Management of Nonpoint Sources

Provided to Dr. G. Powell by Dr. D. Monreau, NCSU for this website

Problems Associated with Agriculture

Destruction of Riparian Buffers

Agricultural runoff directly into streams

application

uptake export

Excess = application - uptake

Runoff of nutrients from row crops and forage crops

Streambank erosion

Feedlot runoff

Access to streams by cattle

Best Management Practicesfor Management of

Erosion and Nutrient LossSources:

* Alberta Agriculture http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/agdex/500/72000003.html

* Chad M. Cook, Wisc. Dept. of Natural Resources, 1999.

* NC Dept of Environment and Natural Resources

Vegetated Buffers

A crop residue cover protects the soil.

Bare soils are very vulnerable to erosion.

Conservation Tillage

Maintain Crop Residue Cover

Wooded areas with poor soils and steep slopes can be managed as woodlots.

Proper Use of Land

Steeply sloped land can be used for forageproduction.

Proper Use of Land

Use No-Till or Direct Seeding

Both a disc drill (left) and an air drill (right) work well for direct seeding into sod.

Reduce Tillage

Conservation fallow maintains a crop residue cover to protect the soil.

Fallow fields with no residue cover are very erosion prone.

Grow Forages and Use Crop Rotations

Forage crops protect and improve the soil.

Legumes protect the soil andadd nitrogen and organic matter.

Eroded Gully

Installing erosion control matting to create a lined channel.

After seedingthe lined channel.

Stabilize Drainage Channels

Terraces intercept runoff.

Cross-section of one type of terrace.

Contouring

Management Agencies and Programs

Federal

• FIFRA – Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

• USDA - 1985 and 1990 Farm Bills– Conservation Reserve, Sodbuster,

Swampbuster, Conservation Easement, Wetland Reserve

• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act - solid waste

• Clean Water Act - Section 404

Management of PesticidesFederal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

• All pesticides must be registered with the EPA• EPA decides whether there are unreasonable adverse effects on the

environment by taking into account economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the pesticide use based on the data submitted by the manufacturer .

• a certified applicator to be present during the use of a restricted pesticide - records must be kept.

• Penalties: – $5,000 civil fine for modification of labeling required by FIFRA or by

failing to comply with recordkeeping, reporting and inspection requirements.

– Criminal penalties for knowing violations or submission of fraudulent

NPS Management Agencies in NC

• Div. of Water Quality, DENR for general water quality, urban runoff, wetlands and groundwater

– Classification of streams

– Water supply watershed protection

– Supplemental classifications of streams (High Quality Waters, Outstanding Resource Waters, Nutrient Sensitive Waters)

– Urban stormwater

• Soil and Water Conservation Commission

and related county Soil and Water Conservation Districts for agriculture

– Livestock operations

– Ag cost-share program

• Sedimentation Commission for construction;- sedimentation and erosion control plans

• Mining Commission for mining;• Division of Environmental Health for onsite

wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal;• Division of Forest Resources for forestry;

- Forest Practice Guidelines• Department of Transportation for transportation;• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service for

education

NPS Management Agencies in NC (cont.)

Farm by Farm Accounting Model

• Developed by NRCS

• Adapted and implemented by a state if it choose to do so.

Nitrogen Loss Estimation Worksheet

Inputs Assignment or Calculation

Soil series Soil Management Group (drainage, soil depth, and texture)

Crops and acreage Realistic yield expectation (RYE)

Nitrogen Use Efficiency by Crop (see table on next slide)

Current N rate, Partition N between RYE source and timing and Excess

BMPs, acreages affected, and related efficiency Export of N to stream (values in table)

CROP Nitrogen Uptake Efficiency

Bermuda grass 75

Flue-cured tobacco 50

Burley tobacco 25

Soybeans (nodulated)

Corn 40-55

depending on location and management practices

Cotton 50

Wheat 40

Sweet potato 40

Cucumber 25

Source: Tar-Pamlico Accounting Method, NC Div. of Water Quality, 2002

Efficiencies of BMP’s

Wisconsin’s Agricultural BMP’s for Reducing Phosphorous

Phosphorous SedimentBMP Reduction Reduction Cost

Conservation Tillage 15-85% 15-90% $9-26/ac/yr4Contour farming similar 30-50% $4/ac/yrContour strip cropping to sediment 40-75% $5-6/ac/yrBarnyard diversions 9% potentially $373/yrRoof gutters 44% high $174/yrFilter strips 62% 74% $20-25/ac/yrCreated wetlands 15-99% 65-97% $467-2337/ac/yrSediment basins TP > SP 97% lowGrassed waterways 30% 80% $447/ac/yrStream fencing med-high 40% $0.15/ft/yrAnimal waste storage structures 90% low $12-117/cow/yrNutrient management strategies potentially high $4-13/ac/yr

Source: Chad M. Cook, Wisc. Dept. of Natural Resources, 1999.

BMP Efficiencies Established for Neuse Agricultural Rule

Percent NitrogenBest Management Practice Reduction

Filter strip 40Water Control Structure 40

Forested Buffers50 ft (30 tress + 20 grass) 8520 ft trees 7530 ft grass 65

Cover cropsrye and triticale 15oats and barley 10wheat 5