An integrated assessment of nitrogen source, transformation and fate within an intensive dairy system to inform management change

Clagnan, Elisa; Thornton, Steven F.; Rolfe, Stephen A.; Hipsey, Matthew; Knoeller, Kay; Murphy, J.; Tuohy, Patrick; Daly, Karen; Healy, Mark G.; Ezzati, Golnaz; Chamier, Julia von; Fenton, Owen

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219479

Cited by 14 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…A water-holding capacity around 60% is the threshold for maximum aerobic activity ideal for ammonification and nitrification [63]. Plant-available N can be compared with WFPS, as previous studies have shown a link between WFPS, soil moisture, and N 2 O emission [64][65][66]. Results indicated that inorganic N content was elevated even when WFPS surpassed the 60% threshold at the October 2018 sampling time, although generally, high inorganic N was observed with WFPS at ~60%, ideal conditions for this parameter.…”

Section: Soil Inorganic Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Leguminous Cover Crops on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a No-Till Tropical Fruit Orchard

Freidenreich

Dattamudi

et al. 2022

Land

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South Florida’s agricultural soils are traditionally low in organic matter (OM) and high in carbonate rock fragments. These calcareous soils are inherently nutrient-poor and require management for successful crop production. Sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea) and velvet bean (VB, Mucuna pruriens) are highly productive leguminous cover crops (CCs) that have shown potential to add large quantities of dry biomass to nutrient- and organic-matter-limited systems. This study focuses on intercropping these two CCs with young carambola (Averrhoa carambola) trees. The objective was to test the effectiveness of green manure crops in providing nutrients and supplementing traditional fertilizer regimes with a sustainable soil-building option. Typically, poultry manure (PM) is the standard fertilizer used in organic or sustainable production in the study area. As such, PM treatments and fallow were included for comparison. The treatments were fallow control (F), fallow with PM (FM), sunn hemp (SH), SH with PM (SHM), velvet bean (VB), and VB with PM (VBM). Sunn hemp and VB were grown for two summer growing seasons. At the end of each 90-day growing period, the CCs were terminated and left on the soil surface to decompose in a no-till fashion. The results suggest that SH treatments produced the greatest amount of dry biomass material ranging from 48 to 71% higher than VB over two growing seasons. As a result, SH CCs also accumulated significantly higher amounts of total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) within their dry biomass that was added to the soil. Sunn hemp, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest accumulation of soil OM, TC, and TN. Soil inorganic N (NH₄⁺ + NO3- + NO2) fluctuated throughout the experiment. Our results indicate that generally, VB-treated soils had their highest available N around 2 months post termination, while SH-treated soils exhibited significantly higher N values at CC termination time. Sunn hemp + PM (SHM)treatments had highest soil N availability around 4 months after CC termination. Soil enzyme activity results indicate that at CC termination, SHM exhibited the highest levels of β-1-4- glucosidase and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase among all treatments. Overall, SH, SHM, and FM treatments showed the greatest potential for supplementing soil nutrients and organic matter in a no-till fruit production setting.

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Section: Soil Inorganic Nitrogenmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Leguminous Cover Crops on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a No-Till Tropical Fruit Orchard

Freidenreich

Dattamudi

et al. 2022

Land

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“…There are two cattle underpasses under public roadways and these provide connectivity and delivery of nutrients from underpasses to waters (both surface and groundwater) if tanks are not maintained (Figure 2). A detailed description of the surface and sub-surface drainage system network installed on the farm and its connectivity and impact on a second order stream is available in Clagnan et al (2019) and Ezzati et al (2020).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Dairy farm roadway surface materials as a P-source within the nutrient transfer continuum framework

Fenton

Rice

Murnane

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Internal farm roadways are connectors within agricultural landscapes, which act as sub-components of the nutrient transfer continuum (NTC). On dairy farms, roadway surface runoff dissolved and particulate phosphorus (P) sources stem from a combination of cow excreta deposited at locations that impede animal flow, soil deposited from cow hooves or machinery tyres, run-on from up-gradient fields, public roadways or farmyards and incidental spill of organic/inorganic fertilizers. The present study investigates the storage and potential release of P from the underlying roadway material (i.e. composite of soil and stone aggregates) as this source component is not considered in the NTC framework or documented in the literature. Herein, farm roadway materials were sampled (to 1 cm depth) at 17 locations avoiding fresh cow excreta. Multiple location types were selected e.g. straight roadway sections, roadway junctions, before and adjacent standoff areas associated with cattle underpasses, with all locations varying in distance from the farmyard. Roadway samples were analysed for phosphorus (P) and metals (Al, B, Ca, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, and Mn) content. Results showed that the soil component of roadway materials are significant P legacy sources and are in themselves a P-storage component that merits inclusion in the NTC framework. All sampled locations, when compared with fresh roadway stone aggregates or surrounding fields, had highly elevated P with plant available Morgans P > 8 mg L-1 (Index 4, ranging from 10 – 110 mg L-1). Sampling points within 100 m of the farmyard together with roadway junctions and underpasses beyond this distance had highest P concentrations. Critical source areas, where source, mobilisation and transport of P to waters coincided, formed at three locations. Possible mitigation measures are a) divert roadway runoff into fields using low-cost surface water breaks, b) disconnect cattle underpass tanks from receiving waters and c) change roadway infrastructure to improve cow flow and minimise source build-up. Future research should examine P loads in runoff from roadway sections across farm typologies and roadway material types.

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“…In terms of N, Fenton et al (2009) proposed a model where nitrate concentration and denitrification rate were correlated with soil and subsoil permeability. Therefore, in terms of water purification heavier textured soils offer more protection but some studies have shown nitrate conversion to ammonium or gaseous phases in both mineral and organic soils (Clagnan et al, 2019). In terms of P, fields with a high soil test P, or high amounts of legacy P pose a greater risk of P loss into a connected hydrological pathway compared to fields that are low or deficient in P (Kurz et al, 2005).…”

Section: Existing Off-roadway Management Options 241 Adjacent Fieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review of On-farm Roadway Runoff Characterisation and Potential Management Options for Ireland

Fenton

Tuohy

Daly

et al. 2021

Water Air Soil Pollut

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Runoff from farm roadways within farm boundaries are acknowledged as a year round source of pollutants discharging to surface water, particularly during the main grazing season (Feb-Nov) when their usage is high. These losses are considered to be a significant catchment scale pressure and have led to recent legislation in Ireland to prohibit direct runoff from farm roadways to waters with similar guidance in the UK and New Zealand. However roadway runoff (RR) remains an undocumented and understudied part of the transfer continuum where knowledge gaps remain in relation to its quantity and composition, and in relation to the impacts of RR management options on adjacent surface waters. Indeed some information on mitigation measure design and efficacy is only available from non-agriculture land uses e.g. forestry and needs to be presented in a farm specific context. The present review brings together knowledge on RR in terms of content on-or off-roadway management options and proposes alternative mitigation measures that may require pilot scale testing. Studies show that RR contains a mix of legacy (surface materials) and incidental (fresh urine and faeces) constituents such as phosphorus (P), Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and sediment which become temporarily mobilised during rainfall events. Once mobilised, the roadway network can quickly transport pollutants providing connectivity between farmyards, hard standings, underpasses where attached to a watercourse, fields and even public roadways to watercourses. Its contents are not dissimilar to dilute slurry or dairy soiled water with loads being highest where animals congregate (within 100 m of the farmyard or where roadway configuration or quality impedes stock movement along the network). On-roadway management options include regularly spaced diversion structures that divert runoff for passive treatment in a field or drainage ditch or the application of chemical amendments to roadway surfaces. Off-roadway options can include natural or enhanced features, which attenuate flow leading to settlement of suspended sediment and in some cases treatment of a percentage of the load before delivery to a watercourse. It should be noted that the options presented in this review need to be retrofitted to site specific conditions. Therefore, a number of factors, including their effectiveness, cost and management needs on a particular farm, as well as local regulation requirements will need to be considered prior to implementation. Therefore, only the measures that divert RR away from waters are applicable to Ireland. Future research should develop and validate a farm roadway risk assessment tool to identify vulnerable roadway sections that need management and/or re-design, and identify means of incorporating RR into catchment scale risk assessment models. In addition, design of on-and off-RR management options should consider the wide variations in farm configuration and management with regard to size, topography, soil type/drainage class, enterprise, intensity, scale, stage of d...

show abstract

An integrated assessment of nitrogen source, transformation and fate within an intensive dairy system to inform management change

Cited by 14 publications

References 45 publications

Influence of Leguminous Cover Crops on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a No-Till Tropical Fruit Orchard

Influence of Leguminous Cover Crops on Soil Chemical and Biological Properties in a No-Till Tropical Fruit Orchard

Dairy farm roadway surface materials as a P-source within the nutrient transfer continuum framework

A Review of On-farm Roadway Runoff Characterisation and Potential Management Options for Ireland

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