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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(2)

Loss of phosphorus and nitrogen in runoff and subsurface drainage from high and low input pastures grazed by sheep in southern Australia

A. R. Melland A D , M. R. Mc Caskill C , R. E. White B and D. F. Chapman B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Primary Industries, 1301 Hazeldean Rd, Ellinbank, Vic. 3821, Australia.

B Faculty of Land and Food Resources, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Department of Primary Industries, Private Bag 105, Hamilton, Vic. 3300, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: Alice.Melland@dpi.vic.gov.au

Australian Journal of Soil Research 46(2) 161-172 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR07084
Submitted: 8 June 2007  Accepted: 21 January 2008   Published: 18 March 2008

Abstract

High rates of fertiliser applied to boost pasture growth in the southern Australian sheep industry may lead to eutrophication of waterways and groundwater degradation. A field study was used to investigate whether higher fertiliser and stocking rates would increase nutrient loss in runoff and subsurface flow from pastures. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) concentrations in surface and subsurface flow were measured from 1998–2000 in four 0.5-ha hillslope plots. Surface flow volume was measured directly and subsurface water flux was estimated using soil moisture data and a water balance model. A simulated rainfall study was also conducted using 0.64-m2 plots. The treatments represented were: a low-P set-stocked sown pasture (SS low P), a high-P set-stocked sown pasture (SS high P), a high-P sown pasture in a 4-paddock rotation (RG 4-pdk), and an unsown set-stocked pasture (Low P volunteer).

No runoff from the hillslope occurred in 1999, while the volume of runoff in 1998 and 2000 varied from 0.1 to 68 mm/year across the 4 hillslope plots. More P was lost via surface runoff (up to 0.25 kg P/ha.year) than subsurface flow (up to 0.027 kg P/ha.year). However, N loads were greater in subsurface flows (3.2–10.6 kg N/ha.year) than surface runoff (0.04–2.74 kg N/ha.year). Phosphorus concentrations were higher in runoff from the high P treatments (0.34–0.83 mg P/L) than the set-stocked low P treatment (0.19–0.22 mg P/L). Higher TP concentrations in runoff from the high P treatments were associated with greater labile P contents in the soil, dung, and herbage. However, the volume of runoff, rather than the pasture treatment, was the primary determinant of nutrient loss. Avoiding high nutrient inputs in seasonally waterlogged areas, sowing perennial pastures, and minimising stock camping helps minimise P losses to waterways and N losses to groundwater.

Additional keywords: fertiliser, water quality, nutrient loads, soil fertility, hillslope hydrology.


Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Wool Program and the Nancy Millis Research Scholarship. We are grateful for the technical advice and assistance received from; the Inorganic Chemistry Unit, State Chemistry Laboratory, Werribee, Victoria; Jean Lamb, Dion Borg, Tim Plozza, and Reto Zollinger, DPI Hamilton, Victoria; David Halliwell and David Nash, DPI Ellinbank, Victoria; Brendan Christy, DPI Rutherglen; Andrew Smith, University of Melbourne; and Cyril Ciesiolka, DPI Toowoomba, Queensland. The authors are also grateful for the biometrics advice from Gavin Kearney and for comments on the manuscript from Karen Beauchemin and Anna Ridley.


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