Agricultural lands are important nonpoint sources of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N), yet little is known about edge of field nutrient characteristics from snowmelt or rainfall runoff upon frozen ground. Although much more difficult to collect, samples from these periods show large contributions to total nutrient losses, as up to 94% of annual total N and P loading at the University of Platteville's Pioneer Farm occurs during frozen ground periods. In the 2010 water year 12 edge of field sites were monitored year-round and the measured average dissolved reactive P runoff concentration during frozen ground conditions was 6.6 mg/L (max = 19 mg/L) and average nitrite+nitrate concentration was 1.9 mg/L (max = 12 mg/L), which were over five times the averages measured during non-frozen rainfall runoff conditions. This research highlights the need to quantify snowmelt mediated nutrient transport as a means to better understand nutrient inputs into the environment.

Nutrient speciation of nonpoint source snowmelt runoff in agricultural sub-watersheds

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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