Efficacy of Using Dairy Manure Compost as Erosion Control and Revegetation Material.

In a simulated rainfall study, first flush (one liter) and the remaining runoff samples were collected from 12 non-vegetated and isolated field plots established on a 3:1 embankment constructed as a road right-ofway. These plots were assigned to four treatments namely compost manufactured topsoil (CMT); 2.5 cm of dairy manure compost (DMC) incorporated into 8-cm of topsoil, erosion control blanket (ECC); a 5-cm layer of DMC and woodchips blended (2.5 cm each mixed by volume) and applied on top of the undisturbed soil, agronomic rate compost (ARC); DMC broadcast at 39.5 t/ha, and commercial fertilizer (CF); broadcast at the rate of 112kg N /ha, 49 kg P /ha, and 83 kg K /ha, respectively. The ECC plots had smaller total runoff mass than all other treatments and significantly lower TS and TSS in the runoff as compared to those in the runoff from CF plots. Overall, plots amended with DMC or DMC/woodchips blend, though much higher in N, P and K, produced less runoff and sediment and nutrients in the runoff as compared to the mineral fertilizer plots without any organic amendment. It was concluded that ECC and CMT treatments established to control erosion and revegetate, respectively, a newly constructed road-right-of-way and shortly there after, subjected to rain (a worst case scenario) will be effective in erosion control. Even though compared to the CF treatment, generally smaller quantities of N, P and K were measured in the runoff from ECC and CMT treatment plots, N and P concentrations in the runoff were high from the standpoint of water quality.