Location: Sustainable Water Management Research
Project Number: 6066-13000-006-021-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 15, 2022
End Date: Aug 14, 2025
Objective:
To incorporate edge-of-field runoff water quantity monitoring and water quality sampling into a horticultural based agroforestry system amended with organic and inorganic nitrogen sources.
Approach:
Alcorn State University has an ongoing 16 plot study with four replicates of four treatments: compost manure addition, poultry litter addition, urea prill amendments, and control (no amendments). Plots will be regraded as needed and berms added to ensure a single point of runoff from each of 4-8 plots (one or two replicates of each treatment). Each plot will be equipped with an automatic runoff sampler (ISCO GLS, Teledyne ISCO, Lincoln, Nebraska) and an area velocity flow sensor (ISCO 2150) to collect composite water samples and flow rates for runoff events. Within 24 hours of rainfall or irrigation events, runoff samples will be collected, placed on ice, immediately transported to the Alcorn State University’s Ecology and Natural Resources laboratory, and stored at 4°C (usually <24 hours) until analysis. Variables measured will include runoff, solids, and nutrients and their various species. Surface runoff samples will be processed and analyzed according to APHA (2005).
