All Resources

Bow River phosphorus management plan : agricultural phosphorus beneficial management practices

Description

This publication outlines beneficial management practices to reduce the risk of phosphorus loss to the environment from agricultural production. It was written to support the Bow River Phosphorus... More ≫

Description

This publication outlines beneficial management practices to reduce the risk of phosphorus loss to the environment from agricultural production. It was written to support the Bow River Phosphorus Management Plan and focuses beneficial management practices in rural or agricultural settings.

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2015-16 certified reference material inter-laboratory study

Description

In 2015, certified reference materials for trace metals, ions and nutrients and total phosphorus were sent to three laboratories in Alberta as part of the quality assurance program to assess the... More ≫

Description

In 2015, certified reference materials for trace metals, ions and nutrients and total phosphorus were sent to three laboratories in Alberta as part of the quality assurance program to assess the performance of the commercial laboratories that generate data for the Alberta surface water monitoring programs. This report summarizes these results and makes recommendations for the surface water quality monitoring program and future certified reference material studies.

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Livestock production and phosphorus management

Description

This factsheet outlines some of the activities that are currently being implemented as well as potential opportunities to enhance those efforts to address nutrient loss from livestock production.

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Alberta River Water Quality Nutrients Index (years)

Description

The Alberta River Water Quality Index was developed as a way to summarize physical, chemical and biological data into a simple descriptor of water quality. The index is based on values annually... More ≫

Description

The Alberta River Water Quality Index was developed as a way to summarize physical, chemical and biological data into a simple descriptor of water quality. The index is based on values annually for four variable groups: metals, nutrients, bacteria, and pesticides. This record includes the nutrients index in map format for all major river systems in the province.

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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 2 : field study

Description

Numerous beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed and promoted to minimize the impacts of agriculture on the environment and increase the sustainability of the agricultural... More ≫

Description

Numerous beneficial management practices (BMPs) have been developed and promoted to minimize the impacts of agriculture on the environment and increase the sustainability of the agricultural industry. However, the effectiveness of BMPs under Alberta conditions is not well known. This study evaluates the effectiveness of nutrient BMPs on water quality improvement in prime agricultural regions in Alberta, at field and watershed scales, in order to provide viable options for sustainable agriculture and water quality protection.

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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 1 : summary and recommendations.

Description

This resource provides the conclusions and recommendations of the Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project, a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient... More ≫

Description

This resource provides the conclusions and recommendations of the Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project, a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in Alberta. Beneficial management practices are defined as conservation practices, management techniques, or social actions that minimize potential negative effects on the environment while being practical for producers to meet or exceed regulatory requirements and meet production targets.

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Nutrient beneficial management practices evaluation project. Volume 3 : modelling study

Description

The Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project was a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in... More ≫

Description

The Nutrient Beneficial Management Practices Evaluation Project was a six-year research project (2007-2012) to evaluate nutrient beneficial management practices at field and watershed scales in Alberta. This resource, Volume 3 in the final report on the project, presents the results of the modelling study. The Comprehensive Economic and Environmental Optimization Tool was used as the model.

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Nutrient loading calculator for in-field or extensive livestock winter feeding systems. Version 2.1

Description

This calculator is designed to help land managers plan detailed feed and cow management strategies to achieve an acceptable or target animal unit density per acre based on appropriate nutrient... More ≫

Description

This calculator is designed to help land managers plan detailed feed and cow management strategies to achieve an acceptable or target animal unit density per acre based on appropriate nutrient additions to the landscape. It can also be used as a record keeping tool of feed and cow management, and nutrient additions on specific sites.

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Manure application and nutrient balance on rangeland

Description

Manure application on native rangeland is not a recommended practice. Native rangelands are very fragile, with diverse eco-systems that have taken centuries to evolve to their present day steady... More ≫

Description

Manure application on native rangeland is not a recommended practice. Native rangelands are very fragile, with diverse eco-systems that have taken centuries to evolve to their present day steady state. In summary, the productivity of rangeland is self-maintained. Plant nutrients are naturally recycled and reused, but remain in equilibrium. When manure is applied beyond what is naturally applied by grazing animals, the natural self-sustaining system is disrupted.

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Modelling of the response of Pine Lake to reduced internal and external loadings

Description

The Pine Lake Restoration Society began various projects in 1995 designed to reduce nutrient loading and thereby control algal blooms in Pine Lake. Measures to control both external (e.g., runoff... More ≫

Description

The Pine Lake Restoration Society began various projects in 1995 designed to reduce nutrient loading and thereby control algal blooms in Pine Lake. Measures to control both external (e.g., runoff from agricultural sites) and internal phosphorus loadings (e.g., sewage in ground water and sediment phosphorus release) are being implemented. To assess the potential benefits of these projects, a water quality model (Bathtub 5.3)(Walker 1986) was used by Water Sciences Branch, Alberta Environmental Protection to predict theoretical changes in phosphorus concentration in Pine Lake after various levels of reduction in external and internal phosphorus loading. Predictive equations for Pine Lake were then developed to predict changes in algal biomass (chlorophyll a) and transparency (Secchi depth) based on the new phosphorus concentrations predicted by the model.

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