TY - JOUR T1 - Use of grass filter strips to reduce 17β-estradiol in runoff from fescue-applied poultry litter JF - Journal of Soil and Water Conservation SP - 74 LP - 77 VL - 53 IS - 1 AU - D. J. Nichols AU - T. C. Daniel AU - D. R. Edwards AU - P. A. Moore, Jr. AU - D. H. Pote Y1 - 1998/01/01 UR - http://www.jswconline.org/content/53/1/74.abstract N2 - Discharge of hormones contained in poultry litter into the environment may disrupt the health and reproduction of fish and other animals. A runoff study was conducted to evaluate grass filter effectiveness in reducing transport of the estrogen hormone 17β-estradiol in runoff from pasture-applied poultry litter. The study objectives were to determine the effects of source (litter-treated) length and grass filter length on runoff concentrations and losses of 17β-estradiol from poultry litter applied to tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreber) plots. Litter was applied at 5 Mg/ha (2.2 ton/ac) to the upslope 6.1, 12.2, and 18.3 m (20, 40, and 60 ft) of 24.4-m (80-ft) long grass strips. The corresponding grass filter lengths were 18.3, 12.2, and 6.1 m (60, 40, and 20 ft), respectively, with the downslope edge of source areas evaluated as a 0-m long filter. Simulated rain was applied at 50 mm/h (2 in/h) to produce runoff samples for 17β-estradiol analysis. Runoff concentrations and mass losses were not significantly affected by source length and averaged 3.5 μg/L (ppb) and 1413 mg/ha (0.02 oz/ac), respectively. Runoff concentrations were reduced by 58, 81, and 94% and mass losses by 79, 90, and 98% by filter lengths of 6.1, 12.2, and 18.3 m (20, 40, and 60 ft), respectively. The data from this research indicates that grass filter strips can effectively reduce runoff transport of 17β-estradiol from tall fescue-applied poultry litter. ER -