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SOIL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHINIQUES

SOIL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHINIQUES. Ramesh Kanwar Professor and Chair, Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa USA. Objectives of Soil and Water Monitoring.

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SOIL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHINIQUES

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  1. SOIL AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING TECHINIQUES Ramesh Kanwar Professor and Chair, Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering Department Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa USA

  2. Objectives of Soil and Water Monitoring • To determine the impact of any activity on the landscape (agriculture, chemicals, manure use, industry, human or industry waste etc) on surface or groundwater quality • To make sure our drinking water supplies are safe for human consumption.

  3. World Water Supply 2.8% Fresh 0.307% in Ground Water < 0.5mi deep 0.01% in surface waters & the atmosphere 0.307% in Ground Water > 0.5mi deep 0.005% soil moisture 97.2% Saline 2.15% Icecaps & Glaciers

  4. Water Quality Issues Related to Human Health • Main compounds are - N, P, pathogens, and antibiotics • Surface and groundwater pollution potential • High NO3-N levels can cause blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) • High NO3-N can lead to etiology of stomach cancer (only limited evidence available) • Bacteria and pathogens can be disease causing • Antibiotics as feed supplements are finding ways to water

  5. WATER QUALITY CONCERNS FROM ANIMAL WASTES • Main concern is infant health • Nitrate/nitrite causes “blue baby” disease • Newborn babies essentially suffocate • Water Quality Standard for Nitrate-nitrogen is 10 mg/l • SURFACE WATER WATER BODIES: • Ammonia > 2 mg/L Kills Fish • Phosphate > 0.05 mg/L promotes excess algae growth which leads to Fish Kills - Eutophication • BOD depletes oxygen which causes Fish Kills - Hypoxia

  6. Agricultural Contribution: World Perspective • 60% N and 25% P from European Ag to North Sea • 48% of nutrient pollution in the former Czechoslovakia • Significant levels flowing into the Adriatic Sea • Eutrophication problems in Lake Erie

  7. NITROGEN LOSSES FROM FARMS IN THE MISSISSIPPI BASIN – US Example

  8. Water Quality Issue: HYPOXIA • The worst hypoxic conditions are in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea • Hypoxic conditions have been increasing since the 1960’s • The Gulf of Mexico, outside the delta of the Mississippi River is the worlds third largest hypoxic area • 12400 sq. km. (4800 sq. mi)

  9. Major Water Quality Issue: WORLD HYPOXIC ZONES

  10. Current Status of Iowa Lakes Crystal Lake Clear Lake

  11. Manure Characteristics and Production Estimates( what does it contain) 6% of bodyweight per day (most species) 13 - 15 % solids 85 -87% liquid

  12. Daily Manure Production Per Animal • We have estimates of manure production • 4.5 kg/day/hd for swine (liquid manure) • 45-50 kg/day/hd for dairy cow (liquid) • 25-30 kg/day/hd for beef cow (liquid) • Solid portion ~ 13-15% of total

  13. Animal Waste Nutrient Utilization Scenario • Swine Confinement Facility • 4000 animals @ 61 kg / animal • Nutrient Content in kg/ day / 1000 kg • 0.52 kg N / day / 1000 kg animal wt. • 0.18 kg P / day / 1000 kg animal wt. • 0.29 kg K / day / 1000 kg animal wt.

  14. Manure Characteristics • In general… • Nitrogen (ammonia) is in urine • Phosphorus is in feces • In the U.S. we’re working on ways to keep urine and feces separate

  15. Manure Management Issues • Animal manure is a liability in high density livestock production areas where fertilizers are cheap • Animal manure is an asset if fertilizers are unavailable or expensive • Odor and ammonia emission to air-global warming • Odor issues are serious in residential areas • Pollution of soil and water resources-water quality • Hypoxia problems in international water

  16. Nitrogen • Is mobile in some forms (NO3) • not in others (organic, NH4) • Does not carryover like P • Is not determined by soil test

  17. Negative Environmental Impacts • Nitrogen • - Nitrates leaching to tilelines and/or groundwater • - Ammonia runoff into surface water • causing fish kills

  18. Negative Environmental Impacts • Phosphorus • Loss with soil erosion • Eutrophication (algae growth) of surface waters

  19. Phosphorus • Is bound to the soil particles • Remains in the soil year to year • Moves if soil erodes • Is determined by soil test • Does not volatilize like nitrogen

  20. Manure Nutrient Planning Determine the hectares needed to maximize nutrient use and minimize negative environmental impacts

  21. Question 1 Which Nutrient should I use for planning... Nitrogen? Phosphorus?

  22. U.S. Manure Law says... • Use nitrogen for nutrient planning • - Results in least land area needed • - May not be best use of nutrients because phosphorus is overapplied • - Laws in U.S. are changing to require P planning

  23. N:P Ratio of Manure • N:P ratio is different for different types of manure • N:P • Cattle ratio… ~ 2:1 • Swine ratio… ~ 1.5:1 • Poultry ratio… ~ 1:2

  24. Phosphorus Planning • Requires more hectares • Results in lower application rates • Maximize economic value of manure • Depends on crop & manure application frequency • Requires additional commercial N fertilizer

  25. Question 2 How much of the nutrient should I apply??

  26. Plant Nutrient Utilization • Plant utilization • Corn uses 0.7 lb/bu N 0.4 lb/bu P2O5 • Beans use 3.8 lb/bu N 0.8 lb/bu P2O5 • Plant fertilization • Corn needs 1.2 lb/bu N 0.4 lb/bu P2O • Beans need 0.0 lb/bu N 0.8 lb/bu P2O

  27. Steps in Manure Nutrient Management • 1. Determine crop nutrient needs • 2. Determine manure nutrients available • 3. Calculate hectares needed for the manure • 4. Calculate manure volume to apply

  28. Summary - Manure Planning • Not difficult to do • Economically advantageous • Manure can replace purchased fertilizer • Using manure correctly is good for the environment

  29. Potential Pathways • PollutantPathway • Nitrate – N Leaching & Runoff • Ammonium – N Surface water runoff & Aerial deposition • Phosphorus Surface water runoff • Pathogens Surface water runoff • Organic Matter Surface water runoff

  30. Soil and Water Quality Monitoring Techniques • Soil sampling • Surface water sampling • Surface runoff • Open ditch or irrigation canals • Small or large rivers • Ponds, lakes, reservoirs • Ocean, sea • Wetlands • Groundwater • Shallow groundwater • Deep groundwater

  31. Soil Monitoring and Sampling • Must know the objectives why to sample? • What to sample for? • When to sample? • Number of soil sampling? • Variability in sampling? • From various soil depths – Objectives?

  32. Soil Monitoring • What to sample for? • NO3-N, pesticides, organic matter, metals, organics, pathogens, micro-organisms, N, P, K, micro-nutrients.

  33. When to Sample? • Once a week, month, or year. • As a function of cropping system or season. • As a function of weather cycle.

  34. Number of samples per field – function of cost? • Spatial variability. • Minimum three samples per plot. • Several depths. • Composite to cut down cost.

  35. Soil Sampling Techniques • Soil augers • Soil probes • Back saver • Zero contamination tube • Hydraulic probes

  36. Problems During Soil Sampling and Transportation • Cross-contamination • Separation, collection • Storage, transportation, temperature control • Timely analyses in lab • Laboratory techniques/interpretation

  37. Quantity Control/Quality Assurance • Sending duplicate samples to recognized laboratories • Manual on laboratory procedures • All steps on how to collect soil samples and lab analyses.

  38. Water Quality Monitoring • Point sources of pollution (manure storage platforms, spills) • Non point sources (agriculture)

  39. Monitoring Needs • Surface water • Groundwater

  40. Surface water Monitoring • Field runoff • Open ditches/drains • Irrigation canals • Ponds/Lakes/reservoirs • Wetlands • Streams, rivers (Danube River) • Ocean, Sea (Black sea)

  41. Groundwater Monitoring • At what depth would you like to collect water samples? • Shallow depth < 3 m. • Deep groundwater > 3 m. • Monitor at depth increments 5, 10, 15, … 50 m??

  42. Groundwater Monitoring Techniques • Piezometers • Water table wells • Deep ground water wells

  43. Construction of Groundwater Wells

  44. Glass bottles VS plastic bottles. • Temperature control during transportation. • Acidify samples if used for NO3-N analysis. • Store samples at 4oC until analyzed. • EPA protocol is to analyze within 15 days of collection.

  45. When to collect Groundwater Samples? • Weekly, monthly, 3-4 time in a year?? • Define objectives • For drinking water wells – weekly/monthly (weekly for public wells, monthly/six month for industrial wells) • Quality VS quantity

  46. Vadose Zone Monitoring • Water content and Chemical conc. • Soil moisture potential – Tensiometers • Soil water contents • Soil salinity • Temperature • Soil pore water sampling

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