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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #206423
Title: UTILIZING VEGETATIVE BUFFER STRIPS TO REMOVE DISSOLVED AND SEDIMENT-BOUND ATRAZINE, METOLACHLOR AND GLYPHOSATE FROM SURFACE RUNOFF

Author
item LIN, C - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item Lerch, Robert
item GARRETT, H - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item GANTZER, C - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item ANDERSON, S - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI
item GEORGE, M - UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/11/2006
Publication Date: 11/11/2006
Citation: Lin, C.H., Lerch R.N., Garrett, H.E., Gantzer, C.J. Anderson, S.H., George, M.F. 2006. Utilizing vegetative buffer strips to remove dissolved and sediment-bound atrazine, metolachlor and glyphosate from surface runoff [abstract]. In: ASA-CSSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting, November 12-16, 2006, Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 126-3.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Multiple species vegetative buffer strips (VBS) have been recommended as a cost-effective approach to mitigate herbicide transport in surface runoff derived from agronomic operations. However, the effect of buffer designs and species composition on reducing herbicide transport has not been well documented. An experiment consisting of three VBS designs and one cultivated fallow control replicated in triplicate was conducted to assess effectiveness in reducing herbicide transport for claypan soils. The four VBS treatments include: (1) continuous cultivated fallow (control), (2) perennial fescue, (3) fescue with a switchgrass barrier, and (4) native vegetation (largely eastern gamagrass). Rainfall simulation was used to create uniform antecedent soil moisture content in the plots and to generate runoff. Runoff collection equipment is installed across the plots at 1 m above (upslope) the filter strips and at 1, 4, and 8 m into the VBS treatments. The results show a much higher proportion (40-60%) of glyphosate transported with suspended sediments in surface runoff as compared to that of atrazine and metolachlor (<3%). All VBS significantly reduced the transport of both dissolved and sediment-bound atrazine, metolachlor and glyphosate in surface runoff. VBS with native species were most consistently effective at reducing transport of these herbicides. Four meters of native VBS removed about 75-80% of the atrazine, metolachlor and glyphosate in surface runoff. The additional length of native VBS had little effect on removal rates. Additionally, four meters of native species VBS resulted in much greater reductions in transport of these herbicides than eight meters of the other tall fescue VBS designs. Thus, the implementation of native species buffers could provide desired reductions in herbicide transport with less land taken out of production.