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Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Organic Carbon in Streams Draining Two Grazed Catchments

Dep. of Soil Science, The Univ. of Adelaide, Glen Osmond S.A. 5064, Australia;
Australian Water Quality Centre, South Australian Water Corporation, Salisbury S.A. 5108, Australia.

^* Corresponding author.

ABSTRACT

High concentrations of N, P, and organic C in water cause problems such as excessive eutrophication in reservoirs and bacterial growth in distribution systems. The aim of this study was to measure the export of N, P, and organic C in streams draining two grazed catchments with no point sources in the Mt. Lofty Ranges, South Australia, during 1 yr. Retreat Valley catchment (1.3 km²) is grazed by sheep, has steep topography, and loam over clay soils. Lawless catchment (3.0 km²) is flatter, grazed by dairy cattle, and has sand over clay soils. Rainfall and specific runoff were similar. Annual exports were 924 kg suspended solids ha^–1, 9.0 kg N ha^–1, 1.0 kg P ha^–1, and 55 kg organic C ha^–1 from Retreat Valley; and 40 kg suspended solids ha^–1, 6.6 kg N ha^–1, 1.1 kg P ha^–1, and 66 kg organic C ha^–1 from Lawless. In Retreat Valley, 33% of the N, 86% of the P, and 65% of the organic C was in particulate forms resulting from erosion; and 45% of the N was nitrate. In Lawless, 82% of the N, 76% of the P, and 92% of the organic C was dissolved. Of the dissolved N, approximately 93% was organic. Concentrations of P in both streams, and dissolved organic C in Lawless, exceeded desirable limits. A combination of management options, including management of grazing and fertilizer application, soil amendment, and subsurface drainage, could lead to reductions in nutrient exports.

P.N. Nelson current address: Bureau of Sugar Exp. Stn., P.O. Box 117, Ayr, Qld. 4807, Australia;

(deceased)

Received for publication October 10, 1995.

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