Impact of Late Winter Manure Spreading On Surface Water Runoff Quality
2008
- UW-Extension
Project Media
Four years (Nov. 03 – Oct. 07) of discharge and water-quality data were collected from three, adjacent, cropped basins on a private southwest WI farm. Field edge discharge through grassed waterways was monitored continuously and composite water samples for rainfall and snowmeltinduced runoff events were collected and analyzed for nutrients and sediment. Farm management was no-till corn or soybean on 4-6% slope silt loam soil with terraces and grassed waterways in place. For study purposes, livestock manure was applied at typical rates in either fall or late winter, just before snowmelt.