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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #58713
Title: PESTICIDE TRANSPORT RESEARCH AT THE NSL: PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

Author
item Smith Jr, Sammie
item Cooper, Charles
item Knight, Scott
item Willis, Guye
item Southwick Jr, Lloyd

Submitted to: Mississippi Water Resources Research Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Pesticide research at the NSL (National Sedimentation Laboratory) has been conducted for over a quarter of a century. Studies have dealt with organochlorine insecticide residues in bottom sediments of the Mississippi River, pesticides in runoff from flatlands of the Mississippi Delta, pesticides in Mississippi River alluvial streams and oxbow lake ecosystems, movement of pesticides in washoff from crop canopies, ecological effects of pesticides on upland stream watershed components, and transport of pesticides in upland farming systems on restrictive layer soils. Most recently the NSL has taken a leadership role in the multi- agency Mississippi Delta MSEA (Management Systems Evaluation Area) research project to develop and evaluate alternative and innovative farming systems for improved water quality/ecology in the Mississippi Delta. This paper provides other participating agencies and all those interested in the MSEA project with a comprehensive review of pesticide related studies that have been conducted at the NSL and with insight into the depth of experience of NSL scientists in conducting this type of research

Technical Abstract: The National Sedimentation Laboratory (NSL) has conducted pesticide- related studies for over a quarter of a century. These studies have made important contributions to national issues associated with water quality. Studies in the late 60's focused on chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide residues occurring in Mississippi River streambed sediments. In the early and middle 70's, studies dealt with pesticides transported in runoff from Mississippi Delta flatlands and with pesticide volatilization from crop canopies in the Mississippi Delta. By the late 70's and early 80's, NSL scientists conducted watershed-scale/drainage network-scale studies of pesticide residues occurring in the major components of Mississippi River alluvial stream and oxbow lake ecosystems. These studies included comprehensive ecological evaluations. NSL scientists in cooperation with ARS researchers from the Baton Rouge, Louisiana location concurrently conducted in-depth field-scale studies related to pesticide persistence in and washoff from crop canopies as affected by weather variables, application method, formulation, and time after application. From the late 80's to the present, pesticide-related studies at the NSL have centered on non-point source stresses on upland stream watersheds and on upland farming systems for improved water quality. Because of this extensive experience, NSL and other ARS scientists will play major roles in the forthcoming Mississippi Delta MSEA (Management System Evaluation Area) research project. The major objective of this study is development and evaluation of alternative and innovative farming systems for improved water quality/ecology in the Mississippi Delta and links proper farming practices to improved lake ecosystem health.