Nitrogen Removal and Nitrate Leaching for Two Perennial, Sod-Based Forage Systems Receiving Dairy Effluent

The leaching of nitrate (NO3–) in intensive agricultural production systems, e.g. dairy pastures, is a major environmental concern in many countries. In this lysimeter study we determined the amount of NO3– leached following the application of urea, dairy effluent, urine returns, and pasture renovation to a freedraining Lismore stony silt loam (Udic Haplustept loamy skeletal) growing a mixture of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture. The study showed that NO3–-N leaching losses ranged from 112 to 162 kg N/ha per year, depending on the amount and forms of N applied and pasture conditions. Nitrate leaching under the urine patches was the main contributor to the N leaching loss in a grazed paddock. Nitrate leaching losses were lower for urine applied in the spring (29&percnt; of N applied) than for urine applied in the autumn (38–58&percnt;). The application of urea or dairy effluent only contributed a small proportion to the total NO3– leaching loss in a grazed paddock. Pasture renovation by direct-drilling may also have caused an increase in NO3– leaching (c. 31 kg N/ha) in the first year. Modelled annual average NO3–-N concentrations in the mixed recharge water in the acquifer were significantly lower than those measured under the rooting zone due to dilution effects by recharge water from other sources (3.9 v. 13–27 mg N/L). Herbage nitrogen offtake and dry matter yield were higher in the urine treatments than in the non-urine treatments. groundwater, denitrification, mineralisation, grazing, forage.

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Effects of effluent and urea application on groundwater, soil and pastures at WTARS

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2000.62.2369 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 173-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

C.G. Roach ◽

G. Stevens ◽

D.A. Clark ◽

P. Nicholas

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Animal Health ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Nitrogen Application ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Dairy Effluent ◽

Application Rates ◽

Magnesium Status ◽

Health Application

encouraged by many regional councils, and the use of urea fertiliser on dairy farms has increased over recent years. A 3-year trial was started in September 1997 to investigate the effects of urea and dairy effluent applications on pastures, soils and groundwater quality. Twenty-one 0.25 ha paddocks received urea or dairy effluent at rates of 0, 100, 200, or 400 kg N/ha/yr, and were grazed by dairy cows. Increasing nitrogen application rates resulted in increased pasture production and ryegrass content, and nitrate leaching to ground water. Nitrate leaching was estimated to be 14, 18, 26 and 56 kg N/ha/yr for the 0, 100, 200 and 400 kg N/ha/yr application rates respectively. No differences in these responses were measured between urea and effluent when applied at the same rate of nitrogen. Application of dairy effluent resulted in increased average pasture potassium levels from 3.65%DM to 4.00%DM, which may have implications for animal health. Application of dairy effluent also decreased soil sulphur levels and increased soil magnesium status. Keywords: dairy effluent, groundwater, nitrate leaching, nitrogen, pasture, soil, urea

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Carbon and nitrogen removal from a synthetic dairy effluent in a vertical-flow fixed bed bioreactor

Bioresource Technology Reports ◽

10.1016/j.biteb.2020.100581 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 100581

Author(s):

Ahmed Hamdani ◽

Abdeltif Amrane ◽

Imane Kader Yettefti ◽

Mohammed Mountadar ◽

Omar Assobhei

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Removal ◽

Fixed Bed ◽

Vertical Flow ◽

Dairy Effluent ◽

Carbon And Nitrogen ◽

Fixed Bed Bioreactor

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Use of Paper-mill Wastes on Agricultural Soils: Is This a Way to Reduce Nitrate Leaching?

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B - Soil & Plant Science ◽

10.1080/09064710310003925 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 56-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Holger Kirchmann ◽

Lars Bergström

Keyword(s):

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Agricultural Soils ◽

Paper Mill

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Effects of Alloy Elements in Advanced High-Strength Steels on the Efficiency of Nitrogen Removal in a Tank Degasser

AISTech2020 Proceedings of the Iron and Steel Technology Conference ◽

10.33313/380/089 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

P. Pistorius ◽

D. Tang

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Removal ◽

High Strength Steels ◽

High Strength ◽

Advanced High Strength Steels

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Ribbed mussels Geukensia demissa enhance nitrogen-removal services but not plant growth in restored eutrophic salt marshes

Marine Ecology Progress Series ◽

10.3354/meps13132 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 631 ◽

pp. 67-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J Zhu ◽

C Zarnoch ◽

JS Gosnell ◽

M Alldred ◽

T Hoellein

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Nitrogen Removal ◽

Salt Marshes ◽

Geukensia Demissa ◽

Ribbed Mussels

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An evaluation of a strategic de-stocking regime for dairying to improve nitrogen efficiency and reduce nitrate leaching from dairy farms in nitrate-sensitive areas

Proceedings of the New Zealand Grassland Association ◽

10.33584/jnzg.2000.62.2401 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 105-110

Author(s):

Cecile De Klein ◽

Jim Paton ◽

Stewart Ledgard

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Management Practice ◽

Field Measurements ◽

Dairy Farms ◽

Nitrogen Efficiency ◽

Management Tool ◽

Pasture Production ◽

Leaching Losses ◽

Sensitive Areas

Strategic de-stocking in winter is a common management practice on dairy farms in Southland, New Zealand, to protect the soil against pugging damage. This paper examines whether this practice can also be used to reduce nitrate leaching losses. Model analyses and field measurements were used to estimate nitrate leaching losses and pasture production under two strategic de-stocking regimes: 3 months off-farm or 5 months on a feed pad with effluent collected and applied back to the land. The model analyses, based on the results of a long-term farmlet study under conventional grazing and on information for an average New Zealand farm, suggested that the 3- or 5-month de-stocking could reduce nitrate leaching losses by about 20% or 35-50%, respectively compared to a conventional grazing system. Field measurements on the Taieri Plain in Otago support these findings, although the results to date are confounded by drought conditions during the 1998 and 1999 seasons. The average nitrate concentration of the drainage water of a 5-month strategic de-stocking treatment was about 60% lower than under conventional grazing. Pasture production of the 5-month strategic de-stocking regime with effluent return was estimated based on data for apparent N efficiency of excreta patches versus uniformlyspread farm dairy effluent N. The results suggested that a strategic de-stocking regime could increase pasture production by about 2 to 8%. A cost/ benefit analysis of the 5-month de-stocking system using a feed pad, comparing additional capital and operational costs with additional income from a 5% increase in DM production, show a positive return on capital for an average New Zealand dairy farm. This suggests that a strategic destocking system has good potential as a management tool to reduce nitrate leaching losses in nitrate sensitive areas whilst being economically viable, particularly on farms where an effluent application system or a feed pad are already in place. Keywords: dairying, feed pads, nitrate leaching, nitrogen efficiency, productivity, strategic de-stocking

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