Characterization of agricultural nonpoint pollution: Nutrient loss and erosion in a West Tennessee watershed

Abstract

Research was conducted on an 18‐ha, bermed, single‐field watershed in west Tennessee to characterize soil and nutrient losses during storm events over a 12‐month period. Total soil loss was approximately 104 metric tons, which is high for the nation but typical for west Tennessee. Minimums of 2% of applied phosphorus and 6% of applied nitrogen were lost from the field through storm water runoff. First‐flush analysis indicated that total suspended solids, orthophosphate, ammonia, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen migrated from the field faster than if proportional to the flow. In general, orthophosphate came off the field early in the runoff event, whereas other forms of phosphorus came off late in the event. Copyright © 1988 SETAC

Publication Title

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

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