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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233107
Title: Mixing rare earth elements with manures to control phosphorus loss in runoff and track manure fate

Author
item Buda, Anthony
item Church, Clinton
item Kleinman, Peter
item Saporito, Louis - Lou
item Moyer, Barton
item TAO, LIANG - CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCI

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/15/2010
Publication Date: 3/9/2010
Citation: Buda, A.R., Church, C., Kleinman, P.J., Saporito, L.S., Moyer, B.G., Tao, L. 2010. Using Rare Earth Elements to Control Phosphorus and Track Manure Runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality. 39:1028-1035.

Interpretive Summary: Concern over the enrichment of agricultural runoff with phosphorus from land applied livestock manures has prompted the development of manure amendments that minimize phosphorus solubility. We evaluated the effect of mixing rare earth elements with different manures on phosphorus solubility in the manure as well as on the fate of phosphorus when the manure was applied to soil and subject to surface runoff. Rare earth elements reduced soluble phosphorus in manures and runoff and also showed promise as a tracer of phosphorus from manure amended soils. Findings illustrate the potential value of rare earth elements in protecting water quality in agricultural watersheds.

Technical Abstract: Concern over the enrichment of agricultural runoff with phosphorus (P) from land applied livestock manures has prompted the development of manure amendments that minimize P solubility. We evaluated the effect of mixing two rare earth chlorides, lanthanum chloride and ytterbium chloride, with poultry, dairy, and swine manure on P solubility in the manure as well as on the fate of P when the manure was applied to soil and subject to a runoff experiment. In terms of manure P solubility, La:WEP ratios close to 1:1 resulted in maximum WEP reduction of 95% in dairy manure and 98% in dry poultry litter. Results from the runoff study showed that applications of rare earth elements to dry manures such as poultry litter were less effective in reducing DRP in runoff than in liquid manures and slurries, which was likely due to mixing limitations. The most effective reductions of DRP in runoff by rare earth elements were observed in the alkaline pH soil, although reductions of DRP in runoff from the acidic soil were still greater than 50%. Rare earth elements also showed a strong association with PP in runoff suggesting a potentially useful role in tracking the fate of P from manure amended soils. Finally, rare earth elements that remained in the soil following runoff had an apparent tendency to sorb additional soil P, especially in soils receiving manure amendments. The findings reported herein clearly have valuable applications in water quality protection and the evaluation of P site assessment indices.