Assessment of contamination by intensive cattle activity through electrical resistivity tomography

The intensive animal production is considered highly risky for groundwater and soil because of high mobility of some contaminants from animal wastes. The aim of this work was to obtain an electrical conductivity image of unsaturated and saturated zones at a feedlot (cattle feeding field) at the surroundings of Buenos Aires city (Argentina) in order to detect the most critical sectors of the field, with regard to contamination by animal wastes. Dipole–dipole electrical soundings (electrical resistivity tomography) were performed at the corral zone and the surroundings. 2D and 3D models of conductivity were obtained. Even if there is a calcareous plate below some parts of the corrals and soil compaction is high, vertical infiltration or subsurface runoff may have occurred since these sites, with high animal charge, show soil conductivities higher than the surroundings. The models showed higher conductivities of saturated zone increasing in the direction of groundwater flow. These results were taken into account for further designs of soil and groundwater sampling. Groundwater conductivity was three times greater downgradient from the corrals with high concentrations of nitrates and phosphorous. A zone of high conductivity was found below a small channel of effluents from the corrals. ► Electrical resistivity tomography is sensitive to lixiviation of animal wastes. ► Soil conductivity increases with concentrations of nitrates and phosphorous. ► Electrical resistivity tomography is sensitive to groundwater contamination. ► Groundwater conductivity increases with concentrations of sulphates and nitrates.