Mitigation of phosphorus and faecal bacteria losses to water from horse paddocks

Summary

The losses of P and faecal microbes from outdoor paddocks are possible to decrease by removing
dung, choosing the right floor materials and adding of the P-binding material into the surface layer
of the floor. In the present study, sand retained more P and faecal coliforms than woodchips. The
concentrations were lower in percolation water compared to surface runoff water, since the floor
materials retained P and sieved coliforms. Addition of Fe-containing amendment into the sand floor
decreased P concentrations and possibly also numbers of faecal coliforms in percolation water.
More research is, however, needed to obtain the right amendments and suitable amounts.