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Chemical Water Quality of Runoff From Grazing Land in Nebraska: II. Contributing Factors¹

ABSTRACT

The chemical quality of runoff water from a 32.5-ha portion of a 40-ha cow-calf pasture area at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center, Nebr., was determined over a 3-year period. Precipitation and hydrologic characteristics, stocking rates, and sediment contents in the runoff were used to predict the average concentrations of eight chemical constituents in the water. Predicted concentrations of NH₄-N, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, and chemical oxygen demand were directly related to the density of grazing livestock. A combination of one or more hydrologic or rainfall factors significantly improved the prediction. Leachates from the standing plant material, surface litter layer, surface soil, and manure deposits indicated manure and standing plant material were likely sources of most chemical constituents in runoff water. Chloride appeared to be a possible indicator of wildlife or livestock activity.

Key Words: precipitation • livestock • wildlife • nonpoint source pollution • sediment • nutrients • regression analysis

¹ Contribution of USDA-ARS, in cooperation with the Nebraska Agric. Exp. Stn., University of Nebraska-Lincoln. J. Ser. Paper no. 6097.

² Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS; Research Technician, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Research Technologist, Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln; respectively.

Received for publication December 11, 1980.

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				R. K. Hubbard, G. L. Newton, and G. M. Hill Water quality and the grazing animal J Anim Sci, January 1, 2004; 82(13_suppl): E255 - 263. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]