Combining cottage cheese whey and straw reduces erosion while increasing infiltration in furrow irrigation

Brown, M. J. and Robbins, C. W. and Freeborn, L. L. (1998) Combining cottage cheese whey and straw reduces erosion while increasing infiltration in furrow irrigation. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 53(2):152-156.

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Abstract

Loose straw in irrigation furrows can decrease irrigation induced erosion, and acid cottage cheese whey can increase soil aggregate stability and soil infiltration. A field study was conducted at two sites where these materials were compared alone and in combination to determine their effectiveness in increasing infiltration and reducing irrigation induced erosion. Straw was applied by hand and whey was applied by gravity flow down irrigation furrows, 76 cm apart, and the field was planted to sweet corn (Zea Mays L.). Straw + whey was the most effective treatment for controlling erosion and sediment loss. Seasonal infiltration was significantly higher for straw + whey than for other treatments at the first site, and all three treatments increased infiltration over that of the control at the second site. These studies showed that two inexpensive agricultural byproducts, cottage cheese whey and straw, applied to irrigation furrows of different slopes can significantly reduce soil loss and increase infiltration.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0963
Subjects:	Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Erosion > Sraw residue Irrigation > Furrow irrigation > Infiltration > Straw residue Soil > Amendments > Whey Soil > Erosion Mass Import - autoclassified (may be erroneous)
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	07 Mar 2008 19:21
Last Modified:	20 Oct 2016 16:17
Item ID:	1259
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/1259