The utilization of edge-of-field monitoring of agricultural runoff in addressing nonpoint source pollution

Authors: DANIELS, MIKE - University Of Arkansas; SHARPLEY, ANDREW - University Of Arkansas; Harmel, Daren; ANDERSON, KARMA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)

Submitted to: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2017
Publication Date: 1/8/2018
Citation: Daniels, M.B., Sharpley, A., Harmel, R.D., Anderson, K. 2018. The utilization of edge-of-field monitoring of agricultural runoff in addressing nonpoint source pollution. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 73(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.73.1.1.

Interpretive Summary: While basin-scale studies and modeling are important tools in relating land uses to water quality concerns, edge-of-field monitoring (EOFM) provides the necessary resolution to spatially target, design, and evaluate in-field conservation practices for reducing nutrient and sediment loading from agriculture. This paper introduces a Special Issue that provides an overview of EOFM on agricultural lands. The Special Issue describes the transition of EOFM from research to more monitoring the environmental impact and performance of agricultural practices, addressing topics such as: 1) disconnect between large-scale loading estimates and the prevalence of sound nutrient practices, 2) obstacles in identifying the causes, sources, and solution and evaluating progress at the watershed scale; 3) need for additional multi-scale studies to better understand pollutant movement and establish linkages between EOFM and in-stream water quality, 4) insight and management refinement to reduce dissolved reactive P losses, 5) effectiveness of cover crops in reducing nutrients and sediment losses and difference in water quality from irrigation tailwater and rainfall runoff, 6) history of EOFM and recent advances, and 7) alternative methods to determine whether EOF results are acceptable. The increased attention on agricultural runoff has concurrently increased the attention on EOFM. It is at the field-scale that data are needed to better understand the fate of sediment and applied nutrients and inform producer decisions to mitigate offsite losses. The Special Issue compiles the latest scientific information related to utilizing EOFM to evaluate and address agricultural nonpoint sources and provides a glimpse of EOFM in the future.

Technical Abstract: While basin-scale studies and modeling are important tools in relating land uses to water quality concerns, edge-of-field monitoring (EOFM) provides the necessary resolution to spatially target, design, and evaluate in-field conservation practices for reducing nutrient and sediment loading from agriculture. This paper introduces a Special Issue that provides an overview of EOFM on agricultural lands. The Special Issue describes the transition of EOFM from research to more monitoring the environmental impact and performance of agricultural practices, addressing topics such as: 1) disconnect between large-scale loading estimates and the prevalence of sound nutrient practices, 2) obstacles in identifying the causes, sources, and solution and evaluating progress at the watershed scale; 3) need for additional multi-scale studies to better understand the fate and transport continuum and establish linkages between EOFM and in-stream water quality, 4) insight and management refinement to reduce dissolved reactive P losses, 5) effectiveness of cover crops in reducing nutrients and sediment losses and difference in water quality from irrigation tailwater and rainfall runoff, 6) history of EOFM and recent advances, and 7) alternative methods to determine whether EOF results are acceptable. The increased attention on agricultural runoff has concurrently increased the attention on EOFM. It is at the field-scale that data are needed to better understand the fate of sediment and applied nutrients and inform producer decisions to mitigate offsite losses. The Special Issue compiles the latest scientific information related to utilizing EOFM to evaluate and address agricultural nonpoint sources and provides a glimpse of EOFM in the future.