Optimization of Best Management Practice for Beef Cattle Ranching in the Lake Okeechobee Basin

A cooperative project of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water Management District, and McArthur Agroecology Research Center to optimize beef cattle stocking rates and develop an associated Best Management Practice (BMP) that promotes the environmental and economic sustainability of beef cattle practices in Florida.  For BMP's to be effective they must result in reduced phosphorus runoff loads from the grazed pastures while not substantially increasing net costs for the rancher.

WM796 Progress Report #5
(Statistical Analysis (Nutrient Concentrations)
July 31, 2002
Dr. John C. Capece

B. Houssard
Jurate Barkauskaite

The MAERC Buck Island Ranch project seeks to evaluate the effects of cattle stocking rate on water quality. After gathering all the water quality result files, Laurence Amilhat performed the statistical analysis for the data of the years 1998/1999, that is to say the two first years of the project. However, the data did not yield clear conclusions. This paper reports the study and the conclusions that result from the 1998-2001 data.
 

See more PROGRESS REPORT #5.pdf.

PROGRESS REPORT #5.doc

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WM796 Progress Report #4
(QA/QC & Nutrient Loads, 2001)
August 1, 2002
Dr. John C. Capece
Jurate Barkauskaite

The 4^th progress repot for WM 769 stoking rate BMP demonstration project at MEARC is focus on summarizing and analyzing data for all the years 1998-2001, also flow and annual nutrient calculation for the year 2001. The previous reports were for water quality and flow calculations during the years 2000 and 2002.

The task documented in this report include:

·       Rainfalls Summary 1998-2001

·       Runoff Summary 1998-2001;

·       Concentrations Summary 1998-2001;

·       Mean concentrations and loads summary based on  different  treatment 1998-2001;

·       Back flow, runoff, and combined flow concentrations  summary for  2001;

·       Annual load assessment 1998-2001;

·       Load summary for TP, NH₄, NO_x, TKN, Ortho-P    parameters 2001;

·       Load summary for summer and winter plots 2001;

                                  QA/QC analysis results 2001.

See more PROGRESS REPORT #4.pdf.

PROGRESS REPORT #4.doc

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WM796 Progress Report #3
(Runoff Data, 2001) 
May 2, 2002
Dr. John C. Capece
Jurate Barkauskaite

Rainfall at MAERC for the year 2001 was more than double that of the previous year (approximately 59 inches vs. 25 inches).  Therefore, many more runoff events were recorded in the year 2001 by the 16 flume systems located on the MAERC summer and winter pasture plots.  Measured runoff from the pasture plots ranged from 9 to 15 inches.  General descriptions for the four figures and one table presented for each flume are: 

Figure #a.  Adjusted Flow Values (and Sample Collection Dates)

Figure #b.  Adjusted Flume Water Depths

Figure #c.  Original Flow Values (and Sample Collection Dates)

Figure #d.  Original Flume Water Depths

Table #.    Point by Point Comparisons of Flume Water Depths and Resulting Adjustments

See more PROGRESS REPORT #3

Nutrient load results for the year 2000 were very low because of the low runoff volumes experienced during this drought year (less than 0.5 inches total).  Tasks documented in this report include:  

Tasks documented in this report include: 

1. QA/QC assessments of the water stage and flow measurements.

2. Determination of runoff and inflow volumes for each plot.

3.Date-matching of water quality sampling results and the flow measurements.

4.Determination of net nutrient loads from each plot.

5.Correlation of nutrient loads with grazing treatments and pasture blocks.

See more PROGRESS REPORT #2

WM796 Progress Report #1
(QA/QC & Water Quality, 2000)
November 7, 2001
John C. Capece
Jurate Barkauskaite
Samuel Adu-Bitherman
Eva Muro
Marlene Canetti

Nutrient concentration results for the year 2000 are inconclusive due to the lack of significant storm water runoff during this relatively dry year in which only 25 inches of rainfall and less than 0.5 inches of runoff were observed at MAERC.  The mean TP concentrations for each pasture plot show no correlation with BMP treatments (cattle stocking rate).  The mean TP concentrations for the year 2000 on the winter pastures were higher than observations in 1998 and 1999.  The summer pastures TP concentrations during 2000 were similar in magnitude to those of previous years.

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 Southern DataStream