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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #235320
Title: Removal of nutrient and pesticides from tile drainage discharge using an end-of-tile cartridge approach

Author
item King, Kevin
item MCDONALD, JON - KRISTAR ENTERPRISES
item MOORE, JAMES - USGA
item BALOGH, JAMES - SPECTRUM RESEARCH INC

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/24/2008
Publication Date: 6/21/2009
Citation: King, K.W., Mcdonald, J., Moore, J., Balogh, J. 2009. Removal of nutrient and pesticides from tile drainage discharge using an end-of-tile cartridge approach [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Nutrient transport from subsurface tile drainage is pretty well documented. One approach receiving consideration for reducing the amount of nutrients and pesticides in subsurface drainage waters is end-of-tile filters. The filters are often comprised of industrial wastes or by-products that have a significant capacity for binding or sorbing nutrients and pesticides. A laboratory study was conducted to test the efficacy of an activated carbon, zeolite (clinoptilolite), and activated alumina filter to capture nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, metalaxyl, and chlorothalonil. Hydrographs with peak flow rates of 0.06, 0.13, and 0.19 lps were tested. Across all flow rates, reductions in nitrate-nitrogen load was 4.7%, dissolved reactive phosphorus, 51.6%, chlorothalonil, 58.2%, and metalaxyl, 28.8%. The findings from this study suggest that the end-of-tile filter approach could be used as a best management practice to reduce nutrient and pesticide transport is subsurface tile drainage.