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ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #331109
Title: Effects of conservation practices on phosphorus loss reduction from an Indiana agricultural watershed

Author
item FENG, QINGYU - Purdue University
item ENGEL, BERNARD - Purdue University
item Flanagan, Dennis
item Huang, Chi Hua

Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/18/2016
Publication Date: 7/17/2016
Citation: Feng, Q., Engel, B., Flanagan, D.C., Huang, C. 2016. Effects of conservation practices on phosphorus loss reduction from an Indiana agricultural watershed. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE), July 17-20, 2016, Orlando, Florida. 2016. USB.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Phosphorus losses from agricultural lands have caused serious eutrophication problems, particularly in Lake Erie. However, techniques that can effectively reduce total and soluble phosphorus losses from croplands and drainage channels can be difficult to implement and gauge. This modeling study was aimed at evaluating the effects of soil and water conservation practices that could reduce phosphorus losses at the field and small watershed scales. In the study reported in this paper we utilized the Agricultural Policy Environmental eXtender (APEX) model to evaluate the effectiveness of these practices across a range of scales, and explored the effects of scenarios with different types, extents, and combinations of practices. The USDA-ARS National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory (NSERL) is actively monitoring over a dozen field and watershed catchments in the St. Joseph River Basin in northeastern Indiana. Field observations and data from these monitoring stations includes effects of existing land management and conservation practices on runoff, sediment losses, pesticide losses, and nutrient (N and P) losses. The NSERL data was critical for achieving a properly calibrated and validated APEX model, and then the calibrated parameters were used in the scenario trials. This study will provide important information for optimal placement of these practices, and also for potentially targeting of hotspot areas for phosphorus loss reductions.