Effect of spent mushroom substrate applied to vineyard soil on the behaviour of copper-based fungicide residues

The effect of the addition of spent mushroom substrate (SMS) to the soil as an amendment on the distribution and/or fate of copper from a copper-based fungicide applied to a vineyard soil in La Rioja (N. Spain) was studied. The study was carried out on experimental plots amended or not with SMS at rates of 40 and 100 t ha(-1). The variation in total Cu content in the topsoil (0-10 cm) and in the soil profile (0-50 cm), and the distribution of Cu in different fractions of the topsoil were studied as a function of the dose of Cu added (5 and 10 kg ha(-1)) and of the time elapsed since application (0-12 months). In addition, the changes in the chemical properties (solid organic carbon (OC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and pH) of the soils were studied. A greater capacity for Cu retention by the amended soils than by the unamended one was observed only when the fungicide was applied at the high dose. No effect of the amendment rate was noted on this retention capacity. The metal content in the topsoil decreased over time in step with the disappearance of the OC in the amended soil due to its oxidation, mineralization and/or leaching. This decrease in total Cu content was possibly due to the formation of soluble Cu complexes with the DOC, which facilitated its transport through the soil. A re-distribution of Cu in the different soil fractions was also observed over time, mainly from the organic to the residual fraction. The results obtained indicate that the increase in OC due to the application of SMS at the rates used does not lead to any significant increase in the persistence of Cu in the soil over time. Of greater interest would be the assessment of the risk for groundwater quality, owing to possible leaching of the fungicide enhanced by the SMS when SMS and Cu-based fungicides are jointly applied to vineyard soils.     

Interactions between soil texture and placement of dairy slurry application: I. Flow characteristics and leaching of nonreactive components

Land application of manure can exacerbate nutrient and contaminant transfers to the aquatic environment. This study examined the effect of injecting a dairy cattle (Bostaurus L.) manure slurry on mobilization and leaching of dissolved, nonreactive slurry components across a range of agricultural soils. We compared leaching of slurry-applied bromide through intact soil columns (20 cm diam., 20 cm high) of differing textures following surface application or injection of slurry. The volumetric fraction of soil pores >30 microm ranged from 43% in a loamy sand to 28% in a sandy loam and 15% in a loam-textured soil. Smaller active flow volumes and higher proportions of preferential flow were observed with increasing soil clay content. Injection of slurry in the loam soil significantly enhanced diffusion of applied bromide into the large fraction of small pores compared with surface application. The resulting physical protection against leaching of bromide was reflected by 60.2% of the bromide tracer was recovered in the effluent after injection, compared with 80.6% recovery after surface application. No effect of slurry injection was observed in the loamy sand and sandy loam soils. Our findings point to soil texture as an important factor influencing leaching of dissolved, nonreactive slurry components in soils amended with manure slurry.     

Phosphorus leaching in manure-amended Atlantic Coastal Plain soils

Targeting the sources of phosphorus (P) and transport pathways of drainage from agricultural land will assist in the reduction of P loading to surface waters. Our research investigated the vertical movement of P from dairy manure and broiler litter through four Atlantic Coastal Plain soils. A randomized split-plot design with two main-plot tillage treatments (no tillage [NT] and chisel tillage [CH]) and five manure P rate split-plot treatments was used at each location. The split-plot P rates were 0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1). Four consecutive years of manure application began at all sites 5 yr before sampling. Soils were sampled to a depth of 150 cm from each split plot in seven depth increments and analyzed for soil test phosphorus (STP), water-extractable soil phosphorus (WSP), and degree of phosphorus saturation (DPS). The DPS of the 0- to 15-cm depths confirmed that at the 100 kg P ha(-1) yr(-1) application rate, all sites exceeded the threshold for P saturation (30%). At depths greater than 30 cm, DPS was typically below the 30% saturation threshold. The DPS change points ranged from 25 to 34% for the 0- to 90-cm depths. Our research concluded that the risk of P leaching through the matrix of the Atlantic Coastal Plain soils studied was not high; however, P leaching via macropore bypass may contribute to P loss from these soils.     

Phosphorus extractability of soils amended with stockpiled and composted cattle manure

Managing fertilizer applications to maintain soil P below environmentally unacceptable levels should consider the contribution of manure and synthetic fertilizer sources to soluble and extractable forms of P. Our objective was to evaluate soil and manure characteristics and application rates on P extractability in recently amended soils. Five soils of the U.S. southern High Plains were amended with beef cattle manures, composted beef manure, and inorganic fertilizers [Ca(H(2)PO(4))(2) or KH(2)PO(4)] at five rates and incubated under controlled conditions. Mehlich 3-, Olsen (NaHCO(3))-, Texas A&M extractant (TAM)-, and water-extractable P were determined for the soils after selected incubation periods. Except for TAM and some water extractions, P extractability as a function of total P applied was linear (P < 0.001) for a wide range of application rates. Mehlich-3, NaHCO(3), and water P extraction efficiencies of KH(2)PO(4)-amended soils averaged 22, 34, and 115% greater (P < or = 0.036), respectively, than efficiencies of soils amended with manures except for the Texline (calcareous) loam and Pullman clay loam soils. Phosphorus extraction efficiencies decreased with time for KH(2)PO(4)-amended soils (P < 0.05) but remained stable or increased for manure-amended soils during the 8-wk incubation period. Across all soils and manure sources, changes in water-extractable P per unit increase in Mehlich 3-, NaHCO(3)-, and TAM-extractable P averaged 100, 85, and 125% greater, respectively, for inorganic as compared with manure-amended soils. These source-dependent relationships limit the use of agronomic soil extractants to make correct inferences about water-extractable P and dissolved P in runoff.     

Interactions between soil texture and placement of dairy slurry application: II. Leaching of phosphorus forms

Managing phosphorus (P) losses in soil leachate folllowing land application of manure is key to curbing eutrophication in many regions. We compared P leaching from columns of variably textured, intact soils (20 cm diam., 20 cm high) subjected to surface application or injection of dairy cattle (Bos taurus L.) manure slurry. Surface application of slurry increased P leaching losses relative to baseline losses, but losses declined with increasing active flow volume. After elution of one pore volume, leaching averaged 0.54 kg P ha(-1) from the loam, 0.38 kg P ha(-1) from the sandy loam, and 0.22 kg P ha(-1) from the loamy sand following surface application. Injection decreased leaching of all P forms compared with surface application by an average of 0.26 kg P ha(-1) in loam and 0.23 kg P ha(-1) in sandy loam, but only by 0.03 kg P ha(-1) in loamy sand. Lower leaching losses were attributed to physical retention of particulate P and dissolved organic P, caused by placing slurry away from active flow paths in the fine-textured soil columns, as well as to chemical retention of dissolved inorganic P, caused by better contact between slurry P and soil adsorption sites. Dissolved organic P was less retained in soil after slurry application than other P forms. On these soils with low to intermediate P status, slurry injection lowered P leaching losses from clay-rich soil, but not from the sandy soils, highlighting the importance of soil texture in manageing P losses following slurry application.     

Effect of mineral and manure phosphorus sources on runoff phosphorus

Concern over nonpoint-source phosphorus (P) losses from agricultural lands to surface waters has resulted in scrutiny of factors affecting P loss potential. A rainfall simulation study was conducted to quantify the effects of alternative P sources (dairy manure, poultry manure, swine slurry, and diammonium phosphate), application methods, and initial soil P concentrations on runoff P losses from three acidic soils (Buchanan-Hartleton, Hagerstown, and Lewbeach). Low P (12 to 26 mg kg(-1) Mehlich-3 P) and high P (396 to 415 mg kg(-1) Mehlich-3 P) members of each soil were amended with 100 kg total P ha(-1) from each of the four P sources either by surface application or mixing, and subjected to simulated rainfall (70 mm h(-1) to produce 30 min runoff). Phosphorus losses from fertilizer and manure applied to the soil surface differed significantly by source, with dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) accounting for 64% of total phosphorus (TP) (versus 9% for the unamended soils). For manure amended soils, these losses were linearly related to water-soluble P concentration of manure (r2 = 0.86 for DRP, r2 = 0.78 for TP). Mixing the P sources into the soil significantly decreased P losses relative to surface P application, such that DRP losses from amended, mixed soils were not significantly different from the unamended soil. Results of this study can be applied to site assessment indices to quantify the potential for P loss from recently manured soils.     

Assessing ground water vulnerability with the type transfer function model in the San Joaquin Valley, California

The recently developed type transfer function (TTF) simulation approach was applied to generate a regional-scale nonpoint-source ground water vulnerability assessment for the San Joaquin Valley, California. The computationally comparatively inexpensive TTF approach produces quantitative estimates of contaminant concentrations for large regional scales through characteristic functions based on different soil textures and their leaching properties. The TTF simulations employed an extensive soil and recharge database to estimate atrazine (1-chloro-3-ethylamino-5-isopropylamino-2,4,6-triazine) concentrations at a compliance depth of 3 m resulting from a surface application. Two different sets of TTFs with two different levels of upscaling were used for spatially uniform and distributed recharge estimates. Results show that estimated atrazine concentrations can be related to soil survey information. Areas with high potential vulnerability to atrazine leaching were found for soils with low organic carbon content and sandy loam and loam textures. Travel times for atrazine peak concentrations to the compliance depth ranged from 350 to 730 d. The extent of areas with estimated atrazine concentrations above the maximum contaminant level was less extensive when uniform annual recharge values were used. Simulated TTF concentrations were highest for eastern Fresno County, a vulnerability pattern that is also supported by field observations. The TTF modeling approach is shown to be a useful tool for quantitative pesticide leaching estimates at regional scales significantly larger than those of previous studies.     

Tillage and manure application effects on mineral nitrogen leaching from seasonally frozen soils

Land application of manure is a common practice in the Upper Midwest of the United States. Recently, there have been concerns regarding the effect of this practice on water quality, especially when manure is applied during winter over frozen soils. A study undertaken on a Rozetta silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Hapludalfs) at Lancaster, WI, evaluated the effects of tillage and timing of manure application on surface and subsurface water quality. The daily scrape and haul liquid dairy manure was applied either in the fall (before snow) or in winter (over snow with frozen soil underneath) to be compared with no manure under two tillage systems (no-till and chisel-plowing). In this paper, we report results on the effects of the above treatments on mineral N leaching. Percolation and mineral N leaching during the nongrowing season were, respectively, 72 and 78% of the annual losses, mainly because of the absence of plant water and N uptake. Percolation was generally higher from no-till compared with chisel-plow but there was no significant effect of tillage on mineral N concentration of the leachate or mineral N losses via leaching. Mineral N leaching was statistically higher from the manure-applied vs. no-manure treatment, but there was no difference between winter-applied manure and no-manure treatments. There were significant tillage by manure interactions with fall manure application followed by chisel-plowing resulting in highest N leaching losses. Averaged over the two years, N leaching rates were 52, 38, and 28 kg N ha(-1) yr(-1) from fall-applied, winter-applied, and no-manure treatments, respectively. These results show that there is substantial N leaching from these soils even when no fertilizer or manure is applied. Furthermore, fall-applied manure followed by fall tillage significantly increases N leaching due to enhanced mineralization of both soil and manure organic N.     

Wet chemical and phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of phosphorus speciation in a sandy soil receiving long-term fertilizer or animal manure applications

In areas under intensive livestock farming and with high application rates of animal manure, inorganic and organic phosphorus (P) may be leached from soils. Since the contribution of these P compounds to P leaching may differ, it is important to determine the speciation of P in these soils. We determined the effect of various fertilization regimes on the P speciation in NaOH-Na2EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) and water extracts of acidic sandy soil samples from the top 5 cm of grassland with wet chemical analysis and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. These soils had been treated for a period of 11 years with no fertilizer (control), N (no P application), N-P-K, or different animal manures. Inorganic P was highly elevated in the NaOH-Na2EDTA extracts of the soils amended with N-P-K or animal manures, while organic P increased only in the soil treated with pig slurry. Water-extractable P showed a similar trend. As indicated by 31P NMR, orthophosphate monoesters were the main organic P compounds in all soils. Our results suggest that long-term applications of large amounts of P fertilizer and animal manures caused an accumulation of inorganic P, resulting in an increase of the potential risk related to mobilization of inorganic P in the top 5 cm of these soils.     

Effect of manure application timing, crop, and soil type on phosphorus leaching

Phosphorus (P) leaching losses from manure applications may be of concern when artificial drainage systems allow for hydrologic short-cuts to surface waters. This study quantified P leaching losses from liquid manure applications on two soil textural extremes, a clay loam and loamy sand soil, as affected by cropping system and timing of application. For each soil type, manure was applied at an annual rate of 93 800 L ha(-1) on replicated drained plots under maize (Zea mays L.) in early fall, late fall, early spring, and as a split application in early and late spring. Manure was applied on orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) in split applications in early fall and late spring, and early and late spring. Drain water was sampled at least weekly when lines were flowing, and outflow rate and total P content were determined. High P leaching losses were measured in the clay loam as soon as drain lines initiated flow after manure application. Flow-weighted mean P leaching losses on clay loam plots averaged 39 times higher (0.504 mg L(-1)) than those on loamy sand plots (0.013 mg L(-1)), and were above the USEPA level of concern of 0.1 mg L(-1). Phosphorus losses varied among application seasons on the clay loam soil, with highest losses generally measured for early fall applications. Phosphorus leaching patterns in clay loam showed short-term spikes and high losses were associated with high drain outflow rates, suggesting preferential flow as the main transport mechanism. Phosphorus leaching from manure applications on loamy sand soils does not pose environmental concerns as long as soil P levels remain below the saturation level.     

Degree of phosphorus saturation thresholds in manure-amended soils of alberta

The risk of P losses from agricultural land to surface and ground water generally increases as the degree of soil P saturation increases. A single-point soil P sorption index (PSI) was validated with adsorption isotherm data for determination of the P sorption status of Alberta soils. Soil P thresholds (change points) were then examined for two agricultural soils after eight annual applications of different rates of cattle manure and for three agricultural soils after one application of different rates of cattle manure. Linear relationships were found between soil-test P (STP) levels up to 1000 mg kg(-1) and desorbed P in the five Alberta soils. Weak linear relationships were also found between STP and runoff dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in three of these soils. Change points for the degree of P saturation (DPS) were detected in four of the five soils at 3 to 44% for water-extractable P (WEP) and at 11 to 51% for CaCl(2)-extractable P (CaCl(2)-P). Change points were not found for DPS or runoff DRP. Overall DPS thresholds for the five soils combined were 27% for WEP and 44% for CaCl(2)-P at a critical desorbable-P value of 1 mg L(-1). The corresponding STP levels (44 mg kg(-1) for WEP and 71 mg kg(-1) for CaCl(2)-P) are similar to agronomic thresholds for crops grown on Alberta soils. Soluble P losses in overland flow and leaching may be greater in soils with DPS values that exceed these thresholds than in soils with lower DPS values.     

Dissolved organic carbon in runoff and tile-drain water under corn and forage fertilized with hog manure

Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export from soils can play a significant role in soil C cycling and in nutrient and pollutant transport. However, information about DOC losses from agricultural soils as influenced by management practices is scarce. We compared the effects of mineral fertilizer (MF) and liquid hog manure (LHM) applications on the concentration and molecular size of DOC released in runoff and tile-drain water under corn (Zea mays L.) and forage cropping systems. Runoff and tile-drain water samples were collected during a 2-mo period (October to December 1998) and DOC concentration was measured. Characterization of DOC was performed by tangential ultrafiltration with nominal cut-offs at 3 and 100 kDa. Mean concentration of DOC in runoff water (12.7 mg DOC L(-1)) was higher than in tile-drain water (6.5 mg DOC L(-1)). Incorporation of corn residues increased the DOC concentration by 6- to 17-fold in surface runoff, but this effect was short-lived. In runoff water, the relative size of the DOC molecules increased when corn residues and LHM were applied probably due to partial microbial breakdown of these organic materials and to a faster decomposition or preferential adsorption of the small molecules. The DOC concentration in tile-drain water was slightly higher under forage (7.5 mg DOC L(-1)) than under corn (5.4 mg DOC L(-1)) even though the application rates of LHM were higher in corn plots. We suggest that preferential flow facilitated the migration of DOC to tile drains in forage plots. In conclusion, incorporation of corn residues and LHM increased the concentration of DOC and the relative size of the molecules in surface runoff water, whereas DOC in tile-drain water was mostly influenced by the cropping system with relatively more DOC and larger molecules under forage than corn.     

Organic manure and urea effect on metolachlor transport through packed soil columns

Application of organic manure (OM) amendments and nitrogen fertilizers can affect the sorption and movement of pesticides in soil. This study summarizes the sorption and leaching of metolachlor [2-chloro-N-(2-ethyl-6-methylphenyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylphenyl) acetamide] in soils after cow (Bos taurus) manure (2.5 and 5.0%) and urea (60 and 120 kg N ha(-1)) amendments in batch and column experiments. Both cow manure and urea applications increased metolachlor sorption in soils. The values of the Freundlich adsorption parameter K(r)(1/n) for treatments T0, T1 (OM), and T2 (OM) were 2.31, 3.32, and 3.96 in Soil 1; 2.02, 2.77, and 3.32 in Soil 2; and 1.10, 1.46, and 2.02 in Soil 3, respectively. Similarly, K(f)(1/n) values for treatment T1 (urea) and T2 (urea) were 2.37 and 2.84 in Soil 1; 2.16 and 2.83 in Soil 2; and 1.50 and 1.70 in Soil 3, respectively. Column leaching studies using Soil 1 indicated that OM application drastically reduced the metolachlor leaching losses from 50% (natural soil) to < 1.0% (5.0% OM amendment). Likewise, urea application also decreased metolachlor mobility and leaching losses in columns treated with 60 and 120 kg N ha(-1) urea were 33 and 20%, respectively. The reduction in the metolachlor leaching losses was achieved through the increase in the sorption capability of the OM- and urea-amended soil. Therefore, coapplication of metolachlor with cow manure or urea fertilizers will not enhance metolachlor mobility and reduces metolachlor leaching losses in low-organic-matter soil.     

Liming poultry manures to decrease soluble phosphorus and suppress the bacteria population

Stabilizing phosphorus (P) in poultry waste to reduce P losses from manured soils is important to protect surface waters, while pathogens in manures are an emerging issue. This study was conducted to evaluate CaO and Ca(OH)2 for killing manure bacterial populations (pathogens) and stabilizing P in poultry wastes and to investigate the influence on soils following amendment with the treated wastes. Layer manure and broiler litter varying in moisture content were treated with CaO and Ca(OH)2 at rates of 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% by weight. All treated wastes were analyzed for microbial plate counts, pH, and water-soluble phosphorus (WSP), while a few selected layer manures were analyzed by phosphorus X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES). A loamy sand and a silt loam were amended with broiler litter and layer manure treated with CaO at rates of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15% and soil WSP and pH were measured at times 1, 8, and 29 d. Liming reduced bacterial populations, with greater rates of lime leading to greater reductions; for example 10% CaO applied to 20% solids broiler litter reduced the plate counts from 793,000 to 6500 mL-1. Liming also reduced the WSP in the manures by over 90% in all cases where at least 10% CaO was added. Liming the manures also reduced WSP in soils immediately following application and raised soil pH. The liming process used successfully reduced plate counts and concerns about P losses in runoff following land application of these limed products due to decreased WSP.     

Phosphorus accumulation in cultivated soils from long-term annual applications of cattle feedlot manure

Historically, manure has been recognized as an excellent soil amendment that can improve soil quality and provide nutrients for crop production. In areas of high animal density, however, the potential for water pollution resulting from improper storage or disposal of manure may be significant. The objective of this study was to determine the P balance of cultivated soils under barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) production that have received long-term annual manure amendments. Nonirrigated soils at the study site in Lethbridge, AB, Canada, have received 0, 30, 60, or 90 Mg manure ha(-1) (wet wt. basis) while irrigated plots received 0, 60, 120, and 180 Mg ha(-1) annually for 16 yr. The amount of P removed in barley grain and straw during the 16-yr period was between 5 and 18% of the cumulative manure P applied. There was a balance between P applied in manure and P recovered in crops and soils (to the 150-cm depth) of nonirrigated plots during the 16-yr study. In irrigated plots, as much as 1.4 Mg P ha(-1) added (180 Mg ha(-1) yr(-1) treatment) was not recovered over 16 yr, and was probably lost through leaching. The risk of ground water contamination with P from manure was greater in irrigated than nonirrigated plots that have received long-term annual manure amendments. Manure application rates should be reduced in nonirrigated and irrigated plots to more closely match manure P inputs to crop P requirements.     

Effect of dissolved organic carbon on zinc solubility in incubated biosolids-amended soils

Soil organic carbon (SOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) affect long-term heavy metal solubility in biosolids-amended soils, but their role needs to be further studied under Mediterranean climatic conditions. We investigated Zn solubility, as assessed by water extraction, in two typical Greek soils amended with biosolids at 0, 20, and 100 Mg ha(-1) during a 310-d incubation period. It was found that SOC decreased by nearly 30% over time in the 100 Mg ha(-1) treatment. There was evidence that DOC affected Zn solubility, because DOC increased significantly on Day 23, probably due to a flush in microbial activity, and water-extractable Zn followed the same trend. After that, both DOC and water-extractable Zn decreased back to values similar to those of the unamended soils. Although Zn solubility did not increase overall even at high biosolids application rates, this study shows that time-limited fluctuations in Zn solubility due to sudden DOC flushes, can be significant, and need to be further investigated.     

Coupled effects of treated effluent irrigation and wetting-drying cycles on transport of triazines through unsaturated soil columns

The physical and chemical parameters controlling the movement of atrazine (6-chloro-N2-ethyl-N4-isopropyl-l,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; 98.8%) and prometryn [N,N'-bis(1-methylethyl)-6-(methylthio)-l,3,5triazine-2,4-diamine; 99.5%] were investigated in columns infiltrated with treated effluent under unsaturated transient conditions and subjected to drying events at 22 or 60 degrees C followed by rewetting. Three soils varying in soil pH and texture and three solutions were used. The infiltrating solutions consisted of either a CaCl2 matrix (CC), a swine waste-derived lagoon effluent (SW), or a simulated buffer solution (SB) representative of the element composition and pH of the SW but with no dissolved organic matter. Several parameters were monitored including leachate triazine concentrations, pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), inorganic carbon, and flow rates. Compared with CC, application of SW and SB increased column leachate pH, enhanced dissolution of organic carbon and particle dispersion, and decreased average flow rates, which allowed for increased desorption time. The coupled effect of these processes enhanced movement of triazines in some cases, with SW generally having the greatest effect. The individual effect of increased pH was more pronounced for prometryn (pKa=4.05) versus atrazine (pKa=1.66), and most dramatic for the soil with the lowest initial pH. High-temperature drying, which simulated intensive evaporation, further enhanced the dissolution of soil organic matter and the reduction in leachate flow rates with SW and SB applications; however, the net effect under the experimental conditions employed varied with soil type. Relative to low-temperature drying, high-temperature drying in the silty clay loam-packed columns reduced pesticide migration.     

Is colloid-facilitated phosphorus leaching triggered by phosphorus accumulation in sandy soils?

The leaching of colloidal phosphorus (P(coll)) contributes to P losses from agricultural soils. In an irrigation experiment with undisturbed soil columns, we investigated whether the accumulation of P in soils due to excess P additions enhances the leaching of colloids and P(coll) from sandy soils. Furthermore, we hypothesized that large concentrations of P(coll) occur at the onset of leaching events and that P(coll) mobilized from topsoils is retained in subsoils. Soil columns of different P saturation and depth (0-25 and 0-40 cm) were collected at a former disposal site for liquid manure and at the Thyrow fertilization experiment in northeastern Germany. Concentrations of total dissolved P, P(coll), Fe(coll), Al(coll), optical density, zeta potential, pH, and electrical conductivity of the leachates were determined. Colloidal P concentrations ranged from 0.46 to 10 micromol L(-1) and contributed between 1 and 37% to total P leaching. Large P(coll) concentrations leached from the P-rich soil of the manure disposal site were rather related to a large P-content of colloids than to the mobilization of additional colloids. Concentrations of colloids and P(coll) in leachates from P-poor and P-rich columns from Thyrow did not differ significantly. In contrast, accumulation of P in the Werbellin and the Thyrow soil consistently increased dissolved P concentrations to maximum values as high as 300 micromol L(-1). We observed no first-flush of colloids and P(coll) at the beginning of the leaching event. Concentrations of P(coll) leached from 40-cm soil columns were not smaller than those leached from 25-cm columns. Our results illustrate that an accumulation of P in sandy soils does not necessarily lead to an enhanced leaching of colloids and P(coll), because a multitude of factors independent from the P status of soils control the mobility of colloids. In contrast, P accumulation generally increases dissolved P concentrations in noncalcareous soils due to the saturation of the P sorption capacity. This indicates that leaching of dissolved P might be a more widespread environmental problem in areas with P-saturated sandy soils than leaching of P(coll).     

ESTIMATING ATRAZINE LEACHING IN THE MIDWEST1

Data from seven Management Systems Evaluation Areas (MSEA) were used to test the sensitivity of a leaching model, Pesticide Root Zone Model-2, to a variety of hydrologic settings in the Midwest. Atrazine leaching was simulated because it was prevalent in the MSEA studies and is frequently detected in the region's groundwater. Short-term simulations used site specific soil and chemical parameters. Generalized simulations used data avail. able from regional soil databases and standardized variables. Accurate short-term simulations were precluded by lack of antecedent atrazine concentrations in the soil profile and water, suggesting that simulations using data for less than five years underestimate atrazine leaching. The seven sites were ranked in order of atrazine detection frequency (concentration > 0.2 μg L^-1) in soil water at 2 m depth in simulations. The rank order of the sites based on long-term simulations were similar to the ranks of sites based on atrazine detection frequency from groundwater monitoring. Simulations with Map Unit Use File (MUUF) soils data were more highly correlated with ranks of observed atrazine detection frequencies than were short-term simulations using site-specific soil data. Simulations using the MIJUIF data for soil parameters were sufficiently similarity to observed atrazine detection to allow the credible use of regional soils data for simulating leaching with PRZM-2 in a variety of Midwest soil and hydrologic conditions. This is encouraging for regional modeling efforts because soil parameters are among the most critical for operating PRZM-2 and many other leaching models.     

Solution chemistry influence on metal mobility in biosolids-amended soils

Many studies have implicated dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as an important contributor to the elevated mobility of trace metals in soils amended with biosolids. Few of these studies, however, have quantified both DOC and metal concentrations. We completed laboratory leaching column studies on a dryland Platner loam (fine, smectitic, mesic Aridic Paleustoll) and an irrigated Osgood sand (loamy, mixed, mesic Arenic Ustollic Haplargid), both with a history of biosolids application. The soils were neutral to slightly alkaline in pH prior to amendment. We performed an additional application of biosolids to one set of columns in the laboratory at a rate of 28 Mg ha(-1) to investigate the effect of time following application on metal mobility. The effect of electrolyte concentration was studied by using both distilled water and simulated irrigation water. Biosolids application increased both DOC and Cu in the column effluents resulting in a positive correlation between Cu and DOC across application treatments for both soils. Both Cu and Pb were mobilized under conditions of low electrical conductivity (EC). This may be the result of the release of a strong metal-binding component of DOC under these conditions. Conversely, Zn mobility was positively correlated with EC, suggesting that either cation exchange or the formation of inorganic complexes influences Zn mobility. Anodic stripping voltammetry measurements indicated that only a small percentage of the total dissolved metals existed as free ions or inorganic complexes; the remainder appears to be complexed to DOC.