Influence of Slope Position and Hog Manure Injection on Fall Soil P and N Distribution in an Undulating Landscape

Abstract

Investigation of how soil nutrients are distributed over the landscape in the fall is a prerequisite to identify critical source areas (CSA), which contribute soil nutrients to surface waters through snowmelt runoff. The objectives of this study are to investigate: (1) the distribution of soil nutrients in the landscape before soil freeze-up, and (2) how manure application in the fall affects this distribution. The study site, located in an undulating landscape in the Canadian prairies, is a closed drainage basin with moderate to fine textured soil. The basin received hog manure in fall 2001 and fall 2003. The landscape was classified into the shoulder, backslope, and footslope using a digital elevation model (DEM). Soil samples, collected from each landform segment in fall 2003 and fall 2004, were analyzed for available soil phosphorus (ASP), nitrate (NO 3 −) and ammonium (NH 4 +). In the undulating landscape, ASP levels had a distribution pattern of backslope < shoulder < footslope in fall 2003. The NO 3 − levels increased from the shoulder to the footslope. The NH 4 + levels did not vary between the shoulder and the backslope, while the footslope had significantly higher NH 4 + than the other two landform segments. Manure application appeared to change these distribution patterns of ASP, NO 3 − , and NH 4 + temporally. However, one year after manure application, the manure effect was only seen for ASP. The soil moisture level at the footslope was significantly different from that of the other landform segments in fall 2004. The shoulder and backslope were homogeneous in terms of soil moisture for both fall seasons.

Reproducing CO2 exchange rates of a crop rotation at contrasting terrain positions using two different modelling approaches

“…For the sites under investigation, the terrain position has a significant effect on crop growth (Hoffmann et al, 2015a), which is mostly due to differences in water supply at the slope and in the syncline, the latter collecting water from subsurface flow and runoff from the circumjacent slopes and exhibiting shallower groundwater table (Hook and Burke, 2000;Manning et al, 2001;Priyashantha et al, 2007). Only in cases of excess rainfall, the water supply in the depression can produce adverse growth conditions due to O 2 deficiency in the root zone (Grant, 2004).…”

Simulating regional winter wheat yields using input data of different spatial resolution

“…Whilst loam soils with a high storage capacity for plantavailable water may maintain sufficient water supplies to the crop during shorter periods of drought, sand and clay soils may not. Hill tops dry out more quickly as soil water descends towards depressions, where it provides extra moisture to a thirsty crop or -in case of excessive water supply -drowns it (Manning et al, 2001;Priyashantha et al, 2007). The differentiation of crop growth by relief is even visible at the field scale.…”

Relationship between Manure Management Application Practices and Phosphorus and Nitrogen Export in Snowmelt Run-off Water from a Black Chernozem Saskatchewan Soil

“…Even less information exists regarding multi-year animal manure applications at different rates and the effect of different application methods. Priyashantha et al (2007) investigated the movement of P and N over a Saskatchewan landscape in snowmelt runoff in an enclosed 0.8 ha basin receiving hog manure in two fall applied applications. Soil core samples were obtained and air dried and sieved to < 2.0 mm, thus samples were disturbed before being analyzed.…”