22.01.2014 Views

Download as a PDF - CiteSeerX

Download as a PDF - CiteSeerX

Download as a PDF - CiteSeerX

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

techniques can significantly reduce soil erosion on sandy soils (Quinton and Catt,<br />

2004). Unpublished data by the same authors h<strong>as</strong> indicated that it can also reduce<br />

losses of total P. We will trial minimum tillage (at Loddington and Rosemaund) and<br />

across slope cultivation (at Loddington) to determine the effects on P losses.<br />

Tramline Management<br />

Tramlines are a key conduit for the transfer of sediment and P at the field scale<br />

and previous work (DEFRA project number PE0111 – ADAS, 2003) h<strong>as</strong> shown that<br />

concentrations of total P in run-off from fields with no tramlines were half of those with<br />

tramlines. However, tramlines are an important component of modern agriculture so<br />

methods (e.g. tramline disruption and vegetative techniques) to reduce run-off on<br />

tramlines will be investigated. .<br />

Cover Crops<br />

The use of cover crops is recommended in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs) but there<br />

is little data available to demonstrate whether they are suitable for reducing P loses.<br />

Cover crops rely on establishing rapid canopy cover to prevent raindrop impact and<br />

reduce the velocity of surface run-off therefore reducing P losses in sediment. Crops<br />

to be investigated in this project include wheat and barley.<br />

Crop Residue Management<br />

Widely used in the United States to control soil erosion, crop residue management<br />

involves the use of residues of the previous year’s crops to protect the soil surface<br />

and maintain an open soil structure so water can infiltrate. This will potentially be a<br />

key technique to use on the weakly structured soils.<br />

Vegetative Barriers<br />

Long slopes were identified <strong>as</strong> important for the transport of P in a previous<br />

investigation (ADAS, 2003). In this project we will reduce slope length will be reduced<br />

by introducing live vegetative barriers across slopes in the form of beetle banks.<br />

These are already funded under the Environmental Stewardship scheme to enhance<br />

biodiversity and introduce natural predators.<br />

Laboratory Analysis<br />

The run-off samples collected will be analysed for total P and total P < 0.45 mm using<br />

acid molybdate/antinomy with <strong>as</strong>corbic acid reduction (Department of Environment,<br />

1992; USEPA, 1985) and determined spectrophotometrically (880 nm) using a Seal<br />

Analytical AQ2 analyser. Total nitrogen will be determined using high temperature<br />

catalytic oxidation and chemoluminescence. Total suspended solids in the run-off<br />

samples will be determined using a standard filtration and drying technique (Bartram<br />

and Balance, 1996).<br />

DISCUSSION<br />

This project will allow the development and testing of recommendations for mitigating<br />

P losses with consideration of pollution swapping. Me<strong>as</strong>ures taken to reduce the<br />

losses of one pollutant to the environment can cause other pollutants to incre<strong>as</strong>e.<br />

This project is primarily looking at the impact of the selected mitigation option on<br />

246

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!