(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2005-04)
Risse, L. Mark; Faucette, L. Britt; Gaskin, Julia W.; Jordan, Carl F.; Cabrera, Miguel L.; West, Larry T.
Soil erosion is one of the largest contributors to nonpoint source pollution in Georgia. The use of surface applied organic amendments has been shown to reduce runoff and erosion and improve vegetative establishment on degraded soils such as those common to Georgia. In this study, four types of compost blankets, hydroseed, silt fence, and a bare soil (control) were applied in field test plots. Treatments were seeded with common bermuda grass. Simulated rainfall was applied at an average rate equivalent to a 50 yr one-hour storm event, and runoff samples were collected and analyzed for solids as well as runoff quantity. Three simulated rain events were conducted: immediately after treatment application, at vegetation establishment, and at vegetation maturity. In the short term, compost treatments produced significantly less runoff than the hydroseeded and bare soil plots. All treatments proved better than the control at reducing solids loss. Total solids loads were as much as 350% greater from the hydroseeded plots compared to the composts during the first storm and as much as 36 times greater during the second storm. Vegetative growth and nutrient loss data were also evaluated.
(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2001-03)
Gaskin, Julia W.; Risse, L. Mark; Faucette, L. Britt; Segars, William I.; Worley, Phil C.
Water quality monitoring was begun in
March of 1999 on the Redbud Farm near Calhoun,
Georgia to evaluate the effects of beef cattle production on
water quality. The monitoring network includes
streamwater entering and leaving the farm, and sites
comparing areas where the cattle have no access to the
stream and unrestricted access. Overall water quality
during baseflow is good. Average nutrient and sediment
concentrations increase where cattle have stream access.
Average stormflow concentrations of nutrients and
sediment are five to 15 times higher than baseflow
concentrations. Preliminary data indicate water quality can
be maintained by restricting cattle access to the stream.