Freeze-thaw effects on phosphorus loss in runoff from manured and catch-cropped soils

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 2301 - 2309
• Main Authors: Bechmann, M.E, Kleinman, P.J.A, Sharpley, A.N, Saporito, L.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madison American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society 01.11.2005; Crop Science Society of America; American Society of Agronomy
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agricultural practices; Agricultural runoff; agricultural soils; Agriculture - methods; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Applied sciences; Biological and medical sciences; Catch crops; cattle manure; Cereal crops; Climate; cold zones; Cover crops; dairy cattle; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; erosion control; Exact sciences and technology; freeze-thaw cycles; Freezing; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Leaching; Lolium; Lolium multiflorum; losses from soil; Manure; Pennsylvania; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - metabolism; Pollution; pollution control; Pollution, environment geology; Runoff; Soil; Soil columns; Soil erosion; Soils; Surface water; Temperature effects; Thawing; water pollution; Organic waste; Monocotyledones; Climate; Bare soil; Lolium multiflorum; Dairy cattle; Cover crop; Farmland; Organic fertilization; Biomass; Earth surface; Transport process; Catch crop; Gramineae; Angiospermae; Lixiviation; Agriculture; Chemical concentration; Agricultural waste; Cattle manure; Ungulata; Subsurface; Erosion; Soil column; Extractability; Phosphorus; Runoff water; Farmyard manure; Nutrient uptake; Leaching; Freeze thaw cycle; Vertebrata; Diffuse source; Mammalia; Undisturbed sample; Runoff; Surface water; Spermatophyta; Artiodactyla; Animal waste
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2004.0415

Concern over nonpoint source P losses from agricultural lands to surface waters in frigid climates has focused attention on the role of freezing and thawing on P loss from catch crops (cover crops). This study evaluated the effect of freezing and thawing on the fate of P in bare soils, soils mixed with dairy manure, and soils with an established catch crop of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.). Experiments were conducted to evaluate changes in P runoff from packed soil boxes (100 by 20 by 5 cm) and P leaching from intact soil columns (30 cm deep). Before freezing and thawing, total P (TP) in runoff from catch-cropped soils was lower than from manured and bare soils due to lower erosion. Repeated freezing and thawing significantly increased water-extractable P (WEP) from catch crop biomass and resulted in significantly elevated concentrations of dissolved P in runoff (9.7 mg L(-1)) compared with manured (0.18 mg L(-1)) and bare soils (0.14 mg L(-1)). Catch crop WEP was strongly correlated with the number of freeze-thaw cycles. Freezing and thawing did not change the WEP of soils mixed with manures, nor were differences observed in subsurface losses of P between catch-cropped and bare soils before or after manure application. This study illustrates the trade-offs of establishing catch crops in frigid climates, which can enhance P uptake by biomass and reduce erosion potential but increase dissolved P runoff.