Restricting the grazing time of cattle to decrease phosphorus, sediment and E. coli losses in overland flow from cropland
R. W. McDowell A B , J. J. Drewry A , R. W. Muirhead A and R. J. Paton AA AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Private Bag 50034, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: richard.mcdowell@agresearch.co.nz
Australian Journal of Soil Research 43(1) 61-66 https://doi.org/10.1071/SR04041
Submitted: 30 March 2004 Accepted: 22 October 2004 Published: 14 February 2005
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of grazing management of brassica crops during winter on soil physical properties and sediment, phosphorus (P), and E. coli loss via overland flow. Dairy cows were allowed either unrestricted grazing, grazing restricted to 3 h, or no grazing. Treading in the unrestricted treatment decreased soil bulk density and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), and increased surface roughness, loads and concentrations of suspended sediment, and E. coli and P loss in overland flow relative to the ungrazed treatment. Only bulk density was different in the restricted compared with the ungrazed treatment. For total P, the mean load in overland flow from the unrestricted grazing treatment after grazing was 3.31 mg/plot compared with restricted grazing (0.74 mg/plot) and ungrazed (0.76 mg/plot) treatments, with most of the increase in particulate form. E. coli concentrations only exceeded water quality guidelines in the first event after grazing, and only in the unrestricted grazing treatment. We found that restricting grazing on forage crops during winter was beneficial for minimising contaminant loss.
Additional keywords: treading, Escherichia coli, particulate P, grazing, pasture.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (contracts AGRX002 and C10X0017).
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