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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211226
Title: Analysis of Herbicide Transport from Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed

Author
item Lerch, Robert
item Sadler, Edward
item Kremer, Robert
item Kitchen, Newell
item ALBERTS, EUGENE - USDA RETIRED

Submitted to: Soil and Water Conservation Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2007
Publication Date: 7/21/2007
Citation: Lerch, R.N., Sadler, E.J., Kremer, R.J., Kitchen, N.R., Alberts, E.E. 2007. Analysis of Herbicide Transport from Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed [abstract]. Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Conference, July 21-25, 2007, Tampa, Florida.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Environmental impacts caused by herbicide loss from agricultural production are well documented in the surface runoff-prone claypan region. The most widely known impact was for atrazine, which caused the Mark Twain Lake to be listed in the original 303(d) list for impaired waters. While this lake has since been removed from the 303(d) list, concern remains that the reduction allowing its removal was at least partly caused by dry weather, which would mean that return to wetter weather might cause a renewed environmental impact. The lack of knowledge about factors controlling herbicide loss and transport hinder improved management. The 15-yr dataset on herbicide transport within the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed presents an opportunity to examine these factors over a range of weather, hydrology, and agricultural practices. The datasets include concentrations and loads for atrazine, metolachlor, alachlor, and acetochlor and several important metabolites. Observations include consistently high levels of atrazine and its mobile metabolites, DEA and DIA, compared to the acetanelide herbicides (alachlor, metolachlor and acetochlor). Cumulative frequency diagrams will be used to discern long-term trends in transport.