Transitioning from conventional to cover crop systems with minimum tillage does not alter nutrient loading.

Nutrient loading from conventional row-crop production systems impairs surface waterbodies in the mid-southern United States. This study was conducted to determine whether minimum tillage and winter cover crops can decrease nutrient loading in surface runoff from conventionally tilled row-crop fields. The effects of winter cover crops and minimum tillage on N and P loading from a corn (Zea mays L.

A preliminary investigation of wild pig (Sus scrofa) impacts in water quality.

The United States, particularly the southern portion, has recently suffered drastic population expansion of wild pigs causing destruction of prime farmland. An associated concern, which has been understudied, is the potential transfer of nutrients and pathogens to surface water. This study aimed to identify the abiotic and biotic impacts of captive wild pigs on water quality, including nutrients, fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria, and antimicrobial resistance.

Using cameras to index waterfowl abundance in winter-flooded rice fields.

Extensive wetland habitat loss across the continental United States has caused post-harvested rice fields to become an important surrogate wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl. Flooded rice fields used by waterfowl have the potential to provide agronomic benefits to soil. Increasing interest in the reciprocal relationship between birds and flooded rice fields has given rise to many studies that aim to quantify bird abundance.

Investigating the role of organic carbon amendments and microbial denitrification gene abundance in nitrogen removal from experimental agricultural drainage ditches with low-grade weirs.

Low-grade weirs placed within agricultural drainage ditches in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can be used as a management practice to enhance nitrogen removal. The addition of organic carbon amendments within ditches that contain weirs could further increase nitrogen removal. Through repeated trials, changes in -N concentration between inflow and outflow were variable in the ditch without weirs, while only decreases in concentration were observed in ditches with weirs.

Effects of Low-Grade Weirs on Soil Microbial Communities in Agricultural Drainage Ditches.

Agricultural fertilizer application throughout the Mississippi River basin has been identified as a major source of N pollution to the Gulf of Mexico. Using best management practices, such as low-grade weirs, has been identified as a potential solution to mitigate nutrient loads in agricultural runoff. This study assessed impacts of weir implementation in four agricultural drainage ditches (three with weirs and one control site) in the Mississippi Delta.

Investigation of denitrifying microbial communities within an agricultural drainage system fitted with low-grade weirs.

Enhancing wetland characteristics in agricultural drainage ditches with the use of low-grade weirs, has been identified as a best management practice (BMP) to mitigate nutrient runoff from agriculture landscapes. A major objective of utilizing low-grade weirs as a BMP includes fostering environments suitable for the biogeochemical removal of nitrogen via denitrification. This study examined the spatial resolution of microbial communities involved in denitrification in agricultural drainage systems fitted with low-grade weirs.

Identifying non-point sources of endocrine active compounds and their biological impacts in freshwater lakes.

Contaminants of emerging concern, particularly endocrine active compounds (EACs), have been identified as a threat to aquatic wildlife. However, little is known about the impact of EACs on lakes through groundwater from onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS). This study aims to identify specific contributions of OWTS to Sullivan Lake, Minnesota, USA.