Nutrient BMP Evaluation Project: Preliminary Conclusions Manure Management Update 2013 Conference Lethbridge, AB January 14, 2013
Beneficial Management Practices How effective are they, what are the costs, and what social challenges exist?
Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Project Evaluate environmental effectiveness and producer costs of BMPs at the farm scale. Assess impacts of selected BMPs on water quality in specific reaches of the stream. Predict cumulative impacts of BMPs on overall WQ at the watershed outlet using models. Evaluate nutrient management BMPs for effective use of manure in crop production. Apply results to agricultural watersheds on a provincial basis.
Partner Support Producers in the Watersheds Alberta Crop Industry Development Fund Alberta Environment Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AESB) MD of Pincher Creek, Lacombe County Universities of Lethbridge, Alberta, Saskatchewan
BMP Study Design Project length was 6 years Two to three years pre-bmp monitoring Two to four years post-bmp monitoring
BMP Study Locations Two Watersheds: Indianfarm Creek (14,600 ha) -10 BMP sites Indianfarm Creek (14,600 ha) OLDMAN RESERVOIR PINCHER CREEK CREEK OLDMAN RIVER BROCKET FORT MACLEOD Whelp Creek (4,500 ha) -8 BMP sites PINCHER INDIAN FARM CREEK Whelp Creek (4500 ha) BATTLE RIVER PONOKA Two Additional BMP sites: Battersea Drain (65 ha) Lower Little Bow (130 ha) WHELP CREEK LACOMBE BLACKFALDS
Soil-test phosphorus at all nutrient management BMP sites 500 Soil-test P (mg kg -1 ) 400 300 200 Spring 2007 Fall 2007 Spring 2008 Fall 2008 Spring 2009 fall 2009 100 0 BDF LLB DMF SMF NMF EFD NFD SFD WFD Field Sites Indianfarm Creek Whelp Creek
BMP Site Evaluation Approach Pre versus Post-BMP evaluation by event type Upstream and Downstream evaluation where and when possible Non-parametric Mann-Whitney statistical test used at P < 0.10 All descriptive stats and BMP Phase tests performed using SAS version 9.1
Characteristics of Whelp Creek Parkland ecoregion Relatively flat Water slower moving Medium textured soils 61% annual, 25% hay, and 9% pasture Dairy and beef operations Total precip 446-mm Groundwater and surface water interactions Snowmelt runoff and dissolved nutrients dominant
Whelp Creek BMPs Nutrient management Manure/nutrient setbacks Improved grazing management WFD NFD EFD REF 2 NPS Restricted access and offstream watering Bioengineering SFD SPS REF 1
North Field Site (NFD) W N S E Dairy operation and 65 ha field bisected by drainage channel Northwest field constructed drainage channel crossing 311 313 Northeast field 4 management units: 2 annual (barley, corn silage, or wheat) and 2 in alfalfa Solid and liquid manure applied each fall to 2 or 3 of the units Southwest field 3 WQ monitoring stations, one edge-of-field and two in-stream 310 0 100 200 300 400 m Southeast field water monitoring station soil sampling point corral drainage manure pile 2007 to 2009 manure pile 2010 Due to lack of flow connectivity, edge-of-field and downstream stations used to assess site
NFD BMP Implementation Liquid manure injection 30-m (10-m for liquid injected) manure application setbacks Manure stockpile relocation Nutrient management plan based on fall soil samples and AFFIRM output Erosion control and field access road improvement
NFD Water Quality Average runoff water quality parameter concentrations measured at Station 310 at the North Field site in the pre-bmp and post- BMP phases. z TN ON NO 3 -N NH 3 -N TP TDP PP TSS E. coli EC Event n ---------------------------------- (mg L -1 ) ------------------------------ (mpn 100 ml -1 ) (µs cm -1 ) Pre-BMP y 33 Post-BMP 33 Snowmelt 8.74a 4.88a 3.28a 0.47 1.32a 1.14a 0.18a 8a 241 489a 4.83b 2.82b 1.68b 0.24 0.94b 0.90b 0.07b 4b 3 366b Rainfall Pre-BMP 21 7.37 5.25 1.04 0.96 1.67 1.38 0.29 17 25,954a 466b Post-BMP 39 3.69 3.38 0.14 0.18 1.21 1.08 0.13 7 4,101b 520a All events Pre-BMP 54 8.21a 5.02a 2.41 0.66a 1.46a 1.24a 0.22a 12a 11,491a 480 Post-BMP 72 4.20b 3.13b 0.85 0.21b 1.09b 1.00b 0.10b 6b 2,196b 451 z TN = total nitrogen, ON = organic nitrogen, NO 3 -N = nitrate nitrogen, NH 3 -N = ammonia nitrogen, TP = total phosphorus, TDP = total dissolved phosphorus, PP = particulate phosphorus, TSS = total suspended solids, E. coli = Escherichia coli, EC = electrical conductivity. y Average BMP phase concentrations per parameter followed by letters are significantly different at P < 0.10. = significantly lower in post-bmp phase = significantly higher in post-bmp phase *Significant TSS reduction at Station 311 after access road improvement
South Field Site (SFD) 65 ha field bisected by a branched drainage channel W N S E grass buffer setback 314 Annual cereal production 315 foliar fertilizer Liquid dairy manure applied and incorporated each spring along with inorganic fertilizer soil sample points barley broadcast fertilizer 3 WQ monitoring stations, two upstream and one downstream 316 Due to lack of flow connectivity downstream station used to assess site Italian rye grass and alfalfa 0 100 200 300 400 m foliar fertilizer
SFD BMP Implementation 30-m manure application setback along 190-m length of the drainage channel Nutrient management plan based on fall soil samples and AFFIRM output 30m wide grass buffer
SFD Water Quality Average water quality parameter concentrations during the pre-bmp and post-bmp phases during snowmelt at Station 314 of the South Field site. z TN ON NO 3 -N NH 3 -N TP TDP PP TSS E. coli EC Phase n ------------------------------------ (mg L -1 ) ---------------------------------- (mpn 100 ml -1 ) (µs cm -1 ) Snowmelt Pre-BMP y 35 4.19b 2.88b 0.67b 0.57a 1.80 1.62 0.18 17 49a 188b Post-BMP 40 11.3a 3.34a 7.43a 0.46b 2.26 1.75 0.51 160 24b 390a z TN = total nitrogen, ON = organic nitrogen, NO 3 -N = nitrate nitrogen, NH 3 -N = ammonia nitrogen, TP = total phosphorus, TDP = total dissolved phosphorus, PP = particulate phosphorus, TSS = total suspended solids, E. coli = Escherichia coli, EC = electrical conductivity. y Average BMP phase concentrations per parameter followed by letters are significantly different at P < 0.10. = significantly lower in post-bmp phase = significantly higher in post-bmp phase
Lower Little Bow Site (LLB) N 101 W E S Two irrigated quarter sections Silage corn, barley silage, canola Loam soils drainage area boundary (89 ha) Relatively heavy solid beef cattle manure applications Water monitoring station Pivot irrigation centre point Weather station Soil sampling points 0 200 400 metres Soil test P in excess of 200 mg kg -1 1 edge-of-field station
Battersea Drain Field (BDF) dugout N W E 203 202 204 One irrigated quarter section S irrigation pivot Potato, corn silage, canola, barley silage Sandy loam soil 206 201 205 dugout Temporary drainage ditch from south field Water monitoring station Pivot irrigation centre point Weather station Corner arm turned off 0 50 100 200 m Heavy solid beef cattle manure applications Soil test P: 300 to 500 mg kg -1 4 edge-of-field stations and 2 in-stream stations
BDF and LLB BMP Implementation BMPs implemented consist of: Cessation of manure (last application fall 2007) Modification of pivot irrigation system Irrigation management using AIMM Nutrient Management Plan Establishment of grassed waterway (LLB only)
LLB Pre vs Post Comparisons Average water quality parameter concentrations during the pre-bmp and post-bmp phases at the Lower Little Bow River Field site. z TN ON NO 3 -N NH 3 -N TP TDP PP TSS E. coli EC Phase n ------------------------------------ (mg L -1 ) ---------------------------------- (mpn 100 ml -1 ) (µs cm -1 ) Snowmelt Pre-BMP 0 n/a y Post-BMP 34 9.79 3.07 5.79 0.74 2.66 2.51 0.15 20 36 1871 Rainfall Pre-BMP x 15 14.07a 6.81a 6.33a 0.60a 3.81a 3.63a 0.18a 38b 1231a 4139 Post-BMP 44 6.67b 3.65b 2.54b 0.39b 1.80b 1.66b 0.14b 52a 445b 3426 Irrigation Pre-BMP 12 5.94a 5.03a 0.57a 0.17 2.67a 2.38a 0.28 43 4491 2953a Post-BMP 11 3.40b 2.70b 0.52b 0.13 1.99b 1.59b 0.40 243 2960 1713b Growing Season w Pre-BMP 27 10.5a 6.02a 3.77 0.41 3.30a 3.07a 0.22a 40b 2680a 3612 Post-BMP 55 6.01b 3.46b 2.14 0.34 1.84b 1.65b 0.19b 90a 948b 3083 z TN = total nitrogen, ON = organic nitrogen, NO 3 -N = nitrate nitrogen, NH 3 -N = ammonia nitrogen, TP = total phosphorus, TDP = total dissolved phosphorus, PP = particulate phosphorus, TSS = total suspended solids, E. coli = Escherichia coli, EC = electrical conductivity. x Average BMP phase concentrations per parameter followed by letters are significantly different at P < 0.10. w Growing season average concentrations include rainfall and irrigation runoff events. = significantly lower in post-bmp phase = significantly higher in post-bmp phase
BDF Pre vs Post Comparisons Pre- BMP and post-bmp phase comparison of average water quality parameters for three of the the edge-of-field monitoring stations at the Battersea Drain Field site. z TN ON NO 3 -N NH 3 -N TP TDP PP TSS E. coli y EC Phase ------------------------------------ (mg L -1 ) ------------------------------------ (mpn 100 ml -1 ) (µs cm -1 ) Station 204 growing season (n =30 pre,28 post) x Pre-BMP 6.89b 5.92 0.79b 0.13 5.02 4.77 0.25 34a 4562a 2519b Post-BMP 12.03a 5.36 6.42a 0.16 4.86 4.70 0.17 12b 483b 4690a Station 205 growing season (n = 31 pre,35 post) x Pre-BMP 6.87 4.19a 2.35 0.19 1.99 1.64 0.35a 106 2441a 1301 Post-BMP 6.69 2.41b 4.17 0.07 1.72 1.52 0.24b 112 1448b 1650 Station 206 rainfall (n = 10 pre,8 post) Pre-BMP 18.32a 16.27a 0.71 1.28a 13.48a 12.80a 0.68a 18 3490a 1219a Post-BMP 4.11b 3.25b 0.76 0.05b 5.23b 5.05b 0.18b 21 357b 564b z TN = total nitrogen, ON = organic nitrogen, NO 3 -N = nitrate nitrogen, NH 3 -N = ammonia nitrogen, TP = total phosphorus, TDP = total dissolved phosphorus, PP = particulate phosphorus, TSS = total suspended solids, E. coli = Escherichia coli, EC = electrical conductivity. y Average BMP phase concentrations per parameter followed by letters are significantly different at P < 0.10. x Growing season average concentrations include irrigation and rainfall runoff events. = significantly lower in post-bmp phase = significantly higher in post-bmp phase *In-stream WQ at this site was not responsive to the BMP changes
Some General Conclusions WQ improvements at some sites, not others High annual climatic variability resulted in a need for adjustment of approach (up and down) In-stream WQ less responsive to BMP change than field runoff Manure setbacks and injection led to improved snowmelt runoff WQ Access road improvement and maintenance important for minimizing sediment loss from fields in runoff Cessation of manure on high P fields resulted in significant reductions in nutrient and E. coli concentrations in rainfall and irrigation runoff
Thank you! Questions? For more info go to www.agric.gov.ab.ca