Impact of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum Applications to Corn-Soybean Plots on Surface Runoff Water Quality

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 233; no. 3
• Main Authors: Kaur, Harpreet, Williard, Karl W. J., Schoonover, Jon E., Singh, Gurbir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.03.2022; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agricultural runoff; Agriculture; Air pollution control; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological fertilization; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Corn; Desulfurization; Desulfurizing; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Farming systems; Fertilization; Fertilizer application; Fertilizers; Flue gas; Flue gas desulfurization; Flue gas desulfurization gypsum; Glycine (amino acid); Glycine max; Gypsum; Hydrogeology; Loads (forces); Loam soils; Nonpoint source pollution; Nutrient loading; Nutrient loss; Phosphates; Phosphorus; Pollution control equipment; Runoff; Silt loam; Soil; Soil amendment; Soil improvement; Soil Science & Conservation; Soil testing; Soil water; Solid suspensions; Soybean; Soybeans; Surface runoff; Suspended particulate matter; Total suspended solids; Water pollution; Water quality; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Dissolved reactive phosphorus; Sediment loss; Soil properties; FGD gypsum
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-022-05552-6

Row crop agriculture systems are a significant contributor to non-point source nutrient loading into water bodies. One approach to reduce phosphorus (P) losses through surface runoff is applying flue gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum as a soil amendment. This research was conducted to examine the effects of different rates of FGD gypsum application to corn ( Zea mays L.)–soybean ( Glycine max ) plots on water quality parameters including dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP), total phosphorus (TP), and total suspended solids (TSS). The study was conducted on a high P level (>30 mg P kg −1 ) soil in a completely randomized design with four treatments each replicated three times. The four treatments were no FGD gypsum (control), FGD gypsum at a rate of 2.2 Mg ha −1 , FGD gypsum at 4.5 Mg ha −1 , and FGD gypsum at 13.5 Mg ha −1 . Gypsum applications were effective in reducing P loads in surface runoff water, with a significant ( P < 0.1) reduction in DRP and TP from all the treatments compared to the control during the initial post-gypsum application period (December 2018–May 2019). Results suggest application rates of 4.5 Mg ha −1 and 13.5 Mg ha −1 were most suitable to reduce P loads in surface runoff water from Hosmer silt loam soil with high soil test P (STP) prior to P fertilizer application. However, following P fertilizer application (May 2019–January 2020), gypsum was not effective in reducing P in surface runoff. Overall, FGD gypsum appeared to be an effective phosphorus abatement tool for southern Illinois soils to improve water quality. Though, how long it remains effective appears to be in question given our results in the post P fertilization period.