Water Quality
Protecting water quality is among the most important research tasks in Agronomy. Water plays a crucial role in the well-being of all, and the quality of that water determines whether is can be used for drinking, recreation, and other uses.
In Kansas, the quality of surface water is sometimes impaired by sediments, fecal coliform bacteria, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and herbicides. Groundwater is threatened by nitrogen and salts. These pollutants come from a variety of sources, including agricultural operations. The Department of Agronomy has several active research programs to address these important concerns, examining fertilizer and herbicide management practices, vegetative filter strips, riparian buffer strips, residue management systems, and more.
Research in Water Quality focuses on:
- Causes and control of surface water eutrophication
- Effects of tillage practices and cropping systems on water quality
- Management of manure runoff
- Management of phosphorus loss in runoff
- Phosphorus dynamics in soil and water
- Prioritization of Best Management Practices within watersheds
Research is often focused on solving problems at the watershed scale. Research is communicated directly to landowners and operators in part through a system of watershed specialists and grassroots watershed management organizations.
Kansas Agricultural Watershed
The Kansas Agricultural Watershed (KAW) Field Laboratory is an outdoor lab designed for the development of sustainable agricultural systems and evaluation of their effects on water quality.