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- Title
Edge-of-Field Runoff Analysis following Grazing and Silvicultural Best Management Practices in Northeast Texas.
- Authors
Wagner, Kevin L.; Gregory, Lucas; Gerlich, Jason A.; Rhodes, Edward C.; deVilleneuve, Stephanie
- Abstract
Landowners and natural resource agencies are seeking to better understand the benefits of best management practices (BMPs) for addressing water quality issues. Using edge-of-field and edge-of-farm runoff analysis, we compared runoff volumes and water quality between small watersheds where BMPs (e.g., prescribed grazing, silvicultural practices) were implemented and control watersheds managed using conventional practices (i.e., continuous grazing, natural forest revegetation). Flow-weighted samples, collected over a 2-year period using automated samplers, were analyzed for nitrate/nitrite nitrogen (NNN), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), total phosphorus (P), ortho-phosphate phosphorous (OP), total suspended solids (TSS), and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Comparison of silvicultural planting to conventional reforestation practices showed a significant decrease in NNN loads (p < 0.05) but no significant differences in TKN, P, OP, TSS, or E. coli. Continuously grazed sites yielded >24% more runoff than sites that were under prescribed grazing regimes, despite receiving less total rainfall. Likewise, NNN, TSS, and TKN loadings were significantly lower under prescribed grazing management than on conventionally grazed sites (p < 0.05). Data suggests that grazing BMPs can be an effective tool for rapidly improving water quality. However, silvicultural BMPs require more time (i.e., >2 years) to establish and achieve detectable improvements.
- Subjects
TEXAS; RUNOFF analysis; GRAZING; RANGE management; TOTAL suspended solids; ESCHERICHIA coli; ENVIRONMENTAL agencies; WATER quality
- Publication
Water (20734441), 2023, Vol 15, Issue 20, p3537
- ISSN
2073-4441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/w15203537