Progress 09/15/01 to 09/14/05
Outputs
Biosolids as a BMP alternative to inorganic fertilizer was evaluated on Bahia pasture at the Escambia Co., Fla. 4H Farm. Four treatments (3 reps each) were control (no additions); NH4NO3 (200 lbs/ac); biosolids (2.3 tn/ac); 3X biosolids. Soils were assessed for metals and organic matter; nutrients were assessed in runoff- and soil- water. Biosolids increased infiltration rate over control or inorganic fertilizer treatments. Yields (weight of grass cuttings) were: inorganic fertilizer=3X-biosolids>1X-biosolids>control. Runoff water quality was impaired in biosolids treatments relative to controls. During the 2004 field season, we will test whether this problem is ameliorated by applying treatments only to the upper half of the plots, using the lower half of each as a buffer strip. A vegetated filter strip (VFS) designed to improve water quality of storm-induced discharge from a commercial open-pond catfish culture system was evaluated. Overflow was directed along a 10m
x 150m VFS; discharge-water samples along the VFS were collected. Microbes (N2-fixing, NH3-utilizing, NO3-utilizing, heterotrophs, fungi, yeasts, protists) were enumerated. Although N-fixing prokaryotes increased along the VFS as NH4+ decreased, N-fixation was not detected by acetylene reduction. The VFS exponentially elevated DO of the pond overflow along the VFS and exponentially attenuated NH4+ and TSS. Watershed snapshots were obtained by sampling confluences of tributaries (Escambia & Perdido Rivers, Fla. & Ala.) with main stems and road crossings within an 8-h window. Data (conductivity, pH, DO, Enterococcus, nutrients) were used to identify hotspots and to relate them to rational TMDLs for regional waters. GIS layers of land usage were added to infer possible pollution sources and suggest remedial actions. Summer Science Teacher workshops were integrated with research; classroom discussion and community outreach were facilitated by PIs. Lead Teacher Education (summer 2002; 7
teachers from Escambia & Santa Rosa Co., Fla.); Workshops for 7 teachers, 6 students (summer 2003); Development of Instructional Modules; Summer Camps for High School- Middle School- Students (2004); GPS workshops (6 teachers, 2002; 7 teachers, 5 students, 2003; 4 teachers, 20 students, 2004). Field trips to demonstration BMPs familiarized participants with our research. Teachers met with the research team and graduate students to discuss sampling and data analyses. (http://uwf.edu/usda/index.html) Extension activities promoted BMPs through interaction with the NRCS, FDACS, FDEP, EPA, IFAS Extension, and Fla. Sea Grant. Notable examples include: 1) Bus tour of agricultural BMPs in Escambia County, Fla. (18 Nov 2003). NRCS provided site narrative, PIs Lepo & Snyder presented overviews of this project. Approx. 50 attendees represented FDEP, a U.S. Congressional Aide to Rep. Jeff Miller, environmental firms, Univ. Fla. faculty, Soil and Water Conservation Board, graduate students,
Three-Rivers RC&D, private citizens. 2) Water Quality Workshop: Watershed Management Approach /TMDLs in the Pensacola Bay Basin (12 Nov 2003). Hosted by UWF and FDEP; Approx. 50 citizens, environmentalists, agency officials.
Impacts
Non-point source pollution from agricultural runoff may contribute substantially to nutrient and sediment loading of local water segments as well as of rivers, bayous, and bays within a watershed. To ensure that agricultural runoff does not negatively affect the environment, the Florida State Legislature has charged the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) with developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agricultural practices. Regulatory agencies (e.g., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP and U.S. EPA) seek to establish environmentally meaningful targets for pollutant load reduction as required by the 1972 Clean Water Act total maximum daily loads (TMDL) program. Lack of specific data on BMP effectiveness, inadequate public education, and inefficient extension activities limits BMP use. Data gaps in water quality for impaired water bodies limit the TMDL process. This CSREES-funded project integrates scientific
testing of selected agricultural BMPs and involves a watershed-scale water quality sampling effort with education and extension activities to disseminate information to the public. The results of this project will directly affect development and implementation of agricultural practices to limit non-point source pollution.
Publications
- Christenberry, L. K. Collar, A. Diller, A. M. Lazur, R. A. Snyder, M. E. Griggs, and J. Lepo. 2004. Vegetated Filter Strips as an Effective and Inexpensive Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Esc. Co. Ext. Ser., USDA-NRCS, FL Sea Grant (in prep).
- Kiely, C. L., R. A. Snyder, A. M. Lazur, and J. E. Lepo. 2004a. Evaluation of a Vegetated Filter Strip as a Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Global Aquaculture Advocacy. 7:67-68.
- Kiely, C. L., J. Allison, M. Wagner, A. D. Launder, R. A. Snyder, and J. E. Lepo. 2004b. Agricultural Best Management Practices and Water Quality. 1st Science and Engineering Annual Student Applied Research Symposium, 19 April 2004; University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida. Award for 1st Place Presentation.
- Kiely, C. L., R. A. Snyder, M. Wagner, J. Allison, A. D. Launder, and J. E. Lepo. 2004. Microbial Ecology of a Grass-Filter-Strip Best Management Practice for Attenuation of Nutrients and Suspended Solids in Overflow Discharge from a Catfish Aquaculture Pond. To be Presented at the Ann. Meeting American Society for Microbiology, 22- 25 May 2004; New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Lepo, J.E., and R. A. Snyder. 2004. Characterization and Management of Effluents from Aquaculture Ponds in Florida--A Treatment System Evaluation. Submitted to Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development as a Final Report: February 2004.
- Lepo, J. E., A. M. Lazur, R. A. Snyder, C. L. Kiely, and M. E. Griggs. 2004a. Evaluation of a Vegetated Filter Strip as a Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Ann. Meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, 1--5 March 2004; Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Lepo, J. E., Snyder, R.A., L. Kiely, J. Allison, M. Wagner, J. Liebens, C. Briscoe, L. Christenberry, R. Elliot; M. Griggs, K. Collar. 2004b. Agricultural Runoff, TMDLs and Water Quality: Field and Watershed Scale, Science-Teacher Education, Agricultural Extension. 14 January 2004. USDA-CSREES Nat. Water Qual. Conf.: Integrating Research, Extension and Education. Clearwater, FL.
- Snyder, R. A., J. E. Lepo, J. Liebens, and C. Briscoe. 2003. Agricultural Runoff Impacts on Total Maximum Daily Loads and Water Quality: Field and Watershed Scale Studies and Science-Teacher Education. USDA National Water Quality Coordinators Conference: Building the Network, Strengthening Partnerships, Tucson, AZ, 12 January 2003.
- Kiely, C. L., R. A. Snyder, A. M. Lazur, and J. Allison, M. Wagner, and J. E. Lepo. 2007. Evaluation of a Vegetated Filter Strip as a Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. To be submitted to J. World Aquaculture Soc.
|
Progress 04/01/03 to 03/31/04
Outputs
Biosolids as a BMP alternative to inorganic fertilizer was evaluated on Bahia pasture at the Escambia Co., Fla. 4H Farm. Four treatments (3 reps each) were control (no additions); NH4NO3 (200 lbs/ac); biosolids (2.3 tn/ac); 3X biosolids. Soils were assessed for metals and organic matter; nutrients were assessed in runoff- and soil- water. Biosolids increased infiltration rate over control or inorganic fertilizer treatments. Yields (weight of grass cuttings) were: inorganic fertilizer=3X-biosolids>1X-biosolids>control. Runoff water quality was impaired in biosolids treatments relative to controls. During the 2004 field season, we will test whether this problem is ameliorated by applying treatments only to the upper half of the plots, using the lower half of each as a buffer strip. A vegetated filter strip (VFS) designed to improve water quality of storm-induced discharge from a commercial open-pond catfish culture system was evaluated. Overflow was directed along a 10m
x 150m VFS; discharge-water samples along the VFS were collected. Microbes (N2-fixing, NH3-utilizing, NO3-utilizing, heterotrophs, fungi, yeasts, protists) were enumerated. Although N-fixing prokaryotes increased along the VFS as NH4+ decreased, N-fixation was not detected by acetylene reduction. The VFS exponentially elevated DO of the pond overflow along the VFS and exponentially attenuated NH4+ and TSS. Watershed snapshots were obtained by sampling confluences of tributaries (Escambia & Perdido Rivers, Fla. & Ala.) with main stems and road crossings within an 8-h window. Data (conductivity, pH, DO, Enterococcus, nutrients) were used to identify hotspots and to relate them to rational TMDLs for regional waters. GIS layers of land usage were added to infer possible pollution sources and suggest remedial actions. Summer Science Teacher workshops were integrated with research; classroom discussion and community outreach were facilitated by PIs. Lead Teacher Education (summer 2002; 7
teachers from Escambia & Santa Rosa Co., Fla.); Workshops for 7 teachers, 6 students (summer 2003); Development of Instructional Modules; Summer Camps for High School- Middle School- Students (2004); GPS workshops (6 teachers, 2002; 7 teachers, 5 students, 2003; 4 teachers, 20 students, 2004). Field trips to demonstration BMPs familiarized participants with our research. Teachers met with the research team and graduate students to discuss sampling and data analyses. (http://uwf.edu/usda/index.html) Extension activities promoted BMPs through interaction with the NRCS, FDACS, FDEP, EPA, IFAS Extension, and Fla. Sea Grant. Notable examples include: 1) Bus tour of agricultural BMPs in Escambia County, Fla. (18 Nov 2003). NRCS provided site narrative, PIs Lepo & Snyder presented overviews of this project. Approx. 50 attendees represented FDEP, a U.S. Congressional Aide to Rep. Jeff Miller, environmental firms, Univ. Fla. faculty, Soil and Water Conservation Board, graduate students,
Three-Rivers RC&D, private citizens. 2) Water Quality Workshop: Watershed Management Approach /TMDLs in the Pensacola Bay Basin (12 Nov 2003). Hosted by UWF and FDEP; Approx. 50 citizens, environmentalists, agency officials.
Impacts
Non-point source pollution from agricultural runoff may contribute substantially to nutrient and sediment loading of local water segments as well as of rivers, bayous, and bays within a watershed. To ensure that agricultural runoff does not negatively affect the environment, the Florida State Legislature has charged the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) with developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agricultural practices. Regulatory agencies (e.g., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP and U.S. EPA) seek to establish environmentally meaningful targets for pollutant load reduction as required by the 1972 Clean Water Act total maximum daily loads (TMDL) program. Lack of specific data on BMP effectiveness, inadequate public education, and inefficient extension activities limits BMP use. Data gaps in water quality for impaired water bodies limit the TMDL process. This CSREES-funded project integrates scientific
testing of selected agricultural BMPs and involves a watershed-scale water quality sampling effort with education and extension activities to disseminate information to the public. The results of this project will directly affect development and implementation of agricultural practices to limit non-point source pollution.
Publications
- Christenberry, L. K. Collar, A. Diller, A. M. Lazur, R. A. Snyder, M. E. Griggs, and J. Lepo. 2004. Vegetated Filter Strips as an Effective and Inexpensive Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Esc. Co. Ext. Ser., USDA-NRCS, FL Sea Grant (in prep).
- Kiely, C. L. 2004. Efficacy of Agricultural Best Management Practices in Attenuation of Nutrients in Runoff and Soil Microbiological Response. Master's Thesis. UWF, Pensacola, FL. 31 Aug 04.
- Kiely, C. L., R. A. Snyder, A. M. Lazur, and J. E. Lepo. 2004a. Evaluation of a Vegetated Filter Strip as a Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Global Aquaculture Advocacy. 7:67-68.
- Kiely, C. L., J. Allison, M. Wagner, A. D. Launder, R. A. Snyder, and J. E. Lepo. 2004b. Agricultural Best Management Practices and Water Quality. 1st Science and Engineering Annual Student Applied Research Symposium, 19 April 2004; University of West Florida, Pensacola, Florida. Award for 1st Place Presentation.
- Kiely, C. L., R. A. Snyder, M. Wagner, J. Allison, A. D. Launder, and J. E. Lepo. 2004. Microbial Ecology of a Grass-Filter-Strip Best Management Practice for Attenuation of Nutrients and Suspended Solids in Overflow Discharge from a Catfish Aquaculture Pond. To be Presented at the Ann. Meeting American Society for Microbiology, 22- 25 May 2004; New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Lepo, J.E., and R. A. Snyder. 2004. Characterization and Management of Effluents from Aquaculture Ponds in Florida - A Treatment System Evaluation. Submitted to Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development as a Final Report: February 2004.
- Lepo, J. E., A. M. Lazur, R. A. Snyder, C. L. Kiely, and M. E. Griggs. 2004a. Evaluation of a Vegetated Filter Strip as a Best Management Practice for Treating Catfish Pond Stormwater Effluent. Ann. Meeting of the World Aquaculture Society, 1 - 5 March 2004; Honolulu, Hawaii.
- Lepo, J. E., Snyder, R.A., L. Kiely, J. Allison, M. Wagner, J. Liebens, C. Briscoe, L. Christenberry, R. Elliot; M. Griggs, K. Collar. 2004b. Agricultural Runoff, TMDLs and Water Quality: Field and Watershed Scale, Science-Teacher Education, Agricultural Extension. 14 January 2004. USDA-CSREES Nat. Water Qual. Conf.: Integrating Research, Extension and Education. Clearwater, FL.
- Snyder, R. A., J. E. Lepo, J. Liebens, and C. Briscoe. 2003. Agricultural Runoff Impacts on Total Maximum Daily Loads and Water Quality: Field and Watershed Scale Studies and Science-Teacher Education. USDA National Water Quality Coordinators Conference: Building the Network, Strengthening Partnerships, Tucson, AZ, 12 January 2003.
|
Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/02
Outputs
Field demonstrations of BMPs are underway to evaluate their effect on water quality of runoff from a row-cropping/pasture site, and for an aquaculture discharge site. To place demonstration BMPs in the context of watershed basins, we are comparing land use and nutrient loads in drainages of regional basins. All subcomponents of the project involved undergraduate and graduate students, and science teachers in training at the University of West Florida. The 4H-biosolids experiment compares effect of biosolids to that of inorganic fertilizer application on Bahia Grass pasture runoff water quality, soil chemistry, soil microbiology, and grass yield. Four treatments consist of biosolids at 1x and 3x recommended additions, inorganic fertilizer, and control in 3 replicates within 12 experimental plots. We measured nutrients in the runoff from the experimental plots, analyzed soils and soil water (lysimeters) and weekly yield (dry weight, C:N content). We completed metals
analyses on biosolids. Runoff collected from the site (11 rain events, 1 tropical storm) has been analyzed for total N and P, dissolved N and P and particulate N and P. The catfish aquaculture site evaluates a grass filter strip BMP designed to improve water quality of storm-induced production water discharges from a commercial open-pond fish culture system. Overflow progresses as a sheet flow along a grass filter strip 10m wide and 150m long; dissolved and suspended solids and nutrients are attenuated. The data collected will be useful in applying filter strip technology to the growing aquaculture industry. Collection of water samples along the filter strip was done by autosampler (32 events) and manual acquisition (23 events). Functional groups of microorganisms were enumerated in soils from the filter-strip BMP and the 4H site: nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonia-utilizing bacteria, nitrate-utilizing bacteria, heterotrophic bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeasts, and soil protists.
"Watershed snapshots" were obtained by sampling confluences of tributaries with main stems and road crossings within an 8-hour window to create a database of watershed sources for fecal- and nutrients- loads for delineation of problematic watershed basins in relationship to land use/defined sources for remedial efforts. Escambia River represents the largest freshwater flow into the Pensacola Bay System. We are mapping nutrient loads from major drainage tributaries of Escambia River, and nutrient and fecal sources in Coldwater Creek and Pond Creek. Education and Extension activities within this project foster public understanding of agricultural BMPs through university courses related to the research effort, secondary school teaching modules in agricultural water quality, and the use of GPS and GIS technologies. The project promotes BMPs through interaction with the USDA-NRCS, the FDACS, FDEP, EPA, Florida IFAS Extension, and Florida Sea Grant. We conducted summer Science Teacher
Training workshops associated with the research efforts (GPS, sampling, chemical analyses); these concepts were integrated into classroom discussion and community outreach facilitated by the PIs. (http://uwf.edu/usda/index.html)
Impacts
Florida has a diversified agricultural industry and nonpoint source pollution from agricultural runoff may contribute substantially to nutrient and sediment loading of local water segments as well as of rivers, bayous, and bays within a watershed. In order to ensure that agricultural runoff does not negatively affect the environment, the Florida State Legislature has charged the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) with developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for agricultural practices. Regulatory agencies (e.g., the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and U.S. EPA) seek to establish environmentally meaningful targets for pollutant load reduction as required by the 1972 Clean Water Act total maximum daily loads (TMDL) program. Lack of specific data on BMP effectiveness, or inadequate education and extension activities on BMPs, limits BMP use by private concerns. This USDA-funded project integrates scientific testing of
selected agricultural BMPs with education and extension activities to disseminate information to the public. The results of this project will directly affect development and implementation of effective agricultural practices to limit non-point source pollution.
Publications
- Snyder, R. A., J. E. Lepo, J. Liebens, and C. Briscoe. 2003. Agricultural Runoff Impacts on Total Maximum Daily Loads and Water Quality: Field and Watershed Scale Studies and Science-Teacher Education. USDA National Water Quality Coordinators Conference: Building the Network, Strengthening Partnerships, Tucson, AZ, 12 January 2003.
|
|