Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Data generated from this research will provide insight into the utility of two stage buffers to both the agricultural and scientific communities. There have been no documented studies on two stage saturated buffer designs in tile-drained areas of the U.S. These data are also appealing to governmental agencies responsible for the design and implementation of agricultural best management practices, and to those agencies involved with water quality regulation. These data will provide information on the effectiveness of saturated buffers in the southern part of the state, their potential flaws, and the potential benefit of combining them with cover crops. Data have demonstrated how a standard saturated buffer and a two-stage saturated buffer, with cover crops, performed in terms of nutrient retention. Results have been discussed at grower-oriented meetings and at regional conferences. In 2018, data were presented at an Illinois Farm Bureau field day in Randolph County, at the 2nd Annual Southern Illinois University and Nutrient Research and Education Council Field Day, at the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Workshop in Champaign, IL, and at the Annual Illinois Farm Bureau meeting in Chicago IL. Midwestern farmers and agricultural commodity groups were also introduced to the project through FarmWeek and the Illinois News Network radio network. To address the scientific community, data will be published in peer-reviewed manuscripts and other popular press articles related to agriculture. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two researchers, two M.S. students, and multiple undergraduate students have all had opportunities to build upon their field and laboratory skills. There have been many aspects of water, soil, and vegetation sampling associated with the project. In the field, they have collected water samples from groundwater, streams, and tile outlets, extracted soil cores, maintained water levels within drainage tile systems, installed groundwater monitoring wells, performed elevation surveys, and established cover crop and grass strips. Laboratory responsibilities include carbon and nitrogen analysis in soils, soil texture, and nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus analysis in water samples. They are also trained to operate and maintain many analytical instruments for water chemistry and soil analyses. Aside from those directly involved in the project there have been 50+ undergraduate students educated about saturated buffers in Watershed Management and Forest Soils courses. Other constituents learned about the design concepts and the pros and cons of the practices through hands on demonstrations and installations at multiple field days. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There has been great interest in saturated buffer designs and the utility of cover crops in agriculture. The two-stage saturated buffer design was presented at both the first and second annual Nutrient Research and Education Council meetings at Southern Illinois University. Invited presentations were also delivered at various IFB venues throughout the year. Lastly, the two-stage buffer design has been published in Farmweek and has aired on multiple radio stations. Results from the two-stage design have led to the development of a pitchfork design with backflow valves to reduce backflow issues and to disperse tile water across a larger saturation zone. This new design is part of a joint partnership that has developed with the USDA-NRCS, IL NREC, Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Land Improvement Contractors of America. With this new partnership, we plan to install, and monitor, one new saturated buffer each year over the next five-year period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Data collected from the two-stage buffer have led to the development of a new design for an alternative saturated buffer design. Flow data proved that the dispersion lines in the two-stage buffer were flowing backwards once saturated (behaving like typical field tile) and contributing significant volumes of water back towards the control structures. These data helped us come up with a one-way flow valve to prevent backflow. With the new design (a.k.a, pitchfork design), we also increased the saturated area, by increasing the number of dispersion lines. The new pitchfork design will undergo rigorous testing for water flow and nutrient status in water samples. Similar to the two-stage buffer site, we installed a network of monitoring wells and will routinely collect samples every two weeks. Additionally, water samples will be collected using automated water samplers during two significant storm events during the growing and fallow seasons to determine if water quality varies temporally. Tile outlet discharges will also be measured on a continual basis using pressure transducers and data loggers. Water levels within the tile systems will be closely monitored using the pressure transducers and monitoring wells to ensure soils do not become excessively saturated.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Bimonthly water samples have been collected beginning in April of 2016 from 3 tile outlets and control structures (i.e., a control, a standard saturated buffer, and a two-stage saturated buffer). Tile water samples, groundwater samples, and flow have been monitored from the three systems since 2016. The predominate form of nitrogen leaving the fields for the duration of the project was in the nitrate form. Flowrates were variable prior to the installation of the control structures but since have been reduced, and have become more stable post installation. Thus, water is staying on the field longer allowing plants to utilize the water and nutrients while promoting microbial denitrification. The monitoring wells were installed in March 2017 and illustrate that both cover crop and grass buffers have had higher nitrate concentrations than the field wells due to the lateral lines in the saturated buffer systems effectively conveying water towards the wells in the vegetated buffers. However, an elevated water table in the two-stage saturated buffer has caused the tile diversion lines to become saturated at times which has negatively affected its performance compared to the traditional saturated buffer. Findings from this study may be used by farmers and land managers to guide future nutrient management decisions and saturated buffer designs.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. and K.W.J. Williard. 2020. The Impacts of WASCoBs and Saturated Buffers on Water Quality. Nutrient Loss Reduction Meeting. Champaign, IL
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Emma E. Eldridge, Jon E. Schoonover, Karl J. Williard, Jackie F. Crim, and Jennie C. Snyder. 2021. Efficacy of Saturated Riparian�Buffers�(SRBs)�in�Central�Illinois�and
�Potential to Increase Efficacy�of�SRBs by Increasing Infiltration. University Council on Water Resources. Virtual Meeting.
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Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for the saturated buffer research includes producers, industry, researchers, and governmental agencies. Producers will gain valuable information on nutrient losses and best management practice designs suitable for their farms, along with an economic assessment of the practice. Agency partners, for example the USDA-NRCS, are interested in our research from the perspective of adapting their conservation practice guidelines based our designs and findings. Other partners, including Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA), are helping facilitate communication with farmers that are willing to collaborate on research projects. They are also helping disseminate research findings through field days and other activities. Few studies exist on saturated buffers, especially with the adapted designs investigated in this research, so building the supporting data for the practice is critically important for decision-making moving forward. Recent data have demonstrated that the pitchfork saturated buffer design, equipped with a backflow valve, out performed a standard saturated buffer in terms of water quality and flow reduction. Results have been discussed at grower-oriented meetings and at regional conferences. During the past year, data were presented at the 3rd Annual Southern Illinois University and Nutrient Research and Education Council Field Day, at the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Workshop in Champaign, IL, and through the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education council's media outlets. Midwestern farmers and agricultural commodity groups were also introduced to the project through FarmWeek and on the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction podcast. To address the scientific community, data will be published in peer-reviewed manuscripts and other popular press articles related to agriculture. ? Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Three researchers, a laboratory technician, three M.S. students, and multiple undergraduate students have been involved with the saturated buffer project and have gained experience in both field and laboratory research. Researchers and students collect and analyze water samples, collect soil samples, and have performed yield/biomass estimates pertaining to row crops and buffer vegetation. Field researchers and graduate students are responsible for site preparation and planting of buffer vegetation, ISCO automated water sampler maintenance and trouble-shooting, and the upkeep and data management of water level sampling equipment. Laboratory responsibilities include carbon and nitrogen analysis in soils, soil texture, and nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus analysis in water samples. They are also trained to operate and maintain many analytical instruments for water chemistry and soil analyses. The graduate student are also well-versed in statistical design, statisticl software, and statistical analyses. At SIU, the Forestry Program teaches many field-based courses. Two in particular, Watershed Management Field Lab and Forest Soils Lab, have utilized data generated from the saturated buffer research to inform students about the design concepts and the pros and cons of the practices through hands-on demonstrations. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There continues to be great interest in the incorporation of saturated buffer designs into tile-drained agricultural fields. The new pitchfork design buffer was installed and introduced at a field day in March 2019. The installation and design was highlighted in Farmweek and invited presentations were delivered at the Southern Illinois and Nutrient Research and Education Council 2nd and 3rd Annual Field Day, and the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Workshop in Champaign, IL. The design has been promoted and interpreted through the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council's and Illinois Farm Bureau social media outlets. Lastly, in July 2020, the two-stage buffer design and the pitchfork saturated buffer designs were highlighted and discussed on Episode 28 of the Nutrient Loss Reduction podcast. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The new pitchfork design is undergoing rigorous testing for water flow and nutrient status in water samples. As we continue to collect data from the Moultrie County site, we are moving toward installing an additional saturated buffer on a private farm in Livingston County, IL. The new installation is in cooperation with a joint partnership that developed with the USDA-NRCS, IL NREC, Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Land Improvement Contractors of America. Our partnership plans to install and monitor one new saturated buffer each year over the next five-year period. The Livingston County installation will occur in the spring/summer of 2021 and will be monitored using monthly grab samples.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Water samples were been collected from 2016-2018 from 3 tile outlets and control structures (i.e., a control, a standard saturated buffer, and a two-stage saturated buffer) at the two stage buffer site in Massac Co., IL. At the site with the pitchfork design in Moultrie Co, IL water samples collected routinely and on a storm-basis from both a pitchfork saturated buffer and a standard saturated buffer since 2019. At the two buffers, water samples are collected from control structures (i.e., field drain and dispersion lines from the buffers), tile outlets, and in monitoring wells. Annual soil samples are collected and analyzed on an acre-grid each fall. Deep soil cores were collected fall 2020 to assess denitrification potential in the buffer soils. Results from the two-stage buffer indicated that there were significant backflow contributions from the dispersions lines. Thus, we installed a backflow valve (with unidirectional flow) that would prevent water reentering the control structure once being dispersed to the buffer. The pitchfork buffer with the backflow valve consistently showed reduced flows compared to the standard buffer. The pitchfork buffer also had lower nitrogen and phosphorus contributions to the receiving stream. Preliminary findings from the pitchfork buffer indicate the importance of the backflow valve in reducing outflow and overall nutrient loads, especially in areas with a fluctuating or shallow water table. These data can help guide producers and land managers in future nutrient management decisions and potential saturated buffer designs.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. and K.W.J. Williard. 2020. The Impacts of WASCoBs and Saturated Buffers on Water Quality. Nutrient Loss Reduction Meeting. Champaign, IL
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. and K.W.J. Williard. 2019. Agriculture BMPs and Water Quality. Southern Illinois University and Nutrient Research and Education Council Field Day.
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Data generated from this research will provide insight into the utility of two stage buffers to both the agricultural and scientific communities. There have been no documented studies on two stage saturated buffer designs in tile-drained areas of the U.S. These data are also appealing to governmental agencies responsible for the design and implementation of agricultural best management practices, and to those agencies involved with water quality regulation. These data will provide information on the effectiveness of saturated buffers in the southern part of the state, their potential flaws, and the potential benefit of combining them with cover crops. Data have demonstrated how a standard saturated buffer and a two-stage saturated buffer, with cover crops, performed in terms of nutrient retention. Results have been discussed at grower-oriented meetings and at regional conferences. In 2018, data were presented at an Illinois Farm Bureau field day in Randolph County, at the 2nd Annual Southern Illinois University and Nutrient Research and Education Council Field Day, at the Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy Workshop in Champaign, IL, and at the Annual Illinois Farm Bureau meeting in Chicago IL. Midwestern farmers and agricultural commodity groups were also introduced to the project through FarmWeek and the Illinois News Network radio network. To address the scientific community, data will be published in peer-reviewed manuscripts and other popular press articles related to agriculture. Changes/Problems:Results from the two-stage design have led to the development of a pitchfork design with backflow valves to reduce backflow issues and to disperse tile water across a larger saturation zone. As previously mentioned, this new design is part of a joint partnership that has developed with the USDA-NRCS, IL NREC, Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Land Improvement Contractors of America. The saturated buffer research will continue to move forward as it transitions from a standard saturated buffer, to a two-stage saturated buffer, and finally into a pitchfork design that was incorporated into a standard saturated design. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two researchers, two M.S. students, and multiple undergraduate students have all had opportunities to build upon their field and laboratory skills. There have been many aspects of water, soil, and vegetation sampling associated with the project. In the field, they have collected water samples from groundwater, streams, and tile outlets, extracted soil cores, maintained water levels within drainage tile systems, installed groundwater monitoring wells, performed elevation surveys, and established cover crop and grass strips. Laboratory responsibilities include carbon and nitrogen analysis in soils, soil texture, and nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus analysis in water samples. They are also trained to operate and maintain many analytical instruments for water chemistry and soil analyses. Aside from those directly involved in the project there have been 50+ undergraduate students educated about saturated buffers in Watershed Management and Forest Soils courses. Other constituents learned about the design concepts and the pros and cons of the practices through hands on demonstrations and installations at multiple field days. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There has been great interest in saturated buffer designs and the utility of cover crops in agriculture. The two-stage saturated buffer design was presented at both the first and second annual Nutrient Research and Education Council meetings at Southern Illinois University. Invited presentations were also delivered at various IFB venues throughout the year. Lastly, the two-stage buffer design has been published in Farmweek and has aired on multiple radio stations. Results from the two-stage design have led to the development of a pitchfork design with backflow valves to reduce backflow issues and to disperse tile water across a larger saturation zone. This new design is part of a joint partnership that has developed with the USDA-NRCS, IL NREC, Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Land Improvement Contractors of America. With this new partnership, we plan to install, and monitor, one new saturated buffer each year over the next five year period. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Data collected from the two-stage buffer have led to the development of a new design for an alternative saturated buffer design. Flow data proved that the dispersion lines in the two-stage buffer were flowing backwards once saturated (behaving like typical field tile) and contributing significant volumes of water back towards the control structures. These data helped us come up with a one-way flow valve to prevent backflow. With the new design (a.k.a, pitchfork design), we also increased the saturated area, by increasing the number of dispersion lines. The new pitchfork design will undergo rigorous testing for water flow and nutrient status in water samples. Similar to the two-stage buffer site, we installed a network of monitoring wells and will routinely collect samples every two weeks. Additionally, water samples will be collected using automated water samplers during two significant storm events during the growing and fallow seasons to determine if water quality varies temporally. Tile outlet discharges will also be measured on a continual basis using pressure transducers and data loggers. Water levels within the tile systems will be closely monitored using the pressure transducers and monitoring wells to ensure soils do not become excessively saturated.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Bimonthly water samples have been collected beginning in April of 2016 from 3 tile outlets and control structures (i.e., a control, a standard saturated buffer, and a two-stage saturated buffer). Tile water samples, groundwater samples, and flow have been monitored from the three systems since 2016. The predominate form of nitrogen leaving the fields for the duration of the project was in the nitrate form. Flowrates were variable prior to the installation of the control structures but since have been reduced, and have become more stable post installation. Thus, water is staying on the field longer allowing plants to utilize the water and nutrients while promoting microbial denitrification. The monitoring wells were installed in March 2017 and illustrate that both cover crop and grass buffers have had higher nitrate concentrations than the field wells due to the lateral lines in the saturated buffer systems effectively conveying water towards the wells in the vegetated buffers. However, an elevated water table in the two-stage saturated buffer has caused the tile diversion lines to become saturated at times which has negatively affected its performance compared to the traditional saturated buffer. Findings from this study may be used by farmers and land managers to guide future nutrient management decisions and saturated buffer designs.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
J.E. Schoonover and K.W.J. Williard. 2019. Saturated Buffers and Cover Crops. Southern Illinois University and Illinois Nutrient Research and Agriculture Council Field Day, Carbondale, IL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Gale, J., J. E. Schoonover, K. W.J. Williard, and J. Crim. November 9, 2018. Integrating the Use of Cover Crops into Saturated Buffer Designs for Nitrogen Mitigation in Southern Illinois Agriculture Systems. Natural Science Student Research symposium, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. Williard, K.W.J. 2018. The influence of saturated buffers and WASCoBs on water quality. Dec 3, 2018. Annual Farm Bureau meeting in Chicago, IL.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Gale, J., J. E. Schoonover, K. W.J. Williard, and J. Crim. November 13, 2018. The Two-Stage Saturated Buffer: Integrating the Use of Cover Crops into Saturated Buffer Designs for Nitrogen Mitigation in Southern Illinois Agriculture Systems. NLRS workshop, Champagne, IL.
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:This saturated buffer research project will provide timely information, and data, to both the agricultural and scientific communities on the utility of saturated buffers and cover crops in southern Illinois watersheds. To date, there have only been a few projects focusing on saturated buffers in tile drained areas of Illinois, with no projects that incorporate cover crops into a two-stage saturated buffer design. Data generated from this research will help guide NRCS design criteria for saturated buffer conservation practices and provide data on the performance of saturated buffers in the southern Illinois. Data from this research have begun to demonstrate how a standard saturated buffer and a two-stage saturated buffer, with cover crops, perform in terms of nutrient retention. Results have been discussed at grower-oriented meetings and at regional conferences. To date, data have been presented at the 49th Southern Illinois Fertilizer and Pesticide Conference, the NREC meeting at SIU, at Belleville Field Days, published in FarmWeek (2x), Southern Illinois University Field Day, and at the Annual Illinois Farm Bureau meeting in Chicago (2017 and 2018), and has aired on Illinois News Network radio. Lastly, data will be published in peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as in Farmweek to gain awareness within the farming community. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two researchers, a M.S. student, and multiple undergraduate students have all had opportunities to build upon their field and laboratory skills. There have been many aspects of water, soil, and vegetation sampling associated with the project. In the field, they have collected water samples from groundwater, streams, and tile outlets, extracted soil cores, maintained water levels within drainage tile systems, installed groundwater monitoring wells, and established cover crop and grass strips. Laboratory responsibilities include carbon and nitrogen analysis in soils, soil texture, and nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus analysis in water samples. They are also trained to operate and maintain many analytical instruments for water chemistry and soil analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Interest continues to grow in the design and function of saturated buffer and the utility of cover crops in agriculture. The new two-stage saturated buffer design was introduced and presented at the 2017 Nutrient Research and Education Council meeting at Southern Illinois University on March 15, 2017 and was presented at an invited talk at the Belleville Field Days on July 15, 2017. We have also been invited to present at both the 2017 and 2018 Annual Farm Bureau meetings and at the Illinois Association of Drainage Districts meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Water samples will continue to be collected from monitoring wells and tile outlets over the next year. The tile outlet's discharges will also be measured on a continual basis using pressure transducers and data loggers. Water levels within the tile systems will be closely monitored using the pressure transducers, monitoring wells, and soil moisture sensors to ensure soils do not become excessively wet. It is evident that nitrate concentrations are increasing along the tile lines so soil cores will be collected and analyze for carbon at depth to assess denitrification potential of the soil. Data will continue to be analyzed and presented at national conferences, regional meetings, and training workshops. This research has led to the development of a Saturated Buffer partnership with Southern Illinois University, the Illinois Farm Bureau, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Land Improvement Contractors of America. The partnership plans to tweak the saturated buffer design over the next 5 years and install a newly designed system each year. The installations costs will be covered by the partnership and a proposal has been submitted to the Nutrient Research and Education Council to help assist with the monitoring of the sites.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Over the past year, bimonthly water samples have been collected from 3 tile drainage systems (i.e., a control, a standard saturated buffer, and a two-stage buffer). Flow volumes and water quality were sampled at the control structures; samples have been analyzed for nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen data suggest the predominate form of nitrogen leaving the fields is in the nitrate form and is highest in the control watershed, followed by the two-stage buffer, and lastly the standard saturated buffer. Both discharge and dissolved reactive phosphorus have followed the same trend, with the control being the highest and the standard saturated buffer being the lowest. Flowrates were variable prior to the installation of the control structures but were reduced post installation, and have become more stable post installation. In both saturated buffer systems water is staying on the fields longer allowing plants to utilize the water and nutrients while promoting microbial denitrification. During a high water table, the lateral tile lines appeared to contribute additional water back to the control structure, with two-stage system contributing the most. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed in March 2017 and have illustrated that groundwater Nitrate-N concentrations have become elevated along the stream (i.e., in the cover crop and grass strips) at both the traditional and two-stage saturated buffer sites compared to the concentrations in the fields. Conversely, the control site has lower groundwater Nitrate-N concentrations near the stream compared to field. These trends were expected because the tile line water is being diverted laterally in both the cover crop and grass strips, thus raising Nitrate-N concentrations and reducing discharge from the tile outlets.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
J. Schoonover and K. Williard. Impacts of Saturated Buffers and Cover Crops on Water Quality. Southern Illinois University Field Day. (oral presentation)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
J. Gale, J. Schoonover, K. Williard, and J. Crim. The two-stage saturated buffer: integrating the use of cover crops into saturated buffer designs for nitrogen mitigation. NLRS Meeting in Champaign, IL (poster presentation)
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
J. Schoonover, K. Williard, and G. Singh. Tile Water Management. 2018 Annual Farm Bureau Meeting in Chicago, IL. (oral presentation)
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Progress 06/01/17 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:This research project will provide timely information and data to both the agricultural and scientific communities on the utility of saturated buffers and cover crops in southern Illinois watersheds. To date, there has been little research on saturated buffers in tile drained areas of Illinois, with no research that we are aware of that incorporated cover crops into a two-stage design. These data will provide data on not only the effectiveness of saturated buffers in the southern part of the state but the potential added benefit of combining them with cover crops. Data from this research have begun to demonstrate how a standard saturated buffer and a two-stage saturated buffer, with cover crops, perform in terms of nutrient retention. Results have been discussed at grower-oriented meetings and at regional conferences. To date, data have been presented at the 49th Southern Illinois Fertilizer and Pesticide Conference, the NREC meeting at SIU, at Belleville Field Days, published in FarmWeek, and has aired on Illinois News Network radio. Lastly, data will be published in peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as popular press articles related to agriculture. OK Changes/Problems:There have not been any major challenges with this research project. Tile and control structure installation took longer than we had hoped, but the project is now on track with cover crop planting and water sampling. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Two researchers, a M.S. student, and one undergraduate have all had opportunities to build upon their field and laboratory skills. There have been many aspects of water, soil, and vegetation sampling associated with the project. In the field, they have collected water samples from groundwater, streams, and tile outlets, extracted soil cores, maintained water levels within drainage tile systems, installed groundwater monitoring wells, and established cover crop and grass strips. Laboratory responsibilities include carbon and nitrogen analysis in soils, soil texture, and nitrate, ammonium, and phosphorus analysis in water samples. They are also trained to operate and maintain many analytical instruments for water chemistry and soil analyses. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?There has been great interest in saturated buffer designs and the utility of cover crops in agriculture. The new two-stage saturated buffer design was introduced and presented at the 2017 Nutrient Research and Education Council meeting at Southern Illinois University on March 15, 2017 and was presented at an invited talk at the Belleville Field Days on July 15, 2017. We have also been invited to present at the Annual Farm Bureau meeting on December 2, 2017 and at the Illinois Association of Drainage Districts meeting on January 19, 2018 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Water samples will continue to be collected from monitoring wells and tile outlets over the next year. The tile outlet's discharges will also be measured on a continual basis using pressure transducers and data loggers. Water levels within the tile systems will be closely monitored using the pressure transducers, monitoring wells, and soil moisture sensors to ensure soils do not become excessively wet. It is evident that nitrate concentrations are increasing along the tile lines so soil cores will be collected and analyze for carbon at depth to assess denitrification potential of the soil. Data will continue to be analyzed and presented at national conferences, regional meetings, and training workshops.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Bimonthly water samples have been collected beginning in April of 2016 from 8 drainage tiles to collect baseline data and to help select tile outlets for equipment installation. Once the 3 tile outlets were selected for the study, field equipment was installed (March 2017) and tile drainage networks have been identified and mapped. To date, samples have been collected from the tile outlets during 18 events and 3 monitoring well samples have been collected. Preliminary nitrogen data suggest the predominate form of nitrogen leaving the fields is in the nitrate form. Flowrates were variable prior to the installation of the control structures but since have been reduced, and have become more stable post installation. Thus, water is staying on the field longer allowing plants to utilize the water and nutrients while promoting microbial denitrification. The monitoring wells were installed in March 2017 and illustrate that groundwater Nitrate-N concentrations have become elevated along the stream (i.e., in the cover crop and grass strips) at both the traditional and two-stage saturated buffer sites compared to the concentrations in the fields. Conversely, the control site has lower groundwater Nitrate-N concentrations near the stream compared to field. These trends were expected because the tile line water is being diverted laterally in both the cover crop and grass strips, thus raising Nitrate-N concentrations and reducing discharge from the tile outlets.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. and K.W.J. Williard. 2017. The two-stage saturated buffer: integrating the use of cover crops into saturated buffer designs for nitrogen mitigation. Presented at the Nutrient Research and Education Council meeting at SIU. March 15, 2017.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Schoonover, J.E. and G. Singh. 2017. The effects of cover crops and saturated buffers on water quality in southern Illinois. 2017 Belleville Field Days. July 13, 2017.
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