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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #218442
Title: Narrow grass hedge effects on nutrient transport following compost application

Author
item Gilley, John
item EGHBALL, BAHMAN - DECEASED ARS EMPLOYEE
item MARX, D - STATS PROF, UNL LNK NE

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/5/2008
Publication Date: 7/7/2008
Citation: Gilley, J.E., Eghball, B., Marx, D. 2008. Narrow grass hedge effects on nutrient transport following compost application. Transactions of the ASABE. 51(3):997-1005.

Interpretive Summary: The use of stiff-stemmed grass hedges can be a valuable soil conservation measure. A study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of a narrow grass hedge, planted on the contour along the hillslope, in reducing runoff nutrient transport from plots with a range of soil nutrient values. Composted beef cattle manure was applied at five selected dry weights to a silty clay loam soil and then incorporated by disking. Soil samples were collected 243 days later for analysis of water-soluble phosphorus (WSP), Bray and Kurtz No.1 phosphorus (Bray-1 P), NO3-N and NH4-N. Three 30-min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24-hour intervals, were then applied. The transport of dissolved phosphorus (DP), total P (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), runoff, and erosion were measured from 0.75 m wide x 4.0 m long plots. Compost application rate was found to significantly affect soil test measurements of WSP, Bray-1 P, and NO3-N. The transport of DP, TP, NO3-N, NH4-N, TN, runoff and erosion was reduced significantly on the plots with a grass hedge. Mean runoff on the hedge and no-hedge treatments was 17 and 29 mm, respectively, and soil erosion rates were 0.12 and 1.48 Mg ha-1. Compost application rate significantly affected the transport of DP, TP, and NO3-N in runoff. The experimental results indicate that stiff-stemmed grass hedges, planted at selected down slope intervals, can significantly reduce the transport of nutrients in runoff from land application areas with a range of soil nutrient values.

Technical Abstract: The use of stiff-stemmed grass hedges can be a valuable soil conservation measure. A study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of a narrow grass hedge, planted on the contour along the hillslope, in reducing runoff nutrient transport from plots with a range of soil nutrient values. Composted beef cattle manure was applied at dry weights of 0, 68, 105, 142, and 178 Mg ha-1 to a silty clay loam soil and then incorporated by disking. Soil samples were collected 243 days later for analysis of water-soluble phosphorus (WSP), Bray and Kurtz No.1 phosphorus (Bray-1 P), NO3-N and NH4-N. Three 30-min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24-hour intervals, were then applied. The transport of dissolved phosphorus (DP), total P (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), runoff, and erosion were measured from 0.75 m wide x 4.0 m long plots. Compost application rate was found to significantly affect soil test measurements of WSP, Bray-1 P, and NO3-N. The transport of DP, TP, NO3-N, NH4-N, TN, runoff and erosion was reduced significantly on the plots with a grass hedge. Mean runoff on the hedge and no-hedge treatments was 17 and 29 mm, respectively, and soil erosion rates were 0.12 and 1.48 Mg ha-1. Compost application rate significantly affected the transport of DP, TP, and NO3-N in runoff. The experimental results indicate that stiff-stemmed grass hedges, planted at selected down slope intervals, can significantly reduce the transport of nutrients in runoff from land application areas with a range of soil nutrient values.