Constructed wetlands used to mitigate pesticide runoff from agricultural fields into receiving systems (e.g., lakes, rivers, streams) have been successful in reducing concentrations of non-point source pollutants such as agricultural insecticides (Moore et al., 2002; Leistra et al., 2003; Bouldin et al., 2005). Such wetlands also have important functions in enhancing the water quality and ecolo...

The current emphasis on sustainable agricultural systems has led to a renewed interest in the use of cover crops to reduce soil erosion losses and retain soluble nutrients during the dormant season. Cover crop choices include a broad range of plant material, such as ryegrass (Secufe cereale L.), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), forage grasses, and legumes. Historically, cover crops were use...

Identifying phosphorus (P) source areas and transport pathways is a key step in decreasing P loading to natural water systems. This study compared the effects of two modeled runoff generation processes – saturation excess and infiltration excess – on total phosphorus (TP) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations in 10 catchment streams of a Catskill mountain watershed in southeaster...

Rainfall is a driving force for the transport of environmental contaminants from agricultural soils to surficial water bodies via surface runoff. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of antecedent soil moisture content on the fate and transport of surface applied commercial urea, a common form of nitrogen (N) fertilizer, following a rainfall event that occurs within 24 hr...

Ten isolates of Salmonella infantis (serologically typed) were found in litter and runoff collected from two experimental feedlots near the Kansas State University campus. Pathogenic implications are discussed relative to recreation water sites. Agricultural runoff maybe a source of viable salmonellae.

The Annualized Agricultural Nonpoint Source (AnnAGNPS) pollution model was developed for simulation of runoff, sediment, nutrient, and pesticide losses from ungauged agricultural watersheds. This article describes the first documented calibration and validation of AnnAGNPS for prediction of atrazine loading. Here, the model was applied to the 707 km2 Cedar Creek watershed (CCW) and the 45 km2 M...

Agricultural runoff from areas receiving livestock manure can potentially contaminate surface water with antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of narrow grass hedges (NGHs) on reducing the transport of antimicrobials and ARGs in runoff after land application of swine manure slurry. Plot-scale rainfall simulatio...

Escherichia coli are widely used as indicators of fecal contamination, and in some cases to identify host sources of fecal contamination in surface water. Prevalence, genetic diversity and antimicrobial susceptibility were determined for 600 generic E. coli isolates obtained from surface water and sediment from creeks and channels along the middle Santa Ana River (MSAR) watershed of southern Ca...

Nonpoint-source pollution of fresh waters by P is a concern because it contributes to accelerated eutrophication. Given the state of the science concerning agricultural P transport, a simple tool to quantify annual, field-scale P loss is a realistic goal. We developed new methods to predict annual dissolved P loss in runoff from surface-applied manures and fertilizers and validated the methods ...

Dissolved total nitrogen (Nt) and total organic carbon (TOC) exports were measured from 30 catchments and regions draining 76 % of the Canadian landscape in order to estimate reactive N and organic C runoff losses to estuaries and the conditions that control them. N exports from the catchments were lower than measured in most of Europe and the United States due to significantly less agricultura...