Western Producer: Study shifts water nutrient load responsibility

A new study spearheaded by two University of Manitoba researchers is giving more insight into where nutrients running off into Prairie waterways are coming from, and pasture manure may not be the biggest culprit.

The study, led by soil scientist David Lobb and Marcos Cordeiro of the department of animal science, sought to model nitrogen and phosphorus levels in the surface runoff of three watersheds: one each in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Their model, calibrated to be specific to Western Canada’s conditions, incorporated 15 years of weather data to account for the impacts of precipitation. Statistical analysis allowed researchers to estimate the relative contribution of soil, vegetation and manure to nutrient export. Simulations captured the dynamics in snow accumulation and stream discharge.

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