Water Quality Concerns in
Ohio Waters
What has been Happening in Lake
Erie?
Greg LaBarge, Field Specialist, Agronomic Systems
Discussion
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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
• BMP’s
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
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
Annual Loads
of Phosphorus
Total Phosphorus
Erie,
Total
LoadstotoLake
Lake
Erie1967-2007
Total Phosphorus, Metric Tons
30,000
Target load for total phosphorus of
11,000 metric tons set in ~1978
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
1967
1972
1977
1982
1987
1992
Water Year, 1967 - 2007
Source: Hiedelberg University
1997
2002
2007
Source: Hiedelberg University
Renewed Concerns about Lake Erie and
Nutrient Loading
• Issue in 1960-1970’s was Total P Loading
• Issue in 1990-2000’s is Bioavailable or
Dissolved Reactive Phosphorous
Interesting Lake Erie Facts
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
8/11/11 Image Lake Erie
July, 2011
Source:http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/Centers/HABS/graphics/wle_hab2_%20072211.jpg
10/09/11 Image Lake Erie
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
lakes—Western 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
Agriculture in Lake Erie Basin
• 4.2 Million Acres
Maumee Watershed
• 4.9 Million Total
• 59.1% cropland
• 72% cropland in
Western
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 > 1”
snow (Injected or incorporated within 24hr)
of
• No surface application when 50% chance of ppt.
>0.5in for >24h
Source:
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/portals/12/water/watershedprograms/GLSM/Watersh
ed_in_Distres_FactSheet.pdf
Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient
Movement off -site
• The 4-R’s of Fertilizer material application.
– ‘Right’ Time
– ‘Right’ Place
– ‘Right’ Amount
– ‘Right’ Material
Source: DRAFT document of the Ohio Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
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 Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
Fertility Applications
• Frozen and
snow
covered
application
s have the
greatest
risk of off
site
movement
whether
manure or
commercial
fertilizer
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 Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
Rainfall simulator study, NW Ohio, Nov 2009
Dissolved P, ppm
16
14
Control
12
DAP
10
Poultry litter
8
6
4
2
0
Tilled-incorporated
Tilled-surface
No-till cover
• P sources applied at 80 lb P2O5 per acre
• Total P loss < 2% of amount applied
• Rain @ 2.4”/hour; first 30 minutes runoff
Mullen, 2011, unpublished
No-till
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 Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
Fertility Rates
Crop
P- Bray 1
(PPM)
P- Bray 1
(lbs/A)
Corn
15
30
Soybeans
15
30
Wheat
25
50
Alfalfa
25
50
Crop
P- Bray 1
(PPM)
P- Bray 1
(lbs/A)
Corn
30
60
Soybeans
30
60
Wheat
40
80
Alfalfa
40
80
Crop
P- Bray 1
(PPM)
P- Bray 1
(lbs/A)
Corn
40
80
Soybeans
40
80
Wheat
50
100
Alfalfa
50
100
Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient
Movement off -site
• In addition to the 4 R’s- Improve Soil
Quality.
– Soil organic matter.
– Soil compaction.
– Water infiltration rates.
– Methods to reduce runoff.
Source: DRAFT document of the Ohio Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
Recommendations to Reduce Nutrient
Movement off-site
• In addition to the 4 R’s- 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 Director’s Working Group on Ag Nutrients 12/19/11
Summary
• Phosphorous is the focus. but not Total P
but Dissolved Reactive P (DRP)
• Agriculture has a role (not the only focus)
and BMP’s can minimize impact Timing of
application
– 4 R’s of fertilizer application
– Conservation practices
– Rates based on Tri-state
– Improve soil quality and crop yields