Long‐Term Runoff Water Quality as Affected by Broiler‐Litter Application to a Udult in the Ozark Highlands

Repeated annual land application of organic soil amendments, such as broiler litter (BL), to managed grasslands for increased forage yields has increased concerns about potential surface water contamination from runoff. Furthermore, water quality concerns are exacerbated in areas of underlying karst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Soil Science Society of America journal Vol. 78; no. 6; pp. 2017 - 2031
Main Authors: McMullen, R.L., Brye, K.R., Miller, D.M., Mason, R.E., Daigh, A.L., Menjoulet, B.C., Pirani, A.L., Gbur, E.E., Evans-White, M.A.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Madison The Soil Science Society of America, Inc 01-11-2014
American Society of Agronomy
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Summary:Repeated annual land application of organic soil amendments, such as broiler litter (BL), to managed grasslands for increased forage yields has increased concerns about potential surface water contamination from runoff. Furthermore, water quality concerns are exacerbated in areas of underlying karst, such as the Ozark Highlands, where runoff can rapidly enter the groundwater system. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine 8‐yr (May 2003–April 2011) linear trends in annual runoff water quality from a silt loam soil in the Ozark Highlands region of northwest Arkansas under natural precipitation and typical forage management amended annually with BL at three application rates (0 [control], 5.6 [low], and 11.2 [high] Mg BL ha−1) with a history of BL amendments and high soil‐test P. Average annual runoff, flow‐weighted mean (FWM) runoff concentrations of Ca, Cd, Cu, Na, and Se, and all nutrient and metal losses increased with time (P < 0.05) but were unaffected (P > 0.05) by BL application rate. Average annual FWM concentrations of As decreased with time (P < 0.05) and were unaffected by BL (P > 0.05). Eight‐year cumulative runoff losses of Se exceeded 200% of that applied in BL. Results indicated that pasturelands with a history of BL application and high soil‐test P may continue to release BL‐derived As and Se at concentrations potentially harmful to human and environmental health regardless of current management practice long after litter application has ceased.
Bibliography:All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.
ISSN:0361-5995
1435-0661
DOI:10.2136/sssaj2014.07.0291