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Mark Petersen, Jen Muscha & Travis Mulliniks USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research

NITRATE IN MONTANA HYDROLOGIC SYSTEMS 2014 CONFERENCE Livestock Water from 2009 to 2013 varies across years in Eastern Montana. Mark Petersen, Jen Muscha & Travis Mulliniks USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory. OUTLINE. Background Water quality questions

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Mark Petersen, Jen Muscha & Travis Mulliniks USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research

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  1. NITRATE IN MONTANAHYDROLOGIC SYSTEMS 2014 CONFERENCE Livestock Water from 2009 to 2013 varies across years in Eastern Montana Mark Petersen, Jen Muscha & Travis Mulliniks USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock & Range Research Laboratory

  2. OUTLINE • Background • Water quality questions • Fort Keogh Customer Focus Group inquired about: • Variability in water quality? • Predictability of changes ? • How much does water quality change? • Objective: To determine the effect of year, location, season and source on nitrate concentration and other water quality characteristics.

  3. Background • 55,000+ acre near Miles City, MT, • 96 % of the land has been maintained as native range • 2,000 acres cultivated corn silage, barley grain & hay • 2 feedlot s with 999 head capacity

  4. Fort Keogh Water Quality Studies

  5. Background • Samples were collected from 4 sources: • Springs • reservoirs • ground water • flowing surface water • Sites classified into 3 geographical locations: north (N), southeast (SE) and southwest (SW).

  6. WATER QUALITY RESEARCH–Ft Keogh LARRL 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013

  7. Background • Other variables accounted for : • Season • Wetter – May • Drier – September • Year - 5 • 2009 to 2013

  8. OUTLINE • Yearly Variability August 18, 2011 – Lower Coal Pasture August 16, 2012 – Lower Coal Pasture

  9. SAMPLE COLLECTIONS • 45 sample site • 450 possible samples could be collected • Only 393 were collected • All May samples were collected with exception of 1 • In September, 56 samples could not be collected (25% of sites dried up)

  10. CURRENT WATER QUALITY RESEARCH–Ft Keogh LARRL • Analysis included; • Nitrates, sulfates • Sodium, chloride, calcium, magnesium • Manganese, iron, fluoride • pH/ alkalinity • Conductivity, total dissolved solids • Temperature • Midwest laboratories, Omaha

  11. Background • Location, source, year, sampling date, and their interactions were analyzed : • As 3 × 4 x 5 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. • Sampling date was not a significant (P>0.05) factor influencing nitrate concentrations.

  12. Results • Average nitrate concentration for all samples collected; • 0.3+ 0.27 ppm • Range • N.D. to 26.7 ppm

  13. Results – Effect of sample time • May vs September, non significant • P = 0.56 • September • mean = 0.2+ 0.2 • Range =nd - 6.4 • May • mean = 0.4+ 0.2 • Range =nd – 26.7

  14. Results – Effect of sample year • 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013 - non significant • P = 0.49

  15. A location by source interaction (P<0.05) was found for nitrates. The highest concentration of nitrates was found in spring water in the north (1.38 ± 0.27 ppm) and flowing water in the southwest (0.93 ± 0.26 ppm).

  16. Results – Effect of location

  17. Sodium

  18. Summary Results for all Minerals 2009 to 2013

  19. Sodium

  20. Sodium

  21. Sodium

  22. Sodium

  23. Sulfate

  24. Sulfate

  25. Sulfate

  26. Sulfate

  27. Iron

  28. Iron

  29. Iron

  30. Iron

  31. Iron

  32. Iron

  33. Iron

  34. Iron

  35. TDS

  36. TDS

  37. TDS

  38. TDS

  39. PortableTDS Meter $285 20,000 ppm TDS

  40. Does drier warmer years change water quality?

  41. Drier warmer years reduce quality Especially surface flowing water and in the south

  42. PREDICTING MINERAL INTAKE FROM WATER

  43. PREDICTING MINERAL INTAKE FROM WATER 28 g = 1 oz

  44. PREDICTING MINERAL INTAKE FROM WATER & DIET

  45. PREDICTING MINERAL INTAKE FROM WATER & DIET

  46. Mineral intake evaluation • Excess • Sodium • Sulfate • Iron • Fluoride • Deficient • Magnesium • Phosphorus • Copper • Zinc

  47. Implications • Need to know water quality • Multiple water sites pasture • During drought forced to drink poorer water • At Ft Keogh use North in summer drought • Use known poor water pasture in winter • Use southeast in winter • Early spring may dilute poor water

  48. Implication • May result in reduced mineral intake • Water quality is highly variable • Source • Location • Season • Year • Especially in a dry year check TDS before cattle are moved to a fresh pasture.

  49. Variability in range cowmineral consumption

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