Comparison of phosphorus loss estimation tools at predicting nutrient transport in humid regions with undulating topography.
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
Phosphorus (P) site assessment tools are used to determine the potential for a particular agricultural field to export P to a surface water body. The Phosphorus Index is one of the most widely adopted P site assessment tools in the country and is being utilized by water resource managers to help determine the relative risk of nutrient loss from agricultural fields and design P management strategies. However, the use of simple empirical models in the P-Index could possibly be improved to account for dynamic P loss mechanisms in areas with complex topography and variable source area (VSA) hydrology. Using the Vermont P-Index and TopoSWAT, scenarios of varying P management strategies were modeled for corn silage production fields in a small watershed (360-ha) located in Addison County, Vermont. TopoSWAT and P-Index outputs were compared to one another across areas of differing topographic wetness class to investigate the effects of topography on estimated P loss in agricultural watersheds in the Northeastern U.S. Results from this study will inform potential changes to P-Indices that aim to better represent humid regions with undulating topography. Preliminary results and conclusions from this study will be presented.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Joshua Faulkner
Secondary Mentor Name
Stephanie Hurley, Donna Rizzo
Faculty/Staff Collaborators
Zachary Easton (Collaborating Mentor/Author)
Status
Graduate
Student College
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Program/Major
Environmental Engineering
Primary Research Category
Engineering & Physical Sciences
Comparison of phosphorus loss estimation tools at predicting nutrient transport in humid regions with undulating topography.
Phosphorus (P) site assessment tools are used to determine the potential for a particular agricultural field to export P to a surface water body. The Phosphorus Index is one of the most widely adopted P site assessment tools in the country and is being utilized by water resource managers to help determine the relative risk of nutrient loss from agricultural fields and design P management strategies. However, the use of simple empirical models in the P-Index could possibly be improved to account for dynamic P loss mechanisms in areas with complex topography and variable source area (VSA) hydrology. Using the Vermont P-Index and TopoSWAT, scenarios of varying P management strategies were modeled for corn silage production fields in a small watershed (360-ha) located in Addison County, Vermont. TopoSWAT and P-Index outputs were compared to one another across areas of differing topographic wetness class to investigate the effects of topography on estimated P loss in agricultural watersheds in the Northeastern U.S. Results from this study will inform potential changes to P-Indices that aim to better represent humid regions with undulating topography. Preliminary results and conclusions from this study will be presented.