Drainage Water Management Phosphorus Loss from a Tile Drained Field in Northern New York. Justin Geibel, Eric Young, and Stephen Kramer

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1 Drainage Water Management Phosphorus Loss from a Tile Drained Field in Northern New York Justin Geibel, Eric Young, and Stephen Kramer

Tile Drainage Widespread use in US and NNY o Accessibility o Extends growing season o Reduces occurrences of water damage to crops o Less compaction Generally increases crop

2 Tile Drainage Widespread use in US and NNY o Accessibility o Extends growing season o Reduces occurrences of water damage to crops o Less compaction Generally increases crop yields Tile effluent can transport nutrients (eutrophication) o N - Limiting nutrient in salt water (Gulf of Mexico dead zone) o P - Limiting nutrient in fresh water (Lake Champlain)

3 Tile Drainage Lower water table Increase water infiltration Reduce surface runoff Tile drain effluent can contain elevated nitrate-n and P in some cases. Soil structure Mineral composition P saturation ph

4 Drainage Water Management (DWM) Water Control Structure (WCS) Intersects tile line Existing or new Allows control of outlet elevation Maintain free-drainage During growing season Reduce compaction Protect crops

Infiltration to groundwater Evapotranspiration Surface

5 Drainage Water Management (DWM) DWM Raises water table to controlled depth Drainage volumes decreased: Infiltration to groundwater Evapotranspiration Surface runoff (Simms et al. 1995) Maintains moisture during dry periods

6 Drainage Water Management (DWM) The literature: Proven to reduce Nitrogen loading by 18% 79% Evans et al. (1989) North Carolina Tan et al. (1998) Ontario Jaynes et al. (2012) Iowa Reductions based on volume not concentration Variable effect on N Increased de-nitrification Improved availability and plant uptake Neutral or slightly positive effect on crop yields (Skaggs et al. 2012) Implications for Phosphorus? Frequency and duration of soil flooding Anaerobic conditions Fe reduction P release

Drainage Water Management (DWM) Phosphorus Cycle Soil P associated with Fe, Al, Ca Acidic ph Fe & Al Alkaline ph - Ca Fe is redox sensitive Fe 3+ reduced to Fe 2+ P release/ leaching

7 Drainage Water Management (DWM) Phosphorus Cycle Soil P associated with Fe, Al, Ca Acidic ph Fe & Al Alkaline ph - Ca Fe is redox sensitive Fe 3+ reduced to Fe 2+ P release/ leaching Net effect on P and Fe solubility not well understood Can DWM induce Fe reduction and P leaching? Soil microbial reduction sequence: California Agriculture 57(2): April-June 2003.

8 Objectives Field trial: 1. Effects of DWM on; Subsurface drainage volume Total (TP) and soluble reactive P (SRP) concentrations/ export. Lab Experiments 1. P leaching and adsorption DWM (treatment) vs. Free-drainage (Control) 2. Redox; potential for Fe reduction and P release during holdback. 3. Develop recommendations for water table management (depth, duration, timing of holdback.)

9 Hypotheses 1. DWM will reduce annual drainage volumes compared to free-drainage 2. Peak and baseline flows reduced by DWM 3. DWM will influence dissolved oxygen concentrations and redox state of soil

10 Experimental Design: R-15 Treatment: 4 tiles 23 holdback w/ V- notch weir. Within 1 of soil surface Control: 4 tiles 3 holdback w/ V- notch wier. Manure App. Top-dress after cutting ~5,000 gal/ac

11 Methods: R-15 DWM Flow Curves Free-flow

12 mg TP/15min May Total P loading rate DWM vs Control (Free-flow) Free Drainage: g TP 1000 DWM: g TP = 48% reduction 500 0

13 mg TP/Day Nov. 18 Jan. 9 TP Loading mg/day DWM vs. Control Free Drainage: g TP DWM: g TP = 47% Reduction

14 Column Leaching 16 intact soil cores 45cm x 15cm DWM and free-drain simulated (8 Reps) Manure application (~ 10,000 gal/acre) 3 week holdback Measurements DO, ph, Fe 2+, SRP, TP

15 Total P (ug/l) Soluble Reactive P (ug/l) Dissolved Oxygen (mg/l) Column Leaching Holdback time (d) Holdback time (d) Holdback time (d)

16 Test Tube Redox Trial Ground and sieved (2mm) 10 g soil : 30ml DI in 50ml conical tube Capped and stored in dark/room temp. 4 depths x 3 reps 5 time-points Initial 4 wks Measurements: DO, ph, Fe 2+, SRP, TP

19 Results DWM reduced total effluent volume compared to free drainage o Concentrations mainly driven by flow DWM influenced redox state Top (organic layers) of soil most vulnerable to P leaching and redox changes

20 Discussion DO depletion and anaerobic respiration Fe reduction and leaching from soil P dissolution and leaching from soil Possible explanations Fe-P complexes not dominant in particular soil P dissolution then immediate re-adsorption

21 Conclusions Risk of P release from DWM in some soils o Low ph more Fe-P storage o High P saturation DWM depths must avoid flooding organic soil layers o Higher P content and solubility o Reduces quicker

22 Conclusions DWM can be an effective tool for reducing nutrient loss from tile drained agricultural fields o Requires intensive management plan and implementation from farmer o Gives farmers control over drainage intensity o Relatively inexpensive nutrient conservation technology Crop yields may help offset cost Need for continued research o Potential for P loss in different soil types, management practices o Water table management depths o Effect on crop yields

23 Questions? Thank You; New York NRCS, W.H. Miner Institute, UVM dept. Plant and Soil Science Don Ross, Laura Klaiber, Brian Drollette.

24 References Sanchez Valero, Caroline, Chandra a. Madramootoo, and Nicolas Stämpfli Water Table Management Impacts on Phosphorus Loads in Tile Drainage. Agricultural Water Management 89 (1-2) (April): Sharpley, Andrew N, Peter J a Kleinman, Philip Jordan, Lars Bergström, and Arthur L Allen Evaluating the Success of Phosphorus Management from Field to Watershed. Journal of Environmental Quality 38 (5): Sims, J T, R R Simard, and B C Joern Phosphorus Loss in Agricultural Drainage: Historical Perspective and Current Research. Skaggs, R.W., N. Fausey and R.O. Evans Research Introduction: Drainage Water Management Journal of Soil and Water Conservation 67 (6) (Nov-Dec): Smith, V H, G D Tilman, and J C Nekola Eutrophication: Impacts of Excess Nutrient Inputs on Freshwater, Marine, and Terrestrial Ecosystems. Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987) 100 (1-3) (January): Tarkalson, David Dale, and April B. Leytem Phosphorus Mobility in Soil Columns Treated With Dairy Manures and Commercial Fertilizer. Soil Science 174 (2) (February): Villapando, R.R, and D.a Graetz Water Table Effects on Phosphorus Reactivity and Mobility in a Dairy Manure-impacted Spodosol. Ecological Engineering 18 (1) (October):

25 9/30/ /7/ /14/ /17/ /4/ /6/ /15/ /18/ /29/2011 3/3/2012 3/8/2012 3/10/2012 3/18/2012 3/21/2012 3/26/2012 4/13/2012 4/25/2012 4/27/ /7/ /25/ /30/ /3/ /6/ /11/ /18/ /21/2012 1/10/2013 1/13/2013 3/11/2013 3/13/2013 3/27/2013 mg TP Discrete Sampling Data Total P Loading Rate (mg) DWM vs. Control Date

26 Column Leaching

27 mg SRP Discrete Sampling Data SRP Loading Rate (mg) DWM vs. Control Date

Assessing Phosphorus Export in Tile Drainage from Farms with different Tillage Practices across Ontario: Challenges

Assessing Phosphorus Export in Tile Drainage from Farms with different Tillage Practices across Ontario: Challenges Macrae 1, M.L., Brunke 2, R., English 3, M.C., Lam 1, V., McKague 4, K., O Halloran 5,