Phosphorus fertilizer and grazing management effects on phosphorus in runoff from dairy pastures.
Fertilizer phosphorus (P) and grazing-related factors can influence runoff P concentrations from grazed pastures. To investigate these effects, we monitored the concentrations of P in surface runoff from grazed dairy pasture plots (50 x 25 m) treated with four fertilizer P rates (0, 20, 40, and 80 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)) for 3.5 yr at Camden, New South Wales. Total P concentrations in runoff were high (0.86-11.13 mg L(-1)) even from the control plot (average 1.94 mg L(-1)). Phosphorus fertilizer significantly (P < 0.001) increased runoff P concentrations (average runoff P concentrations from the P(20), P(40), and P(80) treatments were 2.78, 3.32, and 5.57 mg L(-1), respectively). However, the magnitude of the effect of P fertilizer varied between runoff events (P < 0.01). Further analysis revealed the combined effects on runoff P concentration of P rate, P rate x number of applications (P < 0.001), P rate x time since fertilizer (P < 0.001), dung P (P < 0.001), time since grazing (P < 0.05), and pasture biomass (P < 0.001). A conceptual model of the sources of P in runoff comprising three components is proposed to explain the mobilization of P in runoff and to identify strategies to reduce runoff P concentrations. Our data suggest that the principal strategy for minimizing runoff P concentrations from grazed dairy pastures should be the maintenance of soil P at or near the agronomic optimum by the use of appropriate rates of P fertilizer.
Dougherty
Warwick J
WJ
New South Wales Dep. of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 4, Richmond, NSW, Australia. warwick.dougherty@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Nicholls
Paul J
PJ
Milham
Paul J
PJ
Havilah
Euie J
EJ
Lawrie
Roy A
RA
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D011891:Rain; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014872:Water Movements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D005308:Fertilizers; D008372:Manure; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus