Annual and seasonal phosphorus export in surface runoff and tile drainage from agricultural fields with cold temperate climates

Esbroeck, Chris J. Van; Macrae, Merrin L.; Brunke, R.; McKague, Kevin

doi:10.1016/j.jglr.2015.12.014

Cited by 74 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…; Van Esbroeck et al. ). In the current study, tile discharge occurred on an average of 240 days per year, while surface runoff only occurred on an average of 41 days per year.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

Williams

King

Penn

2018

J American Water Resour Assoc

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In contrast to spatial inequality, there are currently no methods for leveraging information on temporal inequality to improve conservation efficacy. The objective of this study was to use Lorenz curves to quantify temporal inequality in surface runoff and tile drainage, identify controls on nutrient loading in these flowpaths, and develop design flows for structural conservation practices. Surface runoff (n = 94 site‐years) and tile drainage (n = 90 site‐years) were monitored on 40 fields in Ohio. Results showed, on average, 80% of nitrate‐nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus (P), and total P loads occurred between 7 and 12 days per year in surface runoff and between 32 and 58 days per year in tile drainage. Similar temporal inequality between discharge and load provided evidence that loading was transport‐limited and highlighted the critical role hydrologic connectivity plays in nutrient delivery from tile‐drained fields. Design flow criterion for sizing structural practices based on load reduction goals was developed by combining Lorenz curves and flow duration curves. Comparing temporal inequality between fields and the Maumee River, the largest tributary to the western Lake Erie Basin, revealed challenges associated with achieving watershed load reduction goals with field‐scale conservation. In‐field (i.e., improved nutrient and water management), edge‐of‐field (i.e., structural practices), and instream practices will all be required to meet nutrient reduction goals from tile‐drained watersheds.

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“…; Van Esbroeck et al. ). In the current study, tile discharge occurred on an average of 240 days per year, while surface runoff only occurred on an average of 41 days per year.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

Williams

King

Penn

2018

J American Water Resour Assoc

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“…Subsurface placement of nutrients also increases contact between fertilizer and soil, an important factor in nutrient retention (Glæsner et al, 2011b; Williams et al, 2018). In many fields within the Great Lakes Region (i.e., silt and clay loams in Ontario; Van Esbroeck et al, 2016), surface runoff is the primary pathway for dissolved P, and surface runoff and tile drains contribute equal quantities of total P in runoff. However, in heavier clays within the Great Lakes Region, tile drains have been found to be the major pathway (e.g., King et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In coastal regions, including the Gulf of Mexico, N is the primary limiting nutrient, and therefore agricultural N management is also important (Howarth et al, 2011). Although surface runoff is often assumed to be the primary pathway for P to leave agricultural fields, tile drains have been shown to play an important role in nutrient loss in artificially drained landscapes (King et al, 2015; Smith et al, 2015; Van Esbroeck et al, 2016). Similarly, N can be lost through tile drains, particularly as NO 3 − , due to its mobility (Drury et al, 2014; Nangia et al, 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

Nutrient Leaching in Soil Affected by Fertilizer Application and Frozen Ground

Grant

Macrae

Rezanezhad

et al. 2019

Vadose Zone Journal

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Core Ideas Preferential flow is prevalent in clay soil under both frozen and thawed conditions. Preferential flow dominates the infiltration regime under frozen soil conditions in silt loam. Subsurface placement of fertilizer can limit subsurface nutrient leaching. Subsurface placement is particularly effective in soil with abundant preferential flow. Subsurface placement is recommended for fall fertilizer application. Agricultural runoff containing P and N from drainage tiles contributes to nutrient loading in waterways, leading to downstream eutrophication. Recent studies suggest that nutrient losses through tile drains can be reduced if nutrients are applied in the subsurface. This study explored interactions between nutrient supply and infiltrating water during a simulated nongrowing season using a laboratory experiment to understand how water and nutrients move through partially frozen and unfrozen soil and if fertilizer placement influences NO3− and dissolved reactive P (DRP) leaching. Intact silt loam and clay soil monoliths (28 by 30 by 30 cm) were fertilized with P and N via subsurface placement or surface broadcast and subjected to simulated rainfall under unfrozen (10°C) and partially frozen (∼0°C) conditions. Conservative tracers (Br−, Cl−, and D2O) applied to characterize subsurface flow paths throughout a subset of events indicated that matrix flow dominated in unfrozen silt loam soil. However, preferential flow paths dominated in unfrozen clay and in both soil types under partially frozen conditions, transporting applied nutrients while minimizing contact with the soil matrix. The subsurface placement of inorganic fertilizer relative to surface broadcast reduced both NO3− (by 26.85 kg ha−1 [23%] in silt loam and 65.73 kg ha−1 [61%] in clay) and DRP losses (by 2.33 kg ha−1 [60%] in silt loam and 4.25 kg ha−1 [64%] in clay). This study demonstrates the advantage of subsurface placement of fertilizer in the reduction of nutrient leaching by limiting the interaction of the nutrient supply with preferential flow pathways.

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“…In general, no‐till is considered to increase the risk for P losses via subsurface drainage pipes, especially on fine‐textured, structured soils (King et al, 2015). On these types of soils, subsurface tile drains are significant water discharge pathways and thus conduits of P loss (Turtola and Paajanen, 1995; Simard et al, 2000; Smith et al, 2015b; Van Esbroeck et al, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Surface and Subsurface Phosphorus Discharge from a Clay Soil in a Nine‐Year Study Comparing No‐Till and Plowing

2018

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No‐till as a water protection measure is highly efficient in controlling erosion and particulate P (PP) loss but tends to increase dissolved reactive P (DRP) concentrations in runoff water. In a 9‐yr field study on a clay soil in Southwest Finland, the effects of no‐till and autumn plowing on surface runoff and subsurface drainage water quality were compared. The site had a 2% slope and was under spring cereal cropping, with approximately replacement fertilizer P rates. Vertical stratification of soil‐test P that had developed during a preceding 6‐yr grass ley was undone by plowing but continued to develop under no‐till. During the 9‐yr study period, no‐till soil had 27% lower cumulative total P losses than plowed soil (10.0 vs. 13.7 kg total P ha−1). Concentrations and losses of PP were clearly lower under no‐till than under plowing (5.6 vs. 12.3 kg PP ha−1), but DRP loss showed the opposite trend (4.3 vs. 1.4 kg DRP ha−1). There was an increasing trend in subsurface drainflow DRP concentration under no‐till, possibly because of development of a conductive pore structure from soil surface to drain depth. The potential benefit of no‐till in water protection depends on how much of the PP transported to water is transformed into a bioavailable form and used by aquatic organisms. The beneficial effect of no‐till in controlling P‐induced eutrophication at the study site would only be realized if the bioavailable share of PP exceeds 43%. Otherwise, no‐till would not be an efficient eutrophication control measure at this site. Core Ideas No‐till decreased total P losses by 27% compared with autumn plowing. No‐till produced 4.5‐fold higher DRP loss and 54% lower PP loss than plowing. When changes in DRP and PP are opposite, TP changes should be interpreted with caution. In this case, the effect on eutrophication largely depends on PP bioavailability. At the study site, increased DRP load is compensated if PP bioavailability is >43%.

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Annual and seasonal phosphorus export in surface runoff and tile drainage from agricultural fields with cold temperate climates

Cited by 74 publications

References 56 publications

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

Nutrient Leaching in Soil Affected by Fertilizer Application and Frozen Ground

Surface and Subsurface Phosphorus Discharge from a Clay Soil in a Nine‐Year Study Comparing No‐Till and Plowing

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