The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to improve America's water quality is being applied to the Chesapeake Bay watershed to mitigate the "dead zone" problem. Agricultural activities are the major nonpoint source of nitrogen (N), contributing 44% of total N to the Bay. Best Management Practices (BMPs) are recognized as an effective way to mitigate N loss of agricultural activities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAgricultural production is a major source of nonpoint source pollution contributing 44% of total nitrogen (N) discharged to the Chesapeake Bay. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program to control this problem. For the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the TMDL program requires that nitrogen loadings be reduced by 25% by 2025.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPhosphorus (P) runoff from manure can lead to eutrophication of surface water and algae growth. This study evaluates the impacts of alternative P reduction practices on dairy farm net returns and on potential P runoff. The P control practices include dairy herd nutrient management, crop nutrient management, and runoff and erosion control.
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