Modelling phosphorus exports from rain-fed and irrigated pastures in southern Australia
D. Nash A B C , L. Clemow A , M. Hannah A , K. Barlow A and P. Gangaiya AA Department of Primary Industries – Ellinbank, RMB 2460 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.
B eWater CRC, University of Canberra, GPO Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: David.Nash@dpi.vic.gov.au
Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(6) 745-755 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04119
Submitted: 4 August 2004 Accepted: 2 May 2005 Published: 22 September 2005
Abstract
Pasture-based grazing systems contribute to the excessive nutrients found in some streams in south-eastern Australia. This study investigated phosphorus (P) exported in runoff from a rain-fed dairy pasture (Darnum) and 4 bays of irrigated dairy pasture (MRF). Runoff was monitored for 7 years at Darnum and 2 years at the MRF to identify factors associated with the variation in total P (TP) concentrations between events.
The flow-weighted mean annual P concentrations in runoff varied between 3.3 and 28.2 mg TP/L for Darnum and 6.2 and 31.5 mg TP/L for the MRF. The relationships between TP concentrations in runoff and days between fertiliser application and runoff, days between grazing and runoff, and total storm flow were examined using an additive component model that explained 61% and 70% of the variation in log-transformed TP for Darnum and the MRF, respectively. The interval between application of fertiliser and runoff and the effect of year were highly significant and explained most of the variation in TP. Grazing and fertiliser application were identified as the major factors that may affect TP concentrations that the land manager can control (preventable). The estimates of year effect (i.e. the component of TP not explained by the other variables and over which the land manager had no apparent means of control) ranged from 1.60 mg (s.e. 1.99) to 7.14 mg (s.e. 1.90) TP/L in non-drought years (>45 kL/ha runoff annually). The year effect averaged 5.7 and 6.9 mg TP/L for Darnum and the MRF, respectively. It is shown that an additive component model provides a useful structure for investigating similar, field-scale data.
Additional keywords: phosphorus, exports, runoff, modelling, Australia, fertiliser.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the State Government of Victoria, GippsDairy, and Dairy Australia for their financial support of this research. We also thank the Soils and Water Team from Primary Industries Research Victoria, Ellinbank, the Macalister Research Farm Co-operative Ltd, and Stuart and Anne Tweddle on whose farms this work was undertaken.
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