Field evaluation of vegetative filter effectiveness and runoff quality from unstocked feedlots.

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, July, 2006 by Barnes, P.L.; Boyer, J.E.; Harner, J.P.; Kalita, P.K.; Mankin, K.R.

Smaller beef cattle feedlots--less than 1,000 head--are often used for only a part of each year, but little is known about the pollution potential caused by feedlot residual manure when cattle are not present or about the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips under these conditions. This study quantified beef cattle feedlot runoff quality, particularly during unstocked conditions, evaluated reductions of fecal bacteria and nutrients in vegetative filter strips treating feedlot runoff, and assessed the relative importance of site characteristics on observed reductions. Established vegetative filter strips on four commercial feedlots located across central and eastern Kansas were instrumented with automated samplers at vegetative filter strip inlets and outlets, and 22 feedlot...

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