Non-Point Pollution Control for Rangeland Wintering Livestock Operations (Ground Cover)

摘要

An investigation was made of stream-side cattle winter holding areas as potential sources of non-point-water pollution. Mass balance calculations were made for each of various measured constituents, based on irrigation inflow, runoff, and constituent concentrations. The results of these calculations quantify the pollutant loss from land wintering cattle. An analysis of variance showed no significant difference between the ground cover (hay crop) treatment means for any constituent. There was, however, a trend toward better pollutant retention with alfalfa and fescue mixture. Other grasses used with alfalfa were brome and orchard grass. The test plots were irrigated twice each year. The effect of the first versus the second irrigation was also analyzed, but no significant difference in pollutant retention was noted. Stream water samples were analyzed for ammonia, nitrate, total nitrogen and phosphorus, orthophosphate, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and chloride.