ARS | Publication request: Removal of nutrient and pesticides from tile drainage discharge using an end-of-tile cartridge approach

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 24, 2008
Publication Date: June 21, 2009
Citation: King, K.W., Mcdonald, J., Moore, J., Balogh, J. 2009. Removal of nutrient and pesticides from tile drainage discharge using an end-of-tile cartridge approach [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting.

Technical Abstract: Nutrient transport from subsurface tile drainage is pretty well documented. One approach receiving consideration for reducing the amount of nutrients and pesticides in subsurface drainage waters is end-of-tile filters. The filters are often comprised of industrial wastes or by-products that have a significant capacity for binding or sorbing nutrients and pesticides. A laboratory study was conducted to test the efficacy of an activated carbon, zeolite (clinoptilolite), and activated alumina filter to capture nitrate-nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, metalaxyl, and chlorothalonil. Hydrographs with peak flow rates of 0.06, 0.13, and 0.19 lps were tested. Across all flow rates, reductions in nitrate-nitrogen load was 4.7%, dissolved reactive phosphorus, 51.6%, chlorothalonil, 58.2%, and metalaxyl, 28.8%. The findings from this study suggest that the end-of-tile filter approach could be used as a best management practice to reduce nutrient and pesticide transport is subsurface tile drainage.