Manure plume modelling in feedlot pen soils

ANA R. GRACÍA; SANTIAGO N. FLEITE; ALICIA F. DE IORIO

Environmental Earth Sciences

Springer Berlin Heidelberg

Año: 2019

1866-6280

The generation of large amounts of manure by confned cattle feeding operations (feedlot) in reduced areas is a concern dueto its potential to act as pollutant for ground and surface water. Studies have revealed that leaching may occur in pen soils,with negative efects on water quality. The objective of this work was to develop a mathematical model for predicting manureplume vertical advancement in soil beneath feedlot pens. The study was carried out in feedlot pens situated in a Argentineregion called the Sandy Pampa (Pampa Arenosa). Five areas or treatments were selected, four of which were located in pens(considerably impacted by beef cattle operations) with 1, 4, 8 and 15 years of use, and the remaining one in natural soil areaas control. The soil in the study areas was morphologically characterized. Applying standard procedures, the following variables were quantifed: gravimetric moisture content and chloride concentration in soil solution. Chloride ion was used as atracer to estimate manure fux. Data of diferent chloride profles adjusted to a frst-order model, from which it was possibleto predict the depth of penetration of the manure, and the factor of plume advance in the underlying soil. In addition, thedominance of fows was analyzed from the development of a fow number indicator (Nf), which could be useful for environmental regulatory purposes bringing a base for easy estimation of pollutant transport mechanism in water?soil systems.