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Nutrient and Sediment Discharge from Southern Plains Grasslands
Author
Smith, S. J.
Menzel, R. J.
Rhoades, E. D.
Williams, J. R.
Eck, H. V.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1983-07-01
Body

Amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment were measured in runoff from grassland watersheds in the Blackland Prairies, High Plains, Reddish Prairies, and Rolling Red Plains land resource areas of Oklahoma and Texas. Periods of study were 3 to 5 years and included treatments involving fertilization, cultivation, and burning. Overall nutrient concentrations generally ranged from 2 to 10 mg/l for nitrogen and 0.3 to 2 mg/l for phosphorus. In most cases, less than half the nutrients existed as soluble forms in the runoff water. Typically, annual sediment losses were less than 0.5 metric tons/ha. Corresponding losses for nitrogen and phosphorus were less than 5 and 2 kg/ha, respectively. In the case of nitrate, more was received in precipitation than was lost in runoff. Total nitrogen and phosphorus losses were strongly correlated with sediment losses. Preliminary results using predictive techniques to estimate nutrient and sediment discharge from the watersheds were encouraging. With proper management, the likelihood of any adverse environmental effects due to nutrient and sediment discharge from Southern Plains grasslands appears slight. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3897934
Additional Information
Smith, S. J., Menzel, R. G., Rhoades, E. D., Williams, J. R., & Eck, H. V. (1983). Nutrient and sediment discharge from Southern Plains grasslands. Journal of Range Management, 36(4), 435-439.
ISSN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/645907
Journal Volume
36
Journal Number
4
Journal Pages
435-439
Collection
Rangeland Ecology & Management (REM)
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
Plains
Oklahoma
Texas
watersheds
erosion
water quality hazards