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Evaluating Aeration Techniques for Decreasing Phosphorus Export from Grasslands Receiving Manure
Author(s) -
Butler David M.,
Franklin Dorcas H.,
Cabrera Miguel L.,
Tasistro Armando S.,
Xia Kang,
West Larry T.
Publication year - 2008
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/jeq2007.0289
Subject(s) - aeration , manure , cynodon dactylon , slurry , surface runoff , festuca arundinacea , environmental science , phosphorus , agronomy , zoology , chemistry , environmental engineering , biology , poaceae , ecology , organic chemistry
Abstract Because surface‐applied manures can contribute to phosphorus (P) in runoff, we examined mechanical aeration of grasslands for reducing P transport by increasing infiltration of rainfall and binding of P with soil minerals. The effects of three aeration treatments and a control (aeration with cores, continuous‐furrow “no‐till” disk aeration perpendicular to the slope, slit aeration with tines, and no aeration treatment) on the export of total suspended solids, total Kjeldahl P (TKP), total dissolved P (TDP), dissolved reactive P (DRP), and bioavailable P (BAP) in runoff from grasslands with three manure treatments (broiler litter, dairy slurry, and no manure) were examined before and after simulated compaction by cattle. Plots (0.75 × 2 m) were established on a Cecil soil series with mixed tall fescue ( Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)‐bermudagrass [ Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] vegetation on 8 to 12% slopes. Manures were applied at a target rate of 30 kg P ha −1 , and simulated rainfall was applied at a rate of 85 mm h −1 Although the impact of aeration type on P export varied before and after simulated compaction, overall results indicated that core aeration has the greatest potential for reducing P losses. Export of TKP was reduced by 55%, TDP by 62%, DRP by 61%, total BAP by 54%, and dissolved BAP by 57% on core‐aerated plots with applied broiler litter as compared with the control ( p < 0.05). Core and no‐till disk aeration also showed potential for reducing P export from applied dairy slurry ( p < 0.10). Given that Cecil soil is common in pastures receiving broiler litter in the Southern Piedmont, our results indicate that pairing core aeration of these pastures with litter application could have a widespread impact on surface water quality.