Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #199701
Title: Application of Agricultural System Models in Assessing and Managing Contamination of Soil-Water-Atmosphere Continuum in Agriculture

Author
item Ahuja, Lajpat
item Ma, Liwang
item ANAPALLI, SASEENDRAN - COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY
item Malone, Robert - Rob

Submitted to: International Symposium for the Agricultural Environment
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/15/2006
Publication Date: 9/7/2006
Citation: Ahuja, L.R., Ma, L., Anapalli, S., Malone, R.W. 2006. Application of Agricultural System Models in Assessing and Managing Contamination of Soil-Water-Atmosphere Continuum in Agriculture. International Symposium for the Agricultural Environment. Ghent, Belgium. September 4-6, 2006. (Abstract).

Interpretive Summary: In the last three decades, there has been a growing public concern about the adverse effects of modern agriculture on environmental quality and soil-water resources. In the mid-1980s, the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) identified the need for models of whole agricultural systems that will help evaluate both short and long-term effects of cropping systems (crop rotations) and associated management practices on water and soil quality, as well as production. An ARS team, lead by the Great Plains (now Agricultural) Systems Research Unit, developed a process-level model of cropping systems and management effects for this purpose. The model was named the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM), even though it simulates both water-soil quality and production. This model has been and is being used internationally by scientists and students. This paper will present the results of some recent applications of RZWQM and related system models for assessing and managing contamination of soil-water-atmosphere continuum in agriculture. In particular, its application to quantify and assess the effects of key management practices in a 26-year study on controlling N contamination of groundwater through tile drains in Iowa will be presented.

Technical Abstract: In the last three decades, there has been a growing public concern about the adverse effects of modern agriculture on environmental quality and soil-water resources. In the mid-1980s, the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) identified the need for models of whole agricultural systems that will help evaluate both short and long-term effects of cropping systems (crop rotations) and associated management practices on water and soil quality, as well as production. An ARS team, lead by the Great Plains (now Agricultural) Systems Research Unit, developed a process-level model of cropping systems and management effects for this purpose. The model was named the Root Zone Water Quality Model (RZWQM), even though it simulates both water-soil quality and production. This model has been and is being used internationally by scientists and students. This paper will present the results of some recent applications of RZWQM and related system models for assessing and managing contamination of soil-water-atmosphere continuum in agriculture. In particular, its application to quantify and assess the effects of key management practices in a 26-year study on controlling N contamination of groundwater through tile drains in Iowa will be presented.