Long-term effectiveness of grass filter strips in nutrient reduction within agricultural headwater streams

Authors: BALCERZAK, ASHLEE - The Ohio State University; Smiley, Peter - Rocky; KALCIC, MARGARET - The Ohio State University; King, Kevin

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/1/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Grass filter strips consist of herbaceous vegetation planted at the edge of agricultural fields next to a stream or river. They run lateral to streams or rivers and are designed to control non-point source pollution by trapping sediment and decreasing the amount of nutrients and pesticides flowing into agricultural streams. Grass filter strips have been installed throughout the United States with the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. For this long-term study, eight streams within the Upper Big Walnut Creek Watershed in Central Ohio were selected based on riparian habitat type. Three streams possessed riparian habitats with remnant vegetation, three had grass filter strips and two had forested, riparian habitat. It is hypothesized that streams with forested, riparian habitat will be the most effective in nutrient reduction and streams with grass filter strips will be the second most effective in nutrient reduction. Water samples for the measurement of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved reactive phosphorus, soluble nitrogen were collected from each stream from January 2006 to December 2017. Our long-term results will help develop novel riparian habitat management strategy to provide water quality solutions for agricultural water quality issues.