Swine Lagoon Effluent Applied to ‘Coastal’ Bermudagrass: II. Effects on Soil
1985
King, Larry D. | Westerman, P. W. | Cummings, G. A. | Overcash, M. R. | Burns, J. C.
Effluent from animal waste lagoons can degrade water quality if allowed to discharge into surface waters. To determine the feasibility of using swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) lagoon effluent as a source of water and nutrients for crop production, effluent was applied via sprinkler irrigation to ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] on Norfolk and Wagram soils (Paleudults) at rates to supply 335, 670, and 1340 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for 6 yr. Soil nitrate concentrations to a depth of 300 cm showed significant differences in the order high > medium = low rate. At the high rate, 56% of the applied N could not be accounted for by crop removal or increased N content of the soil to a depth of 210 cm. Evidence of P movement to a depth of 60 cm was obtained. Calcium and Mg concentrations in the topsoil were reduced due to relatively high rates of application of Na⁺, K⁺, and NH₄⁺. Soil pH was correspondingly reduced. Soil nitrate data suggest that groundwater pollution by nitrate would result from the high rate and possibly from the medium rate.
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