Premium
Effectiveness of Vegetated Buffer Strips in Controlling Pollution from Feedlot Runoff
Author(s) -
Young R. A.,
Huntrods Terry,
Anderson Wayne
Publication year - 1980
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/jeq1980.00472425000900030032x
Subject(s) - buffer strip , feedlot , surface runoff , environmental science , sorghum , pollution , riparian buffer , hydrology (agriculture) , total suspended solids , agronomy , environmental engineering , zoology , biology , ecology , sewage treatment , geotechnical engineering , riparian zone , habitat , engineering , chemical oxygen demand
A rainulator was used to test vegetative buffer strips for their ability to control pollution from feedlot runoff. Cropped buffer strips on a 4% slope reduced runoff and total solids transported from a feedlot by 67 and 79%, respectively. Total N and P were reduced by an average of 84 and 83%, respectively. Ammonium‐N and PO 4 ‐P were similarly reduced, but average NO 3 ‐N in the runoff increased because some NO 3 ‐N was gained from the sorghum ( Sorghum vulgare L.)‐sudangrass ( Sorghum sudanense L.) and the oat ( Avena sativa L.) buffer strips. During both years, the number of coliform organisms in the runoff water was reduced after runoff passed through the vegetated buffer strips. These results indicated that nonstructural feedlot discharge control practices are a promising alternative method for controlling pollution from feedlot runoff.