Author
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Hatfield, Jerry |
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Prueger, John |
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Submitted to: Multiple Objective Decision Support Systems for Land, Water, and Environment
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Environmental quality from agricultural systems has been difficult to quantify because of the variation among practices across a watershed. Subsurface drained agricultural lands show a large amount of nitrate-nitrogen loss that is highly correlated to precipitation. Soil water use and subsurface drainage account for 85 to 99% of the total precipitation in the midwest United States. Soil water use patterns can be altered by tillage, and evaporation is a function of soil type and landscape position. A conceptual model of soil water management across a subsurface drained watershed is being developed to understand potential management scenarios that would improve nitrogen use and water use efficiency. The components are soil distribution across the watershed, distribution of subsurface drains, field boundaries including tillage, fertilizer, and crop information, and precipitation. This concept is being developed in cooperation with a producer to determine where improvements in decision-making can impact both environmental quality and economic returns. |
