Phosphorus and nitrogen loading depths in fluvial sediments following manure spill simulations

Armstrong, Shalamar; Smith, Douglas; Owens, Phillip; Joern, Brad; Leytem, April; Huang, Ji; Adeola, Olayiwola

Phosphorus and nitrogen loading depths in fluvial sediments following manure spill simulations

2011

The depth of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading in fluvial sediments following a manure spill has not been documented. Thus, the objectives of this study were: (i) to determine the depth of N and P enrichment as a result of a manure spill under base flow conditions using fluvarium techniques and (ii) to evaluate the impact of sediment particle size distribution on N and P enrichment depths. Manure spills were simulated using stream simulators and ditch sediments collected from agricultural drainage ditches. During the manure spill simulation, the P sorption capacity of all sediments exponentially decreased with time and the NH4-N sorption capacity remained constant with time. The P and NH4-N loading in all sediments were observed to the depth of 2 cm, but were most concentrated in the 0- to 1-cm depth ranging in concentrations from 3 to 12 mg P kg−1 and from 7.2 to 45 mg NH4-N kg−1. Data from this study give a basis for the advancement of manure spill remediation that will reduce the impairment of surface waters via the release of nutrients from enriched sediments following a manure spill.

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