New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research abstracts
An overview of the environmental effects of land application of
farm effluents
Hailong Wang
Gujja N. Magesan
Forest Research
Private Bag 3020
Rotorua, New Zealand
Nanthi S. Bolan
Institute of Natural Resources
Massey University, Private Bag
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Abstract New Zealand dairy and pig farms generate
significant amounts of effluents that contain high concentrations of
nutrients such as nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and phosphorus (P), and
various trace contaminants (e.g., heavy metals, organic compounds, and
endocrine-disrupting chemicals). Land application is a preferred option
for farm effluent management. Regulations have been imposed to limit
the land application of farm effluent to 150–200 kg N ha–1
to minimise potential leaching loss of nitrate to groundwater. However,
focusing mainly on nutrient recycling from farm effluent application
has resulted in the effects of other effluent constituents, such as
microbial pathogens, heavy metals, odorants and oestrogens, on the
receiving ecosystems being overlooked. In this literature review, we
assess land-applied farm effluents and their beneficial and potentially
adverse effects on the receiving environment. Long-term application of
farm effluent based on N loading can lead to P and heavy metal
accumulation in the soil. High concentrations of K in effluent are
likely to cause pasture nutrient imbalance and induce animal health
problems. Recently, there has been some research interest in the role
of runoff P in eutrophication of receiving water, effluent-derived
pathogen survival and movement in soil ecosystems, effect of
effluent-borne dissolved organic matter on pesticide transport in soil
profile, and degradation of oestrogens in land-applied effluent.
Further research in these areas in New Zealand is needed to help
sustain the agricultural industry.
Keywords effluent; farm dairy; irrigation; land
application; pasture; piggery; wastewater
A04058; Received 4 June 2004; accepted 15 October 2004; Online
publication date 15 December 2004
New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 2004, Vol. 47:
389–403
0028–8233/04/4704–0389 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2004
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