ARS | Publication request: THE EFFECTS OF SOIL AMENDMENTS, MOISTURE CONTENT, AND AGING ON RUNOFF WATERQUALITY

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy Meetings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2002
Publication Date: November 10, 2002
Citation: Schrohe, B., Huang, c., Joern, B., Norton, L.D. The effects of soil amendments, moisture content, and aging on runoff water quality. CD-ROM. Indianapolis, IN: American Society of Agronomy Meetings. 2002.

Technical Abstract: Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a common soil amendment used to improve infiltration and reduce soil erosion, but the effectiveness of PAM under different moisture conditions has not been quantified. Additionally, under moist conditions a surface seal gains stability with time (i.e. aging). We conducted a rainfall simulation study to quantify the effects of PAM, moisture gradient, and aging on runoff water quality. Soil boxes were treated with or without PAM, prewetted and aged for 1 or 7 days and set to free drainage, saturation, or seepage. Runoff samples were analyzed for dissolve reactive phosphorus (DRP) and nitrate. Preliminary results showed higher concentrations and loading rates of nitrate in runoff under saturation and seepage conditions than those under free drainage. PAM reduced sediment loading, but did not affect the DRP or nitrate loadings. Aging reduced sediment production but its effects on DRP and N loading were dependent on the surface moisture condition.