Mitigation options for phosphorus & sediment (MOPS)
The MOPS project site at Loddington, Leicestershire is run by Lancaster University. The farm is managed by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust's Allerton Project which seeks to demonstrate means of farming profitably with minimal environmental impact.
The soils at the site consist of Hanslope and Denchworth series clays on a steep slope. In order to minimise losses of sediment and phosphorus we are using 3 treatments:
- contour cultivation
- minimal tillage
- beetle banks
We have also intercepted tramlines to look at the impacts of tramlines on phosphorus and sediment losses.
Methods
Surface runoff is collected in drains at the foot of hill slope length plots. Runoff is collected after rainfall events and flows down the pipes to the collectors.
The runoff is subdivided by tipping bucket splitters which allow between ½ and ⅛ of the sample to be collected in tanks. This is sub-sampled and analysed for total phosphorus, phosphorus <0.45µm, sediment content, and nitrogen.
Sampling at Loddington takes place between October and July.
MOPS1 has now finished. The summary and final report are available to view on the link below.
MOPS2 is currently underway to look at areas not previously covered in MOPS1.
| Registered charity no. 1112023.
