A review of information on the transportation of dairy effluent through soil and the associated on-farm practices
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Authors
Date
2010-11
Type
Other
Fields of Research
Abstract
Politically and publicly it has been decided that water quality and quantity are
fundamentally important for the future of New Zealand. While this appears to be an
appropriate goal that fits with our Clean Green and Pure NZ slogans it overlooks the
challenge that it imposes on the primary production sector. Finding the balance
between public expectation (pristine water) and what is realistically achievable and
affordable is the tension that dairy farmers are grappling with at present.
Effluent management and non compliance with Council rules have become the focus.
While concerns existed in the 1990's about the success of applying dairy effluent to
land it wasn't until 2003 before there was any significant investigation and scientific
research. The purpose of this report is to;
1. review the available information on farm dairy effluent management with an
emphasis on information that describes what happens to effluent once it is
discharged to land,
2. summarise the basic principles and terminology associated with soil and
irrigation that are relevant to keeping effluent within the root zone (ie
achieving Best Practice),
3. identify the key factors and data that is required to achieve Best Practice,
4. link the findings to existing on-farm systems and provide practical guidance
about applying effluent to land and choosing the 'right' effluent management
system,
5. test the validity of the information and guidance by undertaking a case study,
6. provide information in a format that can used to develop regulations, Fact
Sheets or educational material for rural professionals, Councils, AglTO and
farmers.
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