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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310528
Title: Spatial scale and field management affect patterns of phosphorus loss in cranberry floodwaters

Author
item Kennedy, Casey
item Kleinman, Peter
item DEMORANVILLE, CAROLYN - University Of Massachusetts

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/17/2015
Publication Date: 1/1/2016
Citation: Kennedy, C.D., Kleinman, P.J., Demoranville, C. 2016. Spatial scale and field management affect patterns of phosphorus loss in cranberry floodwaters. Journal of Environmental Quality. 45(1):285-293. doi:10.2134/jeq2014.11.0485.

Interpretive Summary: In southeastern Massachusetts, cranberry agriculture is generally viewed as a prominent source of phosphorus (P) in lakes that receive discharge of harvest floodwaters, yet the processes by which P is transported from farms to lakes remain poorly understood. We report findings that suggest P loss in cranberry farms is exacerbated by pumping of discharge waters rather than the more common practice of gravity flow. These results highlight the need to target floodwater management regimes and nutrient management of bog soils to control P losses from cranberry operations.

Technical Abstract: In southeastern Massachusetts, cranberry agriculture is generally viewed as a prominent source of phosphorus (P) in lakes that receive discharge of harvest floodwaters. However, the processes controlling P transport by harvest floodwater remain poorly understood. Water quality monitoring was established on a variety of cranberry operations to quantify variations in P transfers in floodwater discharge. A general pattern emerged of P concentrations rising sharply during the later part of the flood release, as flood height decreased to near or below the surface of the cranberry bed. Monitored bogs ranged from net sinks of total P (-0.17 kg P ha-1) to net sources of total P (0.09-4.7 kg P ha-1). At the high end, P export by harvest floodwaters exceeded previous estimates of annual P loss for cranberry farms (3.4 kg P ha-1 yr-1), with losses exacerbated by pumping of discharge rather than the more common practice of release via gravity flow. Pumping of water likely (1) increases water residence time in bogs and desorption of dissolved P from bog soils, and (2) promotes erosive flows in drainage ditches, suspending sediment-bound P. Results highlight the need to target floodwater management regimes and nutrient management of bog soils to control P losses from cranberry operations.