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Surface Runoff Water Quality Comparisons Between Unimproved Pasture and Woodland¹

ABSTRACT

The influence of pasturing on surface runoff water quality was studied on a 26-ha, unimproved pasture watershed in eastcentral Ohio. Data were collected for 2 y with no cattle in the pasture and for 3 y with summer grazing by a 17-cow beef cattle herd. Because of springs and seep areas in the pasture, a small stream (accessible to the cattle) in the watershed flowed permanently. Samples of storm runoff were collected with a rotating vane sampler. The concentrations of most of the measured chemical parameters (NO₃-N, mineral N, organic N, total P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, Cl, HCO₃, total organic C, salts) in the storm discharge water were low and changed very little as a result of grazing. The weighted annual NO₃-N concentrations for the ungrazed period and grazed period were 0.5 and 0.7 mg/L, respectively, and the highest event concentrations were 1.2 and 3.8 mg/L, respectively.

A 17.7-ha, wooded watershed that contained no pastured areas and received no agricultural chemical inputs, had concentrations of chemical parameters in surface discharge that were greater than or equal to those from the unimproved pasture during the grazing period.

Nutrient transport during storm runoff from the unimproved pasture was greater during the 3-y period with summer grazing than during the 2-y, ungrazed period. This largely resulted from increased precipitation and subsequent increased surface runoff during the 3-y period. The transport levels from the pasture during the 3-y period were similar to or less than the transport levels from the wooded watershed during the same period. The increase in sediment transport from the pastured area was more than could be attributed solely to the increased surface runoff.

Key Words: water pollution • nutrient concentration • nutrient transport • nonpoint source pollution • sediment transport

¹ Contribution from the USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed, Coshocton, OH 43812 in cooperation with the Ohio Agric. Res. & Dev. Ctr., The Ohio State Univ., Wooster, OH 44691. Research supported in part by the Office of Res. & Dev., USEPA, Grant R-804631. The EPA does not necessarily endorse any commercial products used in the study, and the conclusions herein represent the views of the authors and not necessarily the opinions, policies, or recommendations of the USEPA.

² Soil Scientists, USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed, Coshocton, Ohio; and Professor of Agronomy, Ohio Agric. Res. & Dev. Ctr., The Ohio State Univ., Wooster.

Received for publication December 18, 1982.