| Abstrakt: |
This study assessed the effect of vegetative filter strip (VFS) in removal of suspended sediment (SS), total nitrogen, total phosphorus and Escherichia coli(E. coli) in overland flow to improve receiving water quality standards. Four and half kilograms of cowpat manure was applied to the model pasture 14 m beyond the edge of vegetated filter strip (VFS) comprising 10-m Napier grass draining into 20-m Kikuyu grass (VFS II), 10-m Kikuyu grass draining into 20-m Napier grass (VFS III) and native grass mixture of Couch–Buffel (VFS I-control). Overland flow water samples were collected from the sites at positions 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 m along the length of VFSs. E. coliremoval by Napier grass VFS was on the order of log unit, which provided an important level of protection and reduced surface-flow concentrations of E. colito below the 200 (CFU 100 mL−1) recommended water quality standards, but not for nutrients and SS. The Napier grass showed highest efficiency (99.6 %), thus outperforming both Kikuyu grass (85.8 %) and Couch–Buffel grasses VFS (67.9 ± 4.2 %) in removing E. colifrom overland flow. The low-level efficiency of native Couch–Buffel grasses in reducing E. coliin overland flow was because of preferential flow. Composition and design of VFS was instrumental and could be applied with a high potential of contracting the uncertainty in improving water quality standards through mass reduction of SS, nutrients and E. coliload in watersheds. |
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