Evaluating Effectiveness of Best Management Practices for Animal Waste and Fertilizer Management to Reduce Nutrient Inputs into Ground Water in the Suwannee River Basin

Water quality has been the subject of concern and attention in the Suwannee River Basin for a number of years. Recent data have indicated increasing concentration of nutrients in groundwater, spring water, and private drinking water wells in the region. The purpose of this interdisciplinary research project is to reduce nutrient loadings to groundwater from agricultural row crops by developing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and implementing them at the farm level. Pre- and post-BMP soil and groundwater monitoring will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMPs at improving groundwater quality while maintaining acceptable crop yields. The data collected will be used in the development of computer models that simulate the impacts of various BMP alternatives, and assist landowners in choosing the most cost-effective BMPs to implement.