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ARS Home » Midwest Area » St. Paul, Minnesota » Soil and Water Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #253914
Title: Manure Application Under Winter Conditions: Nutrient Runoff and Leaching Losses

Author
item WILLIAMS, MARK - Pennsylvania State University
item Feyereisen, Gary
item BEEGLE, DOUGLAS - Pennsylvania State University
item SHANNON, ROBERT - Pennsylvania State University
item Folmar, Gordon
item Bryant, Ray

Submitted to: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2009
Publication Date: 6/23/2010
Citation: Williams, M.W., Feyereisen, G.W., Beegle, D.B., Shannon, R.D., Folmar, G.J., Bryant, R.B. 2010. Manure Application Under Winter Conditions: Nutrient Runoff and Leaching Losses [abstract]. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. Paper No. 1009194.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Winter application of manure is commonly practiced and potential nutrient losses are difficult to predict. This study was conducted in order to determine nutrient losses via surface runoff and subsurface leachate from winter-applied manure based on its relative placement with respect to snow. A laboratory soil thermal cycling system containing four 15-cm diameter, PVC lysimeters encased in sand and a commercially-available heating cable was used to replicate freeze-thaw field conditions. Dairy manure was applied before, midway through, or upon completion of an artificial snowfall. Runoff and leachate were collected throughout a 4-day snowmelt event and subsequent rainfall simulation. During the snowmelt event, inorganic-nitrogen losses of 76.4, 113.8, and 205.3 µg/cm2 were observed for the manure-on-top-of-snow, manure-in-between-snow, and manure-under-snow treatments, respectively, while dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) losses of 2.4, 1.5, and 0.7 µg/cm2 were seen. Inorganic-nitrogen losses during the rainfall simulation were significantly less than the snowmelt; however, the losses followed a similar trend. Unlike the snowmelt, DRP losses in surface runoff from the rainfall simulation were 1.1, 1.2, and 2.8 µg/cm2 for the manure-on-top-of-snow, manure-in-between-snow, and manure-under-snow treatments, respectively. This research shows that the relative placement of manure with respect to snow plays a significant role in the fate of N and P from winter-applied manure.