Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2005MI60B

Evaluation of Low-Disturbance Tillage in Mitigating the Transport of Bacterial Contaminants from Land Applied Dairy Slurry to Subsurface Drains

Institute: Michigan
Year Established: 2005 Start Date: 2005-03-01 End Date: 2006-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $15,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $30,300

Principal Investigators: Timothy Harrigan

Abstract: Twelve instrumented flumes were installed in subsurface drain laterals at a four-acre site in a clay-loam soil at the Bakerlads Dairy Farm in Lenawee County, Michigan. A low-disturbance rolling-tine aerator and a 3000 gallon tank spreader will be used to apply dairy liquid manure in large replicated plots directly over the tile laterals at 3000-, 6000-, and 12000 gallons per acre. Tile line flow volume will be monitored continuously throughout the project and tile effluent will be analyzed at pre-determined intervals for nutrient and fecal coliform concentration. This work will help to identify an environmentally responsible and site-specific application rate based on the ability of the soil to retain and process the manure nutrients and contaminants in the root zone.