loam (fine, mixed active, thermic Aquic Hapludults) soil established with Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.). Air-dried soil was packed into runoff boxes (144 cm long, 20 cm wide, and 10 cm deep) to a bulk density of 1.30 g cm−3. Hybrid Bermuda grass was established by plugging (26 plugs per box). Broiler litter was broadcast at the rate of 9 Mg ha−1. Simulated rainfall (27 mm h−1) was applied until 15 min of runoff was collected at 0, 3, 6, and 9 d after broiler litter application. Also, 8 successive rainfall events were applied at 3-d intervals to the soil incubated for 9-d with broiler litter and commercial fertilizer and runoff was collected for 15 min for each rain event. Increasing time between litter application and rainfall event from 0 to 9 d reduced runoff of total N, NH4-N and NO3-N by 50, 64, and 31%, respectively. Total P and dissolved P concentrations in runoff decreased to 35 and 43% of initial time of application values (0 d), respectively. Runoff N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, and Zn concentrations decreased with successive rain events and approached the ones in unfertilized soil. Avoiding litter applications during periods of possible high intensity rainfall reduces the potential environmental hazard.

Simulated rainfall evaluation of revegetation/mulch erosion control in the Lake Tahoe Basin—1: method assessment

AbstractRevegetation of road cuts and fills is intended to stabilize those drastically disturbed areas so that sediment is not transported to adjacent waterways. Sediment has resulted in water quality degradation, an extremely critical issue in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Many revegetation efforts in this semiarid, subalpine environment have resulted in low levels of plant cover, thus failing to meet project goals. Further, no adequate physical method of assessing project effectiveness has been developed, relative to runoff or sediment movement. This paper describes the use of a portable rainfall simulator (RS) to conduct a preliminary assessment of the effectiveness of a variety of erosion‐control treatments and treatment effects on hydrologic parameters and erosion. The particular goal of this paper is to determine whether the RS method can measure revegetation treatment effects on infiltration and erosion. The RS‐plot studies were used to determine slope, cover (mulch and vegetation) and surface roughness effects on infiltration, runoff and erosion rates at several roadcuts across the basin. A rainfall rate of ≈60 mm h−1, approximating the 100‐yr, 15‐min design storm, was applied over replicated 0·64 m2 plots in each treatment type and over bare‐soil plots for comparison. Simulated rainfall had a mean drop size of ≈2·1 mm and approximately 70% of ‘natural’ kinetic energy. Measured parameters included time to runoff, infiltration, runoff/infiltration rate, sediment discharge rate and average sediment concentration as well as analysis of total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and dissolved phosphorus (TDP) from filtered (0·45 μm) runoff samples. Runoff rates, sediment concentrations and yields were greater from volcanic soils as compared to that from granitic soils for nearly all cover conditions. For example, bare soil sediment yields from volcanic soils ranged from 2–12 as compared to 0·3–3 g m−2 mm−1 for granitic soils. Pine‐needle mulch cover treatments substantially reduced sediment yields from all plots. Plot microtopography or roughness and cross‐slope had no effect on sediment concentrations in runoff or sediment yield. RS measurements showed discernible differences in runoff, infiltration, and sediment yields between treatments. Runoff nutrient concentrations were not distinguishable from that in the rainwater used. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Estimation of Nutrient Concentrations in Runoff from an Agricultural Watershed

Estimation of Nutrient Concentrations in Runoff from an Agricultural Watershed

Spring Recovery of Constructed Wetland Plants Affects Nutrient Removal From Nursery Runoff

Abstract The nursery/greenhouse industry is the fastest growing segment of United States agriculture. Consumer demand for excellent product quality requires luxury applications of water and agricultural chemicals. These cultural practices tend to yield significant volumes of runoff rich in nutrients and pesticides. A capture and recycle system at the Nursery/Floral Crops Research and Education Center at the Texas A&amp;M University was fitted with 12 sub-surface flow (SSF) and 12 free-surface flow (FSF) wetland cells. A single pass of runoff through constructed wetland cells provided substantial reduction of runoff nutrient concentrations, particularly NO3-N, without increasing electrical conductivity (EC), an indicator of salinity. Nitrate-N concentration reductions were greater in the FSF cells than SSF cells, while the greatest reductions in ammonium and nitrites were obtained with SSF cells. Growth of Iris pseudacorus L. and Canna x generalis L.H. Bailey during spring growth was greater in the FSF wetland cells, while that of Colocasia sp. Fabr. was greater in the SSF wetland cells. Equisetum hyemale L. grew equally well in both cell types. Interactions among irrigation water sources and container media types for growth indices occurred for Juniperus procumbens (Endl.) Miq. ‘Green Mound’ and Ilex vomitoria Ait. ‘Nana’, but not for Raphiolepis indica L. ‘Carmelita’.

Spring Recovery of Wetland Plants Affects Efficacy of Nutrient Removal from Nursery Runoff

The nursery/greenhouse industry is the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture. Consumer demand for excellent product quality requires luxury applications of water and agricultural chemicals. These cultural practices tend to yield significant volumes of runoff rich in nutrients and pesticides. A capture and recycle system at the Nursery/Floral Crops Research and Education Center at Texas A&amp;M University was fitted with 12 subsurface flow (SSF) and 12 free-surface flow (FSF) wetland cells. Constructed wetland cells provided substantial reduction of runoff nutrient concentrations without increasing electrical conductivity, an indicator of salinity. Growth of Iris pseudacorus L. and Canna ×generalis L.H. Bailey during spring growth was greater in the FSF wetland cells, while that of Colocasia sp. Fabr. was greater in the SSF wetland cells. Equisetum hyemale L. grew equally well in both cell types. Direct reuse of nursery runoff reduced the number of Ilex vomitoria Ait. `Nana' reaching marketable size in 2.3-L containers. Interactions among irrigation water sources and container media types for growth indices occurred for Juniperus procumbens `Green Mound' and I. vomitoria `Nana', but not for Raphiolepis indica L. `Carmelita'.

QUALITY OF RUNOFF FROM PLOTS TREATED WITH MUNICIPAL SLUDGE AND HORSE BEDDING

Land application of horse stall bedding and municipal sludge can increase runoff concentrations of nutrients,organic matter, and bacteria as well as steroidal hormones such as estrogen. Concentrations of materials in runoff fromsites treated with animal manure can be reduced by aluminum sulfate, or alum [Al2(SO4)314H2O] treatment. Theobjectives of this study were to assess plots treated with horse stall bedding or municipal sludge for: (a) runoff quality[concentrations of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), orthophosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), fecalcoliform (FC), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 17- estradiol (17 -E, a form of estrogen)]; (b) changes in runoffquality caused by alum treatment; and (c) time variations in concentrations of the analysis parameters. Horse beddingand municipal sludge were applied to twelve 2.4 6.1 m fescue plots (six each for the bedding and sludge). Three of thebedding-treated and three of the sludge-treated plots were also treated with alum. Simulated rainfall (64 mm/h) wasapplied to the 12 treated plots and to three control (no treatment) plots. The data were analyzed as originating fromseparate completely randomized, one-way designs with three replications of each treatment. The first design had treatmentlevels of bedding, bedding and sludge, and control, while the second design had treatment levels of sludge, sludge andalum, and control. The control data were common to both designs. The first 0.5 h runoff was sampled and analyzed for theparameters described above. Analysis parameter concentrations for the waste treated plots were generally lower thanthose previously reported for runoff after organic treatments. In some cases, concentrations were no different from thecontrols. Mass losses of all parameters were low and agronomically insignificant. Alum addition decreased runoff PO4-Pconcentrations and increased NO3-N concentrations but had no effect on concentrations of other parameters. Asignificant effect of alum addition on 17 -E and COD concentrations was anticipated on the basis of previous studies; itsabsence might have been due to inadequate mixing or interval between addition and simulated rainfall. Relationshipsbetween concentration and collection time followed two patterns: (a) highest concentrations occurring during the firstsample (two minutes following runoff initiation; NO3-N, COD, FC and 17 -E) and (b) delay in peak concentration untilfour minutes following runoff initiation (NH3-N and PO4-P). The detection of different general relationships betweenconcentration and time suggests that different mechanisms are dominant in transport of the parameters analyzed.

Correlations between Concentrations of Plant Nutrients in Runoff from Small Catchments in Norway

Factor analysis investigated the relationship between different compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and suspended dry matter in runoff from catchments in agricultural areas in southern and central Norway. The plant nutrients were grouped in three factors: phosphorus factor, nitrogen factor and erosion factor. In south-eastern Norway there was a significant correlation between runoff and concentration levels of phosphorus and suspended dry matter in winter and spring erosion periods. Climate, agricultural practices and soil conditions caused seasonal variation of the different factors. In the catchments in south-western Norway there was a decreasing trend in concentration level of nitrogen due to changed practice for slurry application. In the catchments in eastern and central Norway there was a decreasing concentration level of phosphorus. The reduction in applied phosphorus was 15-50% but the decrease in concentration level of phosphorus in runoff accounted for 5 to 15% of the variation.

Quality of Runoff from Fescuegrass Plots Treated with Poultry Litter and Inorganic Fertilizer

AbstractRecent application of either organic or inorganic fertilizers can promote increased runoff concentrations of nutrients, organic matter, and/or suspended sofids. This experiment assessed the impacts of fertilizer treatment (control, poultry litter, and inorganic fertilizer) and simulated rainfalls (four events, one each at 7, 14, 36, and 68 d after application) on quality of runoff from fescuegrass (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) plots. Runoff was produced by simulated rainfall (50 mm h−1) and sampled at 0.08‐h intervals during runoff. Composite runoff samples from each plot were analyzed for NO3‐N, NH3‐N, total Kjeldahl (TKN), ortho‐P (PO4‐P), total P, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). For the first simulated rainfall event, runoff concentrations of NO3‐N, NH3‐N, TKN, PO4‐P, and total P were highest from the plots that received inorganic fertilizer, while the highest concentrations of COD and TSS occurred in runoff from plots treated with poultry litter. Mean concentrations of NO3‐N, NH3‐N, TKN, PO4‐P, and total P in runoff from the litter‐treated plots during the second simulated rainfall were not significantly different than observed in runoff from the control plots. Runoff quality from the plots receiving poultry litter and inorganic fertilizer did not significantly differ from background (control) levels during the third simulated rainfall (with natural runoff occurring twice between the second and third simulated rainfalls). Runoff losses of parameters investigated were generally highest for the first simulated rainfall. Losses of N and P from the treated plots summed over all four simulated rainfalls were very small proportions of amounts applied (≈1.4 and 2.7%, respectively).

Plant Nutrient Concentrations in Runoff from Fertilized Cultivated Erosion Plots and Prairie in Eastern South Dakota

AbstractRunoff waters from fertilized erosion plots and from native prairie in South Dakota were compared to determine the effect agriculture has had on water quality. Calcium, Mg, K, Na, total P, PO4‐P, NO3‐N , and NH4‐N contents were found to be similar in runoff from the erosion plots and from the prairie. The elemental contents in runoff from erosion plots planted to oats (Avena sativa L.), corn (Zea mays L.), and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) or fallowed were not distinctly different and varied from year to year. Variations in the ions in water collected from different basins in the prairie may be caused by differences (i) in the prairie vegetation and mulch in the drainage basins, (ii) in the time the runoff has to dissolve ions because of different overland flow distances, and (iii) in the dilution of the runoff by precipitation that falls directly into the basin. Losses of plant nutrients in soil eroded from cultivated land may be similar to average losses that would occur naturally if the area were in pristine prairie that was periodically subjected to fire.