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EFFECTS OF SLUDGE AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON RUNOFF WATER QUALITY 1
Author(s) -
Mostaghimi S.,
Younos T. M.,
Tim U. S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1992.tb03176.x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , tillage , environmental science , fertilizer , phosphorus , sediment , conventional tillage , nitrogen , agronomy , water quality , chemistry , geology , ecology , paleontology , organic chemistry , biology
Simulated rainfall was used on experimental field plots to compare the effect of chemical fertilizer and sludge application on sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus in runoff from no‐till and conventional tillage systems. Chemical fertilizer application under the no‐till system resulted in the least amount of total N and P in surface runoff. However, sludge application under the no‐till system resulted in the least amount of NO 3 ‐N and sediment in surface runoff. The worst water quality scenarios were observed when either sludge or chemical fertilizer were surface‐applied under a conventional tillage system. Nitrogen losses from the conventional tillage system were minimized when sludge was incorporated into the soil. However, phosphorus and sediment yield from such a system were significantly higher when compared to phosphorus and sediment yield from the no‐till system. The results from this study indicate that the use of sludge on agricultural land under a no‐till system can be a viable alternative to chemical fertilizer for nitrogen and phosphorus control in runoff. A more cautious approach is recommended when the sludge is incorporated into the soil in a conventional tillage system because of potential for high sediment and phosphorus yield in surface runoff.