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Phosphorus losses from low-emission slurry spreading techniques.
Journal of Environmental Quality
|May 16, 2013
Summary
Low emission slurry spreading techniques like injection and trailing shoe significantly reduce dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in surface runoff, especially on stubble fields. These methods offer a promising approach to mitigate phosphorus losses in agricultural settings.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Science
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
Background:
- Low emission slurry spreading improves nitrogen use efficiency.
- Impact of slurry spreading on phosphorus (P) losses in surface runoff is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of different slurry spreading techniques on phosphorus losses in surface runoff.
- To compare P losses from splash-plate, injection, and trailing shoe methods on stubble and regrowth grass swards.
Main Methods:
- Experiment conducted on 0.5m x 1.0m plots with 12 treatments in a 2x6 factorial design.
- Slurry applied by hand (40 m/ha) to stubble and 4-week regrowth grass swards.
- Rainfall simulations (40 mm/h) at 2, 9, and 28 days post-application.
Main Results:
- Injection and trailing shoe techniques reduced dissolved reactive P (DRP) by 47% and 37% respectively in stubble at Day 2 compared to splash-plate.
- Total phosphorus (TP) concentrations were 27% lower with injection than splash-plate at Day 2 on stubble.
- Slurry application technique did not affect P concentrations in runoff on regrowth swards.
Conclusions:
- Injection and trailing shoe slurry spreading techniques can significantly reduce dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in surface runoff immediately after application on stubble.
- These low emission techniques show potential for mitigating phosphorus runoff in agricultural systems.
- Further research may explore long-term impacts and optimal application strategies.
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