Monitoring vegetative treatment system performance for open beef feedlot runoff control

Vegetative treatment systems (VTS) are an alterative technology designed to control runoff from open beef feedlots. A VTS consists of a solids settling basin (SSB) followed by a vegetative treatment area (VTA) or a combination of vegetative infiltration basin (VIB) and a VTA. Four sites were monitored in 2006 and 2007 to evaluate the performance of the VTSs in Iowa. In 2006, the percent runoff control at Central IA 1 & 2 and Northwest IA 1 & 2 was measured as 99, 74, 96, and 98 respectively. In 2007, the SSB outlets were actively managed and the percent runoff control at Central IA 1 & 2 and Northwest IA 1 & 2 was measured as 55, 80, 85, and 99 respectively. Limited SSB storage capacity, ponded conditions in the VIBs, lower infiltrations rates of the VTA soil, high water table under the VTAs and SSB management techniques were identified as the key factors affecting the overall VTS performance.