Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Online
    • Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • Info For
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • About
    • About JSWC
    • Editorial Board
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
    • Contact Us

User menu

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart

Search

  • Advanced search
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • My alerts
  • Log in
  • My Cart
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • Current Issue
    • Early Online
    • Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • Info For
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • About
    • About JSWC
    • Editorial Board
    • Permissions
    • Alerts
    • RSS Feeds
    • Contact Us
  • Follow SWCS on Twitter
  • Visit SWCS on Facebook
Research ArticleResearch Section

Sorbent-amended compost filter socks in grassed waterways reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff from corn fields

M.J. Shipitalo, J.V. Bonta and L.B. Owens
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation September 2012, 67 (5) 433-441; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.67.5.433
M.J. Shipitalo
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
J.V. Bonta
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
L.B. Owens
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Surface runoff from row-crop fields frequently has high concentrations of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides, particularly in the first few events after tillage and agrochemical application. Compost filter socks placed in grassed waterways can further reduce sediment concentration as runoff is transmitted offsite but are generally ineffective in removing dissolved chemicals. Therefore, we investigated the effect of adding a proprietary sorbent, Nutriloxx, to filter socks filled with composted bark and wood chips on sediment, nutrient, and glyphosate concentrations in runoff. Surface runoff from one tilled and one no-till watershed planted to corn (Zea mays L.) was routed into two parallel, 30 m (99 ft) long, grassed waterways. Three, 46 cm (18 in) diameter filter socks filled with Nutriloxx-amended compost were placed 5 m (16.5 ft) apart across the upper half of one waterway and in the lower half of the paired waterway. Automated samplers were used to obtain samples above and below the treated waterway segments in the 2009 and 2010 crop years. The effectiveness of the grassed waterways and filter socks was highly dependent on tillage treatment and timing and size of the runoff events. In 2009, there were no sizable events during the early growing season. Consequently, erosion was minimal, and no significant effects on sediment concentration were detected. Averaged for both watersheds, however, the amended filter socks contributed to an additional 28% reduction in dissolved phosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P) concentration compared to waterway segments without filter socks (significant at p = 0.05). The filter socks, however, significantly increased sulfate (SO4) concentrations up to 20-fold in the first sampled event, but SO4 concentrations declined rapidly with subsequent events. Similarly, the filter socks increased concentrations of calcium (Ca), potassium (K), and sodium (Na), but this was not significant in all instances. In 2010, runoff-producing rainfall occurred frequently during the growing season, and the filter socks significantly decreased sediment and PO4-P concentrations from the tilled watershed. In addition, large reductions in ammonium-nitrogen (NH4-N) concentrations were noted (average > 7-fold), but field observations suggested that this was due to physical trapping of eroded coated-urea fertilizer prills rather than sorption. The filter socks continued to contribute to significantly increased SO4 concentrations from both watersheds. Filter socks can effectively reduce sediment losses when used in agricultural applications, and adding selective sorbents can increase their ability to retain nutrients. However, losses of sorbent components need to be considered.

  • © 2012 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation: 67 (5)
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Vol. 67, Issue 5
September/October 2012
  • Table of Contents
  • About the Cover
  • Index by author
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on Journal of Soil and Water Conservation.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Sorbent-amended compost filter socks in grassed waterways reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff from corn fields
(Your Name) has sent you a message from Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
9 + 3 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Sorbent-amended compost filter socks in grassed waterways reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff from corn fields
M.J. Shipitalo, J.V. Bonta, L.B. Owens
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Sep 2012, 67 (5) 433-441; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.67.5.433

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Request Permissions
Share
Sorbent-amended compost filter socks in grassed waterways reduce nutrient losses in surface runoff from corn fields
M.J. Shipitalo, J.V. Bonta, L.B. Owens
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Sep 2012, 67 (5) 433-441; DOI: 10.2489/jswc.67.5.433
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Info & Metrics
  • References
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • No related articles found.
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • Conservation effects on soil quality indicators in the Missouri Salt River Basin
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

Research Section

  • Women taking action: Multisession learning circles, storytelling, and an ecosystem of relationships for conservation
  • Influence of gypsum and cover crop on greenhouse gas emissions in soybean cropping systems
  • Soil organic carbon and nitrogen storage estimated with the root-zone enrichment method under conventional and conservation land management across North Carolina
Show more Research Section

Research Manuscripts

  • Effect of liming on soil nitrogen loss in runoff from a cultivated bamboo stand
  • A runoff risk model based on topographic wetness indices and probability distributions of rainfall and soil moisture for central New York agricultural fields
  • Soil water infiltration impacted by maize (Zea mays L.) growth on sloping agricultural land of the Loess Plateau
Show more Research Manuscripts

Similar Articles

Content

  • Current Issue
  • Early Online
  • Archive
  • Subject Collections

Info For

  • Authors
  • Reviewers
  • Subscribers
  • Advertisers

Customer Service

  • Subscriptions
  • Permissions and Reprints
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy

SWCS

  • Membership
  • Publications
  • Meetings and Events
  • Conservation Career Center

© 2023 Soil and Water Conservation Society