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Nutrient Runoff from Fertilized and Unfertilized Fields in Western Canada
Author(s) -
Nicholaichuk W.,
Read D. W. L.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1978.00472425000700040015x
Subject(s) - surface runoff , loam , environmental science , nutrient , agronomy , soil water , water quality , agriculture , hydrology (agriculture) , cropping , nitrogen , phosphorus , biology , ecology , chemistry , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry
Nutrient transport in surface runoff from snow was measured from fertilized and unfertilized cropped and summerfallowed Wood Mountain loam fields in semiarid southwest Saskatchewan. The amount of nitrogen lost from unfertilized fields during spring runoff exceeded the limits purported to result in algal growth; however, the loss was agronomically insignificant. It was concluded that since the N and P concentrations in runoff from unfertilized fertile agricultural soils exceed Saskatchewan Water Quality criteria, these guidelines may be regarded as unattainable under our present system of cereal cropping in western Canada.