Water Quality, Manure and Nutrient Management for Certified Livestock Manager Training Rick Wilson, Ohio EPA July 10, 2008

Mandate to Restore Polluted Waters FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT [As Amended Through P.L. 107–303, November 27, 2002] SEC (a) The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.

Ohio EPA monitors water quality in Ohio and reports its findings. Since the early 1970s, Ohio EPA has measured the quality of Ohio’s water resources and worked with industries, local governments, and citizens to restore the quality of substandard waters. The Integrated Report is required by the federal Clean Water Act to fulfill two purposes: (1) to provide a summary of the status of the state's surface waters (2) to develop a list of waters that do not meet established goals—the "impaired waters.“ The 303(d) list Under the Clean Water Act, once impaired waters are identified the state must take action to improve them. This includes developing restoration plans (total maximum daily loads (TMDLs), water quality based permits, and prioritizing funding nonpoint pollution control measures.

Leading Causes of Impairment 2008 Integrated Report For watersheds, most impairments are related to modification of the landscape. These types of impairments have the most impact on smaller streams. Nearly all impaired watershed units (202 of 209) had at least one of these causes contributing to impairment and 65% (136 of 209) had three or more of the top five causes listed.

What’s Causing the Problems? Most aquatic life impairment is caused by land disturbances related to agriculture activities and urban development.

Large Rivers – 38% Small Waters – 49% Hydromodification Examples: agricultural drainage systems, channelization

Large Rivers – 19% Small Waters – 64% Silt & Sediment Examples: construction activities, tillage, andloss of riparian corridor and flood plains

Habitat Alteration Large Rivers – 44% Small Waters – 62% Examples: low-head dams, removal of riparian trees

Nutrients Large Rivers – 38% Small Waters – 61% Laundry list here, Agricultural runoff (dominant land use in Ohio)

Organic Enrichment & D.O. Large Rivers – 44% Small Waters – 54% Examples: Domestic sewage and livestock manure discharges

Gross Nutrient Enrichment Stillwater River Time D.O. mg/l 9/12–14/05

Habitat Destruction and Nutrient Enrichment Effects on Stream Fish Community Healthy Fishery Degraded Fishery

Good Habitat (Shading, Better Nutrient Processing, More Living Places)

Poor Habitat (Full Sunlight, Boom and Bust Production, Fewer Living Spaces)

Historic Range of Smallmouth Bass Trautman’s Fishes of Ohio

Viable Smallmouth Bass Fisheries

Buffers and Habitat Quality Nothing here to filter pollution Bank erosion

Managing the Landscape to Manage Nutrient Loads Streams need wide buffers –provide shading cooler temperature limit algae growth –filter pollutants allow sediment to drop out vegetation take up nutrients accidents do happen, need margin of safety Good Physical Habitat –increase processing of nutrients –where drainage needed, consider natural channel design Wetlands or Riparian for Tile Drainage –tiles by-pass riparian zone

Average Phosphorus Concentrations Around Ohio Little or No Data Background Normal Enriched Polluted

Nutrient Guidelines for Ecosystem Protection. Nutrient Water Quality Standards are currently under development. For Ohio: Total Phosphorus (mg/L)Total Nitrogen (mg/L) WWHEWHWWHEWH Headwaters Wadable Small Rivers Large Rivers

BMPs and the Permits that Require them to be Implemented Setbacks! Tile Outlet checks! Evaluate field for Soil Cracks! Site specific areas of concern (concentrated flow paths) Agronomic Utilization! (Keep Soil test P levels from skyrocketing) Forecast! Record keeping!

Evaluate and Determine Proper Setbacks

Know where your land application field drains, and monitor there.

Evaluate Field for Cracks

Surface drains are conduits to waters of the State.

Forecast-London OH (Hourly Weather Graph)

Lake Erie-Western Basin Research from Heidelberg College (Baker et al) Past 33 years of data from Ohio Tributary Loading program has shown dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) loading decreased 65% through mid 1990s. Since then, DRP loads have increased rapidly and in 2007 reached historic highs. The high bioavailability of DRP make it a prime suspect in the recurrence of harmful algal blooms within Lake Erie. Excessive phosphorus loading identified as cause for increases in Blue-green algae (Microcystis). Photo by: Thomas Bridgeman, University of Toledo

Lake Erie-Western Basin Research from Heidelberg College (Baker et al) The increases in DRP loading are derived from cropland and are linked to changing fertilizer management associated with conservation tillage and to stratification in the soil column. Storm water from cropland runoff entering southern shores of Lake Erie contain high concentrations of dissolved nutrients, including DRP and Nitrate. As sediments settle out of the water column, these nutrients are available to support algal growth Photo by: Thomas Bridgeman, University of Toledo

Dr. David Baker-Heidelberg College National Center For Water Quality Research Current farming methods that contribute to excessive dissolved phosphorus runoff include: 1. Phosphorus accumulation in the surface layers of soil, in the absence of tillage that inverts the soil. 2. Fall and winter surface applications of fertilizer and manure without incorporation. 3. Maintenance rather than draw-down applications of phosphorus fertilizers, where justified by soil tests.

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003) Broadcast manure concentrates soluble P at the soil surface where it is readily available to runoff into water (Sharpley et al., 1984) Of existing manure application methods, broadcasting generally results in the greatest potential for soluble P losses in runoff (Zhao et al., 2001) How does Manure Management fit into this Discussion?

Rain or snow melt Surface Runoff Particulate phosphorus associated with eroded soil particles. Dissolved phosphorus picked up from soil solution. Infiltration and percolation Tile flow with nitrate Zone of runoff interaction cm. How does phosphorus move from fields to streams? Under conservation tillage phosphorus accumulates at the soil surface. From Heidelberg College, NCWQR- Baker et al.

Detroit River 24.3 km 3 water 287 mtons TP 15x more water Maumee River 1.56 km 3 water 587 mtons TP 2x more phosphorus Baker et al, 2007

Western and Central Basins---Lake Erie Satellite Image, April 2, 2008 Sagady & Associates, East Lansing, MI.

Agricultural Phosphorus and Eutrophication, Second Edition A.N. Sharpley, T. Daniel, T. Sims, J. Lemunyon, R. Stevens, and R. Parry United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, ARS–149, September 2003

Jerry Cunningham, CCA, Country Spring Farmers Co-op.

Incorporated manure …

Injected manure Soil saturation checked and recorded? Rate based in consideration of all variables. Remember manure application in these conditions, is still not considered a good practice. It’s marginal at best with regard to true nutrient utilization.

Evaluate each field for site specific issues (e.g. concentrated flow paths)

Thaw Hydrograph Feb 22-March 3, 2007

UT Tributary to Cessna Rd 90 March 1, 2007, 15:38 hrs. February 26, 2007, 12:25 hrs 3 days earlier

Downstream land where separated sand solids from Dairy Manure were land applied onto frozen /snow covered land Parameters (mg/L)  Location BOD5 (mg/L) Susp.solids (mg/L) NH3-N (mg/L) NO3+NO2 (mg/L) Total P (mg/L) UT Cessna Creek on Rd. 90 (Downstream from manure app location) ( ) UT Cessna Creek on Rd. 90 (Downstream from manure app location) ( ) March 1, 2007, 15:38 hrs. February 26, 2007, 12:25 hrs

Poultry Manure Runoff Associated with Thaw

Measurement of Water extractable dissolved phosphorus concentration from composted layer poultry manure 1.00 grams (appx ¼ teaspoon) Added to 1.00 liter nanopure (H2O)--stirred continuously for 24 hours. Samples drawn and filtered at intervals of 30 sec, 1 min, 10 min, 30 min, 60 min and 24 hours. Samples immediately analyzed for Dissolved P concentration

Composted Poultry Manure Water Extraction--Dissolved-P test results minmg/L

What does this show? Manure Phosphorus can readily dissolve and move with water. Concentration dissolved P is dependant on exposure time, but the majority goes into solution early on in the period of water interaction. Can we compare this experiment to application events in the field? NO!!!!! Maybe?

Why not try? …or let’s Imagine… 1.00 liter of water = 0.42 in. water on 1.0 sq.ft. Now consider that 1.0 gram of manure per sq. ft. interacting with 0.42 inches of water over a selected period of time. (Remember rainfall intensity and duration of water interaction with manure affects concentration) With a little bit of conversion and ciphering we can convert tons/acre into grams/square foot. So if 3.0 dry tons (600 lbs) manure is surface applied per acre how does that compare…if at all. 3.0 tons/acre = 62 grams/sq.foot

Comparisons Schmumbarrisons What’s this supposed to mean Rick? Manure Phosphorus exposed to prolonged or intense rainfall, melt water, or placed in areas of concentrated flow can become soluble and be lost to waters of the State during runoff events. Experiment shows how quickly compost pountry manure P can be put into soluble form. Absent - deep incorporation (more and more rare); or -quick plant uptake (non-existent in winter or absent cover crops planted in fall); or - complete infiltration into soil (which isn’t always the case) We are bound to see a significant portion of manure P lost during runoff from land where manure is applied in Fall and winter

Thaw event BOD5 (mg/L)SuspSolids (mg/L) Total P (mg/L)NH4 (mg/L) Dairy Manured- Stream (117X) 1120 (25X) 6.37 (24X) 41.6 (49X) Control (1 mile away)

Ohio EPA Updates 2008 Integrated report OhioIntegratedReport_draft.html Water Quality Trading Program –Rules in effect 1/1/07 – Ohio Lake Erie Phosphorus Task Force –Evaluating increasing soluble phosphorus loadings into Lake Erie – orkgroup.htmlhttp:// orkgroup.html TMDLs – What is occurring in your watershed? – Water Quality Monitoring Schedule –Portage River, Licking River, Great Miami River (upper)

For Questions or More Info Call: (614) (614) (614) (614) Information on Ohio EPA Water Quality Information:

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003)  Due to the high concentration of soluble P in manure, much of the increase in runoff TP concentrations from manure-amended soils was related to soluble P losses, as evidenced by the contribution of DRP to runoff TP concentrations. In runoff from soils broadcast with manure, DRP concentrations ranged from 30-93% of TP concentrations, with the contribution of DRP to TP increasing with application rate.

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003)  As dry matter application rate increased, DRP became a larger component of runoff TP, probably as a result of greater availability of soluble P in runoff water. In fact, the relationship between manure application rate and DRP to TP ratio is fairly consistent across all manures when normalized on the basis of dry matter application rate.  In contrast to treatments in which manure was broadcast on soils, runoff DRP concentrations from unamended, control treatments ranged from 4-29% of TP

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003)  Trends with successive Rain Events Results confirm the importance of timing and sequence of runoff event relative to manure application on runoff P concentrations, as illustrated by DRP, TP, and SS concentration in runoff from Buchanan soil broadcast with 100 kg TP/ha Results confirm the importance of timing and sequence of runoff event relative to manure application on runoff P concentrations, as illustrated by DRP, TP, and SS concentration in runoff from Buchanan soil broadcast with 100 kg TP/ha Runoff water may remove sufficient quantities of P from the soil surface such that less P is available to runoff over time. Runoff water may remove sufficient quantities of P from the soil surface such that less P is available to runoff over time. McDowell and Sharpley (2002, 2003) found that eroded sediments are generally enriched with P relative to other solids at the soil surface, and are a key source of P in runoff from soils receiving recent applications of manure McDowell and Sharpley (2002, 2003) found that eroded sediments are generally enriched with P relative to other solids at the soil surface, and are a key source of P in runoff from soils receiving recent applications of manure

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003)  Trends with successive Rain Events (cont.) Another mechanism controlling P availability to runoff over time is the sorption of applied soluble P by intact soil. Specifically, with each rainfall event, infiltrating rain water translocates soluble P from the broadcast manure into the soil. Soluble P in infiltrating rain water is subject to sorption by soil colloids that, due to the hysteresis of sorption-desorption reactions, effectively lower P in the soil solution and hence P availability to runoff water Another mechanism controlling P availability to runoff over time is the sorption of applied soluble P by intact soil. Specifically, with each rainfall event, infiltrating rain water translocates soluble P from the broadcast manure into the soil. Soluble P in infiltrating rain water is subject to sorption by soil colloids that, due to the hysteresis of sorption-desorption reactions, effectively lower P in the soil solution and hence P availability to runoff water

Effect of Broadcast Manure on Runoff Phosphorus Concentrations over Successive Rainfall Events Peter J.A. Kleinman and Andrew N. Sharpley (JEQ-2003)  Implication to Phosphorus Site Assessment Indices Finally, findings of this study suggest that differential erosion of broadcast manure can be an important contributor to the variation in runoff TP concentrations among soils. In many areas, manure is broadcast onto no-till and grassed soils that have low erosion rates. While soil erosion is included as a transport factor in all site assessment indices, it is possible that erosion of applied manure is not adequately represented. Finally, findings of this study suggest that differential erosion of broadcast manure can be an important contributor to the variation in runoff TP concentrations among soils. In many areas, manure is broadcast onto no-till and grassed soils that have low erosion rates. While soil erosion is included as a transport factor in all site assessment indices, it is possible that erosion of applied manure is not adequately represented.