Physical and Chemical Properties of Feedlot Pen Surfaces Located on Moderately Coarse- and Moderately Fine-Textured Soils in Southern Alberta

• Published in: Journal of environmental quality 2008-07, Vol.37 (4), p.1589-1598
• Main Authors: Miller, J.J, Curtis, T, Larney, F.J, McAllister, T.A, Olson, B.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alberta; Animals; Beef; Canada, Alberta; Cattle; cattle feeding; Chemical properties; Chlorides; Contaminants; E coli; electrical conductivity; Feedlots; hydraulic conductivity; Hydraulics; Infiltration; infiltration (hydrology); inspection; Leaching; Loam soils; Manures; pens; Physical properties; Q1; Q3; Rain; sodium; Soil; soil chemical properties; Soil physical properties; Soil profiles; soil properties; Soil sciences; Soil texture; Soils; Studies; textural soil types; Water flow; Water pollution; Water potential
• ISSN: 0047-2425; 1537-2537
• DOI: 10.2134/jeq2007.0422

Southern Alberta has the highest density of feedlot cattle in Canada, and there is a concern that leaching of water and contaminants may be greater for feedlots located on coarser-textured than finer-textured soils. Our objective was to determine if infiltration and leaching were greater for a 4-yr-old feedlot located on a moderately coarse-textured (MC) soil compared with two feedlots located on moderately fine-textured (MF) soils (5- and 52-yr-old pens). Various soil physical properties of feedlot pen surfaces were measured, including field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) and near-saturated hydraulic conductivity at -0.9 and -3.9 cm water potential. Selected chemical properties of feedlot soil layers were measured, as well as the chloride content of the soil profile (0-100 cm). Mean Kfs, K(-0.9), and K(-3.9) values were not significantly (P > 0.10) greater at the MC site than the two MF sites, indicating no evidence of greater infiltration on coarser-textured soils. In addition, mean Kfs, K(-0.9), and K(-3.9) values of soils within feedlot pens at all three sites were significantly (P 0.10) reduced by 46 to 78% compared with soil outside the pens. Depth of chloride accumulation was greatest at the 52-yr-old feedlot on MF soil (60-70 cm), followed by 4-yr-old feedlot on MC soil (40-50 cm) and 5-yr-old feedlot on MF soil (30-40 cm). Visual inspection determined that the black interface layer formed within 2 mo of cattle stocking at all three sites.