Evaluation of selected soil properties for indicating cattle activity at off-stream watering and river access sites in southern Alberta

2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Miller ◽  
T. W. Curtis ◽  
E. Bremer ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
W. D. Willms
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Calcareous Soils ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Total N ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Total P

Miller, J. J., Curtis, T. W., Bremer, E., Chanasyk, D. S. and Willms, W. D. 2013. Evaluation of selected soil properties for indicating cattle activity at off-stream watering and river access sites in southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 343–358. Off-stream watering troughs may reduce surface water pollution by shifting nutrient distribution from natural watering sites along the river to around artificial water troughs some distance from the river. The objective of our study was to evaluate the suitability of nine soil properties for assessing the impacts of cattle activity adjacent to eight watering sites. Nine surface (0–5 cm) soil properties were evaluated along four 100-m transects at the five off-stream water troughs and three river access sites along the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta over 4 yr (2007–2010). The properties included P (total P, soil test P or STP), N (total N, NO3-N, NH4-N), total C, total C:total N ratio (TC:TN), chloride (Cl), and soil bulk density. Soil test P was significantly (P≤0.05) enriched at 65% of site-year comparisons, followed by total C (63%), NO3-N (55%), total P and TC:TN (50%). This suggested that these soil properties were relatively good indicators of cattle activity at the majority (>50%) of watering sites. Chloride was a valid indicator only in non-saline areas (100% of four non-saline sites). Total C and TC:TN ratios were not valid indicators in the calcareous soils at all sites because of possible confounding influence of inorganic C. Overall, we recommend Cl as an indicator of cattle activity at watering sites not affected by soil salinity and high natural Cl levels, and STP as the best overall indicator of cattle activity at off-stream watering sites and river access sites. Certain soil properties were also influenced by distance from watering site, stocking rate, precipitation, and age of water trough.

Influence of streambank fencing and river access for cattle on riparian zone soils adjacent to the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta, Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Miller ◽  
T. Curtis ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
W. D. Willms
Keyword(s):  
Water Content ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Soil Water Content ◽  
Soil Nutrients ◽  
Soil Compaction ◽  
Riparian Zone ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Soil Test P

Miller, J. J., Curtis, T., Chanasyk, D. S. and Willms, W. D. 2014. Influence of streambank fencing and river access for cattle on riparian zone soils adjacent to the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta, Canada. Can. J. Soil Sci. 94: 209–222. Cattle grazing in riparian pastures adjacent to rivers may increase soil compaction and increase soil nutrients, such as N and P. We conducted a 4-yr study with sampling in 3 yr (2009, 2010, 2012) of riparian zone soils adjacent to fenced and unfenced reaches of the Lower Little Bow River in southern Alberta. We examined the effect of grazing, access of cattle to the river (access versus no-access), and distance (0.25, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 m) from the river on surface soil bulk density, volumetric water content, NH4-N, NO3, and soil test P. Penetration depth was also measured in 2012. The three grazing treatments consisted of one fenced reach (ungrazed treatment), one unfenced and grazed reach with high cattle impact (high-impact grazed treatment), and one unfenced and grazed reach with low cattle impact (low-impact grazed treatment). We hypothesized that soil compaction would be greater, soil nutrients would be enriched, and soil water content would be lower for grazed compared with ungrazed treatments, and that this same trend would occur for access compared with no-access locations. The soil properties in our study were generally significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by grazing, access, and distance from the riverbank. However, treatment effects were generally dependent on two- or three-way interactions with the other factors. Soil bulk density in 2009 and 2012 was 8 to 20% greater at access compared with no-access locations within 2 m of the riverbank, suggesting soil compaction by cattle was confined close to the wetter riverbank soils. Most soil properties generally supported our hypothesis of greater soil compaction and nutrient enrichment for unfenced compared with fenced reaches, as well as for access compared with no-access locations. The exceptions were soil water content and soil test P results that did not support the grazing hypothesis, and soil water content and NH4-N results that did not support the cattle-access hypothesis.

An agronomic test to manage phosphorus environmental risk from pastures with good grazing management

Soil Research ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Hart ◽  
P. S. Cornish
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Environmental Risk ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Soil P ◽  
Shade Cloth ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Total P

Management of phosphorus (P) environmental risk has been hampered by the lack of widely applicable threshold values for the soil properties that determine concentrations of P in runoff. This paper simplified the task of developing threshold values by restricting land-use to pastures and by using a single methodology based on simulated rainfall across 38 field sites (76 plots) that included a range of land-use intensities, and soils that varied widely in lithology and soil properties. An ‘adjusted’ soil-test P was determined from the measured Colwell-P minus the threshold P for agronomic response, which was estimated from P-buffering index (PBI). Concentrations of total P (TP) in runoff rose exponentially with rising ‘adjusted’ soil-test P, although only with pastures with high groundcover (r2 = 0.87), or if plots were protected from erosion with a cover of shade-cloth (r2 = 0.70). Concentrations of TP in runoff were low (<0.5 mg L–1) where adjusted Colwell-P was less than zero, which on this scale is the threshold for agronomic response. Similar results were found for dissolved reactive P (DRP) in runoff, although for plots with soil P below the agronomic threshold, the concentrations of DRP were lower than for TP. We conclude that Colwell-P and soil PBI together provide a widely applicable test for environmental P risk from pastures with good ground cover. The same threshold values may be used for both agronomic and environmental purposes.

Soil Physical and Chemical Properties under Four Densities of Hybrid Larch Plantations

2012 ◽  
Vol 524-527 ◽  
pp. 2139-2142
Author(s):  
Shu Li Wang ◽  
Chao Ma ◽  
Wei Bin Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Soil Bulk Density ◽  
Physical And Chemical Properties ◽  
Larix Olgensis ◽  
Hybrid Larch ◽  
Total N ◽  
Available N ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Total P ◽  
And Chemical Properties

The soil physical and chemical properties of four densities (A:2500/hm2，B:3300/hm2，C:4400/hm2，D:6600/hm2) of hybrid Larch plantations, Larix olgensis plantation(E) and Quercus mandsurica forest(F) were studied in Jiangshanjiao forest farm of Heilongjiang province of China. Soil bulk density, soil porosity, total N, total P, available N and available P were affected significantly by plantation density in hybrid Larch plantations. The lowest surface soil bulk density was in density 2500/hm2. Soil porosity of density 2500/hm2and 3300/hm2was bigger than that of density 4400/hm2and density 6600/hm2. Total N, total P and available N of density 4400/hm2and 3300/hm2were higher than that of density 6600/hm2and density 2500/hm2. Total N, total P, available N and available P of hybrid Larch plantations were not lower than that of Larix olgensis plantation. The results of the soil physical and chemical properties under different densities of hybrid Larch plantations and different types of forest seems to confirm that hybrid Larch plantation did not decreased the soil fertility, and the hybrid Larch plantation with densities of 3300/hm2and 4400/hm2could be conductive to improving the soil quality. The results would provide the theories basis for manage the hybrid Larch plantations.

Soil test phosphorus and nitrate adjacent to artificial and natural cattle watering sites in southern Alberta

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 331-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
J J Miller ◽  
T W Curtis ◽  
E. Bremer ◽  
D S Chanasyk ◽  
W D Willms
Keyword(s):  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Nutrient Distribution ◽  
Background Levels ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Subsurface Soil ◽  
Soil Test Phosphorus

Off-stream watering troughs may reduce surface water pollution by keeping nutrients away from natural water bodies, but may increase nutrient contaminant of groundwater. The objective of this study was to determine to what extent off-stream watering troughs active for 2 to 7 yr caused enrichment and leaching of soil test P (STP) and KCl-extractable NO3-N. The study was conducted in the Lower Little Bow (LLB) River watershed of southern Alberta, Canada. Soil samples were obtained at three recently installed off-stream watering troughs, four active cattle watering sites adjacent to the LLB River, and at two sites along a fenced reach of the river with no cattle access. At each location, samples were obtained along four 100-m transects. Surface (0-5 cm) soil immediately adjacent to the LLB River was not enriched in STP or NO3-N, which was attributed to flushing of nutrients during periods of high flow. Surface soil at distances ≤ 5 m from the three water troughs was approximately three times higher in STP than surface soil obtained at distances ≥10 m and was seven times higher in NO3-N. Subsurface soil layers adjacent (3 m distance) to the three water troughs were not enriched in STP compared with background levels (100 m distance). The subsurface soil adjacent (3 m) to the longest active watering trough was enriched in NO3-N to the 60 cm depth compared with background levels (100 m). Greater nutrient enrichment at the off-stream watering troughs than at the cattle watering sites adjacent to the river suggested that this beneficial management practice (BMP) was effective in shifting nutrient distribution away from the river. Key words: Pasture, nutrient leaching, nitrate, best management practices

Influence of 24 annual applications of fertilisers and/or manure to alfalfa on forage yield and some soil properties under dryland conditions in northern China

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Fan ◽  
Mingde Hao ◽  
Sukhdev S. Malhi ◽  
Quanjiu Wang ◽  
Mingbin Huang
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Properties ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Animal Manure ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Available P ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Deep Soil ◽  
Total N ◽  
Total P

A field experiment was established in 1984 at Changwu, Shaanxi, China, to determine the long-term effects of three annual fertiliser and/or manure treatments [no fertilisation (CK), application of phosphorus (P) fertiliser alone at 26 kg P ha–1, and application of P fertiliser at 26 kg P ha–1 + nitrogen (N) fertiliser at 120 kg N ha–1 + animal manure at 75 Mg ha–1 (PNM)] to alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on forage dry matter yield (DMY) from 1985 to 2008 (24 growing seasons), and some soil properties (moisture content, and concentration of organic matter, total N, total P and available P in soil) in 2001, 2004 and 2006. Compared with the unfertilised CK, application of fertiliser and/or manure resulted in a significant increase of forage DMY in 19 of 24 years, with a maximum DMY usually in the PNM treatment. Cumulative DMY over 24 years (from 1985 to 2008) increased linearly in all three treatments, and it was higher by 22.72 Mg ha–1 with PNM and only by 7.78 Mg ha–1 with P compared with the CK treatment. Soil moisture contents in deep soil profiles did not differ among treatments in most cases. Soil organic matter, total N, total P and available P in soil increased with fertiliser and/or manure treatments, especially when PNM was applied over a long period. In conclusion, the findings suggest that combined applications of inorganic fertilisers and organic manure to alfalfa can provide substantial benefits in terms of both forage yield and stand longevity, while also improving soil quality on the Loess Plateau of northern China.

scholarly journals Phosphorus in Finnish soils in the 1900s with particular reference to the acid ammonium acetate soil test

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 257-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. SAARELA
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Ammonium Acetate ◽  
Organic Soils ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Peat Soils ◽  
Hydrous Oxides ◽  
Simple Chemical ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Mineral Soils ◽  
Total P

Comprehensive research into phosphorus (P) in soils and crops began in Finland in the early 1900s. The average amount of total P in the ploughed topsoil layer of mineral soils was about two tonnes per hectare in the 1930s, before the abundant use of fertilisers. The main chemical fractions of P in mineral soils were organic matter, primary apatite and secondary complexes of the hydrous oxides of Al and Fe. Of the smaller amounts of P in light peat soils, as much as 80% was present in stable organic compounds. Field experiments showed that the native P reserves of Finnish soils are poorly available to plants, and that P fertilisers are inefficiently utilised because of the strong fixation of applied phosphate in soils. In evaluations before the late 1950s, all simple chemical tests appeared to be rather unreliable indicators of the supply of P from soils to plants, but later research has shown that the results were impaired by errors implicit in the research materials. Some soil test P values (STP)obtained from old samples stored for more than ten years evidently were too high, particularly for organic soils, and many of the soils studied were strongly acidic and therefore biologically less fertile than the chemical P tests indicated. The acid ammonium acetate method (pH 4.65) was introduced in the early 1950s and has since been used in routine soil testing in Finland, not only for P but for all macronutrients except N. In later evaluations of different methods used for estimating the requirement of P fertilisation, the acid ammonium acetate method has proven equal or superior to any other simple chemical method.;

scholarly journals Window phase analysis of nutrient losses from a typical rice-planting area in the Yangtze river delta region of China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang He ◽  
Fayong Li ◽  
XINQIANG LIANG ◽  
Hua Li ◽  
Sheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stream Water ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Self Organizing Map ◽  
Delta Region ◽  
Observation Study ◽  
Total N ◽  
Nutrient Runoff ◽  
Runoff Losses ◽  
Total P

Abstract Background: Rice paddy wetlands may serve as a nutrient source or sink in agricultural ecosystems. However, the pattern of nutrient loss on a watershed scale is not clear. A year-round on-site observation study based on 6-h intervals was conducted. Rainfall, temperature, runoff nutrient concentrations, and adjacent stream water samples were automatically monitored to uncover the temporal changes in the runoff losses of the predominant nutrient proxies (total N and total P) from a typical rice-planting area (120 ha) in the Yangtze delta region of China. Results: A high total N concentration in the rice-planting area was observed during the rice-planting season; however, significant fluctuation in the total P was evident throughout the year. The Δtotal N (drainage minus stream) parameter showed negative values with a mean of −0.25 mg L -1 , while Δtotal P showed positive values with a mean of 0.06 mg L −1 . The annual average N and P runoff from paddy field were 11.6 kg ha −1 and 1.5 kg ha −1 , respectively. The window phases for the total N loss were mainly concentrated in the rice-growing season. However, the window phase for the total P loss was more dispersive throughout the year. No apparent relationships were found between rainfall and N and P concentrations by self-organizing map analysis. Conclusions: The high-resolution monitoring, in this study, suggested that nutrient loss loading rather than nutrient concentration, was strongly related to surface runoff Therefore, fertilization before high-intensity rainfall should be avoided to mitigate the nutrient runoff losses and maintain the rice wetland eco-function.

Phosphorus accumulation and leaching in two irrigated soils with incremental rates of cattle manure

2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
B M Olson ◽  
E. Bremer ◽  
R H McKenzie ◽  
D R Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Calcareous Soils ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Soil P ◽  
P Loss ◽  
Phosphorus Accumulation ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Soil Test Phosphorus ◽  
P Leaching

The risk of P leaching increases on land that receives manure at rates sufficient to meet crop N requirements, but calcareous subsoils may minimize P loss due to P adsorption. An 8-yr field experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different rates of manure on the accumulation and leaching of soil P in a coarse-textured (CT) soil and a medium-textured (MT) soil under typical irrigation management in southern Alberta. Treatments included a non-manured control and four rates of cattle (Bos taurus) manure (20, 40, 60, and 120 Mg ha-1 yr-1, wet-weight basis). In manured treatments, P addition ranged from about 80 to 450 kg P ha-1 yr-1, while P removal by annual cereal silage crops ranged from 15 to 22 kg P ha-1 yr-1. High soil test P (STP) concentrations occurred to a depth of 0.6 m at the CT site and 0.3 m at the MT site. Increase in STP concentration to 0.6 m was equivalent to 43% of net P input, and increase in total soil P was equivalent to 78% of net P input. Non-recovery of net P input suggests that P loss by leaching occurred at these sites and that leaching was more prevalent at the CT site. These calcareous soils have considerable potential to hold surplus P, but may still allow P leaching.Key words: Manure, phosphorus dynamics, soil test phosphorus, phosphorus leaching, soil texture

Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Miller ◽  
T. Curtis ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
S. Reedyk
Keyword(s):  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Total N ◽  
Sediment Nutrients ◽  
Total Coliforms ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Grass Buffer ◽  
Buffer Width ◽  
Total P

Miller, J. J., Curtis, T., Chanasyk, D. S. and Reedyk, S. 2015. Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 139–151. Little research has been conducted on the effect of mowing and buffer width on the effectiveness of short-width (< 10 m) native grass buffers to filter sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. A 2-yr (2011–2012) field study was conducted on native rangeland in southern Alberta. The treatments of mowing and buffer width (1.5, 3, 6 m) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The buffer plots were pre-wet with distilled water. A spiked solution was then applied to each plot using a run-on distribution device and the runoff collected every 10 min for 30 min once the runoff started discharging from the plot. The volume of runoff, and percent reduction in concentration and mass of sediment [total dissolved solids (TSS)], phosphorus [dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P], nitrogen (total N), and bacteria (Escherichia coli, total coliforms) in runoff were determined. The findings did not support our hypothesis that percent reductions in concentrations and mass for sediment, nutrients, and bacteria were greater for mowed than unmowed buffers. In contrast, the findings supported our hypothesis that increasing buffer width would significantly (P≤0.05) decrease mass (but not concentration) of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in runoff. The significant mass reduction was attributed to a reduced runoff ratio caused by longer residence time and greater infiltration in the wider buffers. Mass reductions for the three buffer widths ranged from 29 to 92% for TSS, 22 to 93% for DRP, 38 to 93% for total P, 23 to 92% for total N, and between 61 and 94% for E. coli and total coliforms. These findings suggest that buffer width but not mowing may reduce runoff quantity and improve runoff quality over the short term.

Soil properties as predictors of yield response of clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) to added P in soils of varying P sorption capacity

Soil Research ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. F. Brennan ◽  
M. D. A. Bolland
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Response Curve ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Stepwise Multiple Regression ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Organic Carbon Content ◽  
Soil Test P ◽  
Yield Responses

Thirty-five unfertilised soils collected in south-western Australia were used to measure the effect of soil properties on (i) shoot yield responses of 50-day-old clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Nungarin) plants to applied phosphorus (P), and (ii) extractability of bicarbonate soil test P (slope of the linear relationship between Colwell P and the amount of P applied). Data for the relationship between shoot yield and the amount of P applied were fitted to a rescaled Mitscherlich equation to calculate the amount of P required to produce 50% and 90% of the maximum yield (P50% and P90%) and determine the curvature (c) and n coefficients of the equation. When the value of n is 1.00, the response curve is exponential, and as the value of n increases above 1.00 the response curve becomes more sigmoidal. The c, n, P50%, P90%, and extractability values were related to properties of the 35 soils.There was a significant (P < 0.05) trend for the values of c and extractability to decrease as the capacity of the soil to sorb P increased. Consequently, as the soil sorbed more P, the trend was that (1) more P needed to be applied to produce the same yield, so both P50% and P90% tended to significantly (P < 0.05) increase; (2) shoot yield responses to applied P became more sigmoidal so the value of the n coefficient tended to significantly (P < 0.05) increase; (3) more P needed to be applied to a soil to produce the same soil test P value; and (4) larger soil test P values were needed to produce the same yield. No single soil property adequately predicted P50%, P90%, extractability, c, or n. Stepwise multiple regression indicated that (1) clay content and P buffer capacity (PBC) of soil together accounted for 48% of the variation in P50%, 56% of the variation in P90%, and 52% of the variation in c; (2) PBC and soil pH together accounted for 17% of the variation in n; and (3) PBC, percentage clay and percentage organic carbon content of soil together accounted for 68% of the variation in extractability.

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