Sheep producers in Victoria are applying more phosphorus (P) fertiliser and increasing stocking rates to increase production. At the same time, there is increasing awareness amongst research, community and producer groups that P-rich runoff water from agricultural land can contribute to the growth of undesirable algal blooms in surface waters. The loads, concentrations and forms of P in surface and subsurface hydrological flow pathways were estimated or measured directly on high and low P fertility hill slope plots in south-west Victoria to assess how this practice change could affect the P status of runoff and drainage water. Small plot rainfall simulator studies were also conducted to investigate pasture management treatment effects. The spatial and temporal distribution of P loss from hillslope pastures, and the processes of P mobilisation in runoff identified in this study were used to identify appropriate management practises to help minimise P losses in runoff. Runoff P concentrations were then related to properties of pasture soils and runoff at a range of locations across Victoria to identify whether simple models and/or soil P tests could be used to predict P concentrations in runoff.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/245068 |
| Creators | Melland, Alice Rowena |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Terms and Conditions: Copyright in works deposited in the University of Melbourne Eprints Repository (UMER) is retained by the copyright owner. The work may not be altered without permission from the copyright owner. Readers may only, download, print, and save electronic copies of whole works for their own personal non-commercial use. Any use that exceeds these limits requires permission from the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from these works., Open Access |
Page generated in 0.0018 seconds