The effect of dairy, piggery and wool scour effluents on willow growth and the soil characteristics : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Soil Science at Massey University

Abstract

Restrictions on the disposal of agricultural effluents to the waterway means that alternative land based outlets are required in New Zealand. Willow, as a short forest rotation, represents a significant land use that could produce a high dry matter and benefit from the application of effluent irrigation. However, there has been little information on the effect of effluent irrigation on the growth of willow and the removal of nutrients. In order to assess the effects of dairy, piggery and wool scour effluents on willow growth, a greenhouse experiment was established using the Manawatu sandy fine loam soil. A complete nutrient solution and nutrient - free tap water treatments were also included in addition to the effluent treatments. The design of the experiment was a 5 x 2 factorial combination of treatments with four replications in randomized blocks. Two factors (effluents and irrigation rates) each with 5 levels were examined, the levels of irrigation were 12.5 mm, 25 mm, 37.5 mm, 50 mm and 62.5 mm per fortnight. The plant growth, production and macro-nutrients accumulation, and the soil pH, electrical conductivity, and total N, P and cations were monitored Irrigation with effluents affected the growth of willow cutting. The piggery and dairy effluent irrigation increased the willow growth and nutrient accumulation followed the increase in DM yield. The piggery and dairy irrigation accounted for 32% and 18% increase in total DM yield over tap water; while the wool scour effluent resulted in 17% decrease in comparison with tap water. Irrigation with dairy, piggery and wool scour effluents onto the Manawatu fine sandy loam soil, caused a significant increase in pH and EC. The significant change in pH and EC was attributed to the soluble salts in these effluents, especially K in the wool scour effluent. The recovery of N from these effluents was very small and was less than that of P and K in soil. Chemical analysis of willow, treated with dairy, piggery and wool scour effluents up to 8 weeks, showed a relatively high concentration of N, P and K in leaf, and had a very high K and a very low Mg concentration in leaf with wool scour effluent irrigation. However, the efficiency of the N, P and K nutrient accumulated by willow was inversely related to the concentration of these effluents and the DM yield of willow cutting was positively related to the irrigation rates. It was evident that willow cutting was too young to require a large quantity of nutrients at the early growth stage and there was a risk of nutrient loss with increasing irrigation rate. The application of wool scour effluent caused a very high pH and EC, and the willow cutting growth decreased at > 37.5 mm/fortnight irrigation rates. The reasons for the detrimental effects of wool scour effluent on soil properties and willow growth need to be investigated further. The results suggested that it is possible to enhance the willow growth and adjust the soil fertility by application of dairy and piggery effluents irrigation.