New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts

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Short communication

Potential waterway contamination associated with wintering deer on pastures and forage crops

R. W. McDowell

D. R. Stevens

AgResearch
Invermay Agricultural Centre
Private Bag 50034
Mosgiel 9053, New Zealand

Abstract Two wintering systems common to deer farming in southern New Zealand were studied to determine the relative contaminant losses in overland flow from pasture or forage crop grazed during winter. Contaminant concentrations (dissolved reactive phosphorus, total dissolved phosphorus, total phosphorus, particulate phosphorus, suspended sediment, ammonium-N, nitrate+nitrite-N, and Escherichia coli) were greater after grazing than before and generally greater from the forage crop than pasture. Dissolved reactive phosphate was an exception, being lost in similar quantities from both wintering systems. On average, all contaminants exceeded national guidelines for lowland surface water quality. Of greatest concern were Escherichia coli from the forage crop system and dissolved reactive phosphorus from both systems, as these may not be filtered by buffer strips or riparian areas and are major causes of contamination problems in the region.

Keywords Escherichia coli; erosion; nutrients; water quality

A07179; Online publication date 14 August 2008; Received 1 November 2007; accepted 26 June 2008

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2008, Vol. 51: 287–290
0028–8233/08/5103–0287 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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