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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #388799
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Crop-Pasture-Livestock Systems in Northeastern Landscapes

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses in Shallow Tile Drainage and Surface Water From an Agricultural Peatland: A Case Study of Extreme Summer Rainfall From Southeastern Massachusetts, United States

Author
item Millar, David
item ALVERSON, NIKOLAS - University Of Massachusetts
item Kennedy, Casey
item JERANYAMA, PETER - University Of Massachusetts
item Buda, Anthony
item DUNCAN, JONATHAN - Pennsylvania State University

Submitted to: Irrigation and Drainage
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2024
Publication Date: 1/10/2025
Citation: Millar, D.J., Alverson, N., Kennedy, C.D., Jeranyama, P., Buda, A.R., Duncan, J. 2025. Nitrogen and Phosphorus Losses in Shallow Tile Drainage and Surface Water From an Agricultural Peatland: A Case Study of Extreme Summer Rainfall From Southeastern Massachusetts, United States. Irrigation and Drainage. 74(3):1326-1337. https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.3083.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ird.3083

Interpretive Summary: Cranberry production is the largest cash-crop in southeastern Massachusetts, but its connection to water resources may lead to impaired water quality. We evaluated the effect of tile drainage, a relatively new but popular form of artificial drainage in southeastern Massachusetts, on nutrient losses from cranberry agriculture. Tile drainage had a greater impact on soil losses of phosphorus (P) than nitrogen, with two times higher P loads in tile drainage than surface water. We observed retention of P in open ditches, which may mediate the flow of P from tile drainage to surface water in cranberry farms and other agroecosystems.

Technical Abstract: Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) production is a major part of the economy and cultural heritage of southeastern Massachusetts, but may also contribute to eutrophication of the region’s lakes and estuaries. Despite being a wetland plant, cranberry farms are ditched to facilitate drainage, with subsurface tile drainage installed in 22% of the total cranberry acreage in Massachusetts. Although it represents a growing share of the industry, tile drainage is still a relatively new form of artificial drainage in cranberry production. Given the potential water quality impacts of tile drainage, we quantified its contribution to surface water flows and nutrient loads for a 2-ha cranberry bed during the 2014 growing season. Results showed that tile drainage tracked surface water flow except during (1) major storms, which caused enhanced surface and subsurface runoff, and (2) extended dry periods, when surface water was stored in ditches or recharged to groundwater. The total N (TN) load in tile drainage (4.3 kg ha-1) accounted for roughly half of that exported in surface water (7.5 kg ha-1), which was indicative of the release of N from ditch sediments. Conversely, the TP load in tile drainage (2.7 kg ha-1) was approximately twice that exported in surface water (1.5 kg ha-1), which was consistent with the retention of P in ditch sediments. These results highlight the contrasting effects of ditch management on N and P export from cranberry farms, with ditches potentially serving as a source of N but a sink of P.