Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a major problem in the Great Lakes region, causing millions of dollars in economic losses each year. These blooms are caused by excess nutrients, such as phosphorus, entering the water from a variety of sources, including agriculture.
Michigan State University (MSU) Bioresearch scientist Ehsan Ghane is working with farmers and other stakeholders to find ways to reduce phosphorus runoff from agricultural fields. Ghane's research focuses on agricultural water quality and quantity, and he is developing new methods to improve the performance and profitability of subsurface drainage systems while reducing harmful water-quality impacts.
Ghane and his team recently received a $1.2 million grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to continue their research on conservation drainage practices. The project is called "Edge-of-Field," and it is testing the effectiveness of two types of water management systems: controlled drainage and saturated buffers.
Controlled drainage involves adjusting the outlet elevation of a drainage system to control the volume of water leaving the field and reduce nutrient loss. Saturated buffers use the same principles as controlled drainage systems, but in addition they intercept water from the tile drainage and reroute and treat it through soils and vegetation before exiting into an adjacent waterway.
Data collection from the previous five years on partner farms has shown as much as a 25% reduction in phosphorus loss using these drainage methods compared to control fields. Researchers believe these methods have potential to capture even more than the initial studies indicate.
Photo Credit: istock-urpspoteko
Categories: Michigan, Crops