Premium
Physical and Chemical Properties of Feedlot Pen Surfaces Located on Moderately Coarse– and Moderately Fine–Textured Soils in Southern Alberta
Author(s) -
Miller Jim J.,
Curtis Tony,
Larney Francis J.,
McAllister Tim A.,
Olson Barry M.
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/jeq2007.0422
Subject(s) - feedlot , soil water , hydraulic conductivity , infiltration (hvac) , leaching (pedology) , zoology , soil texture , bulk density , environmental science , soil horizon , hydrology (agriculture) , soil science , geology , materials science , biology , geotechnical engineering , composite material
Southern Alberta has the highest density of feedlot cattle in Canada, and there is a concern that leaching of water and contaminants may be greater for feedlots located on coarser‐textured than finer‐textured soils. Our objective was to determine if infiltration and leaching were greater for a 4‐yr‐old feedlot located on a moderately coarse–textured (MC) soil compared with two feedlots located on moderately fine–textured (MF) soils (5‐ and 52‐yr‐old pens). Various soil physical properties of feedlot pen surfaces were measured, including field‐saturated hydraulic conductivity (K fs ) and near‐saturated hydraulic conductivity at −0.9 and −3.9 cm water potential. Selected chemical properties of feedlot soil layers were measured, as well as the chloride content of the soil profile (0–100 cm). Mean K fs , K(−0.9), and K(−3.9) values were not significantly ( P > 0.10) greater at the MC site than the two MF sites, indicating no evidence of greater infiltration on coarser‐textured soils. In addition, mean K fs , K(−0.9), and K(−3.9) values of soils within feedlot pens at all three sites were significantly ( P ≤ 0.10) reduced by 46 to 78% compared with soil outside the pens. Depth of chloride accumulation was greatest at the 52‐yr‐old feedlot on MF soil (60–70 cm), followed by 4‐yr‐old feedlot on MC soil (40–50 cm) and 5‐yr‐old feedlot on MF soil (30–40 cm). Visual inspection determined that the black interface layer formed within 2 mo of cattle stocking at all three sites.