How Did Water Quality Education Programs Effect Soil Phosphorus Levels in the Beaver River Watershed?
Agronomy & Pest Management
Mark Nelson
Extension Professor
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
BEAVER
Abstract
In 1994 the Beaver River Watershed began receiving special 319 funding to conduct projects that would help lower contamination of the Beaver River. These projects included manure management systems, fencing, improving irrigation systems, tours and educational trainings. In 1998 we tested 48 different pastures in the watershed to determine soil test phosphorus. We found that 35% of the fields tested showed high levels of phosphorus. Eleven years later, we decide to test the same pastures again to see if phosphorus levels had changed. In 2009 the tests showed that 31% of the fields had high phosphorus levels. Phosphorus levels have gone down, but not as significantly as we had hoped. As we looked at individual pastures, we found that five fields that were at normal levels in 1998, had increased to high levels by 2009. Six fields had gone from high levels down to adequate levels. We also found that nine of the fields that were high in 1998 were still very high in 2009. Upon visiting with the farmers whose phosphorus levels had gone up or stayed high, it was found that it boils down to economics. The fields with the high phosphorus levels were located closest to the dairies or feed lots and it would cost more money for the farmers to haul the manure to other fields. This shows that education can make a change but expenses will always play a role.
Authors: Nelson, M.
-
Nelson, M. Agricultural Agent, Utah State University, Utah, 84713