Evaluating scenarios to reduce phosphorus transport in surface waters from slurry applications in temperate grasslands
Date
2022-05-30
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Publisher
Taylor & Francis (Informa)
Abstract
This study evaluates a range of scenarios to reduce soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) losses using the
surface runoff phosphorus transport model (Surphos) to simulate the application of liquid manure (slurry)
to grassland catchments. Surphos was applied using data from two contrasting sites in the Republic of
Ireland and Northern Ireland. It explored scenarios that investigated changes to the timing of slurry
applications, based both on policy (i.e. a “closed” period where regulations prohibit any slurry spreading)
and on climate-based restrictions, where soil moisture and antecedent rainfall were important factors.
The observed data showed a considerable spatial variability in runoff at both sites, which resulted in a
corresponding variable range of SRP losses predicted by the model. However, at both sites the model
results showed that maintaining a closed period led to a greater reduction in SRP losses than opening this
period up to slurry applications under climate-based restrictions.
Description
Publication history: Accepted - 7 April 2022; Published online - 30 May 2022.
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Keywords
phosphorus, modelling, United Kingdom, Ireland, runoff, manure application, livestock farming
Citation
Adams, R., Doody, D.G., Anderson, A., Fenton, O., Tuohy, P. and Vadas, P. (2022) ‘Evaluating scenarios to reduce phosphorus transport in surface waters from slurry applications in temperate grasslands’, Hydrological Sciences Journal. Informa UK Limited. doi:10.1080/02626667.2022.2072221.