Water Quality Concerns in Ohio Waters

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Water Quality Concerns in Ohio Waters

• What has been Happening in Lake Erie?

Greg LaBarge, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems
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Discussion

• History of P in Lake Erie
• Key points making Lake Erie unique
• What happened on Lake Erie 2011
• Agriculture in Lake Erie Basin
• What is the Distressed Watersheds Designation
• BMPs

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Definitions

• Total Phosphorous
• "Total" phosphorus is largely defined on the
  basis of how much phosphorus in its various forms
  will be oxidized into orthophosphate by a
  specific oxidant.
• Water soluble P
• Dissolved reactive phosphorous (DRP)
• Bioavailable Phosphorous
• The soluble form of the nutrient phosphorus,
  which is readily available for use by plants.
  consist largely of the inorganic orthophosphate
  (PO4) form of phosphorus.
• Particulate P
• Soil attached P

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A little history

• 1969 total P loading was 29,000 metric tons
• Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) were concern and Lake
  had dead areas
• Target was established of 11,000 metric tons
• 2/3 of loading from point sources
• 50 reduction in non-point

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Source Hiedelberg University
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Source Hiedelberg University
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Renewed Concerns about Lake Erie and Nutrient
Loading

• Issue in 1960-1970s was Total P Loading
• Issue in 1990-2000s is Bioavailable or Dissolved
  Reactive Phosphorous

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Interesting Lake Erie Facts
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Interesting Lake Erie Facts

• 50/2 Rule
• Superior 50 of water/2 of fish
• Erie 50 of fish/2 of water
• 10.7 billion economic activity while employing
  119,100 Ohio residents and generating 750
  million in tax dollars

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8/11/11 Image Lake Erie
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July, 2011
Sourcehttp//www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Centers/HABS/
graphics/wle_hab2_20072211.jpg
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10/09/11 Image Lake Erie
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Expected Time for Recovery

• Because Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great
  Lakes by volume, the retention time for water in
  the Lake is very short compared to the other 4
  lakesWestern Basin retention time is 20-50 days.
  Therefore, if reduced loading targets are
  reached, recovery will be almost immediate.

Source Dr . Jeff Ruetter, Ohio Sea Grant, The
Ohio State University
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Agriculture in Lake Erie Basin

• 4.2 Million Acres Maumee Watershed
• 4.9 Million Total
• 59.1 cropland
• 72 cropland in Western

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(No Transcript)
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ODNR Distressed Watershed Rules Grand Lake St
Marys

• Shall follow eFOTG 633 standard
• Not apply manure between 12/15 3/1
• Not surface apply on frozen ground or gt 1 of
  snow (Injected or incorporated within 24hr)
• No surface application when 50 chance of ppt.
  gt0.5in for gt24h

Source http//www.dnr.state.oh.us/portals/12/wate
r/watershedprograms/GLSM/Watershed_in_Distres_Fact
Sheet.pdf
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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement off
-site

• The 4-Rs of Fertilizer material application.
• Right Time
• Right Place
• Right Amount
• Right Material

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement off
-site

• The Right Time.
• Nutrients should not be applied to frozen or snow
  covered ground.
• Nutrients should be applied as close to crop
  utilization as possible.

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Fertility Applications

• Frozen and snow covered applications have the
  greatest risk of off site movement whether manure
  or commercial fertilizer

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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement off
-site

• The Right Place.
• Phosphorous applications should be injected or
  incorporated whenever possible.
• If surface applications are made, it should have
  a growing crop or cover as soon as possible.

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Rainfall simulator study, NW Ohio, Nov 2009

• P sources applied at 80 lb P2O5 per acre
• Total P loss lt 2 of amount applied
• Rain _at_ 2.4/hour first 30 minutes runoff

Mullen, 2011, unpublished
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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement off
-site

• The Right Amount.
• Good representative soil sample should be the
  basis for fertilizer application.
• Utilize Ohio State University Extension Agronomic
  Recommendations for nutrient application.
• Records should be kept for all soil tests,
  recommendations and applications as well as crop
  and resulting yields.

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Fertility Rates
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Crop P- Bray 1 (PPM) P- Bray 1 (lbs/A)
Corn 15 30
Soybeans 15 30
Wheat 25 50
Alfalfa 25 50
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Crop P- Bray 1 (PPM) P- Bray 1 (lbs/A)
Corn 30 60
Soybeans 30 60
Wheat 40 80
Alfalfa 40 80
 
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Crop P- Bray 1 (PPM) P- Bray 1 (lbs/A)
Corn 40 80
Soybeans 40 80
Wheat 50 100
Alfalfa 50 100
 
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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement off
-site

• In addition to the 4 Rs- Improve Soil Quality.
• Soil organic matter.
• Soil compaction.
• Water infiltration rates.
• Methods to reduce runoff.

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient Movement
off-site

• In addition to the 4 Rs- Improve Water
  Management and Possible Treatment of Drainage
  Water.
• Repair broken subsurface drainage.
• Treating surface inlets runoff into subsurface
  drainage systems.
• Treating concentrated surface runoff areas.
• Controlled drainage.
• Constructed wetlands for treatment
• Improved designed filtered areas, biofilters
• Alternative drainage ditch designs

Source DRAFT document of the Ohio Directors
Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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Summary

• Phosphorous is the focus. but not Total P but
  Dissolved Reactive P (DRP)
• Agriculture has a role (not the only focus) and
  BMPs can minimize impact Timing of application
• 4 Rs of fertilizer application
• Conservation practices
• Rates based on Tri-state
• Improve soil quality and crop yields