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Peak Nitrate-Nitrogen Values in Surface Runoff from Fertilized Pastures¹

ABSTRACT

Pastured watersheds on hill slopes in eastern Ohio were fertilized with ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃) at two different levels for 5 years. The pastures were rotationally grazed during either the growing season (May–October) or the dormant season (November–April). Nitrate-N concentrations were measured in surface runoff events > 0.1 mm from nine watersheds. During the 5-year period, there were 890 runoff events. Sixty-four of these events (7%) had NO₃^–-N concentrations > 10 mg/L, and 48 of the 64 events occurred within a 30-d period following fertilizer application. Ten events, < 2% of all of the runoff events, exceeded 30 mg/L NO₃^–-N, and all of these were within 17 d of fertilization. Although all surface runoff events which closely followed fertilizer applications did not have high NO₃^–-N concentrations, all surface runoff with high NO₃^–-N was shortly preceded with a fertilizer application. The closeness of the high NO₃^–-N concentration and fertilizations suggested that fertilizer was the major contributor to high NO₃^–-N in runoff as opposed to animal waste.

Key Words: water pollution • nonpoint-source pollution • water quality • nitrogen concentration • storm runoff concentration

¹ Contribution from the USDA-ARS, North Appalachian Exp. Watershed, Coshocton, OH 43812 in cooperation with The Ohio State Univ., Agric. Res. & Dev. Center, Wooster, OH 44691. Research supported in part by the Office of Res. & Dev., USEPA, GrantR-804631. The USEPA 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; and Professor of Agronomy, Ohio Agric. Res. & Dev. Center, The Ohio State Univ.

Received for publication July 18, 1983.