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Instrumentation for Measuring Runoff, Sediment, and Chemical Losses from Agricultural Fields
Author(s) -
Bonilla Carlos A.,
Kroll David G.,
Norman John M.,
Yoder Daniel C.,
Molling Christine C.,
Miller Paul S.,
Panuska John C.,
Topel Jeffrey B.,
Wakeman Peter L.,
Karthikeyan K. G.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq2005.0130
Subject(s) - surface runoff , snowmelt , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , sampling (signal processing) , sediment , instrumentation (computer programming) , event (particle physics) , geology , geotechnical engineering , computer science , telecommunications , ecology , paleontology , physics , quantum mechanics , detector , biology , operating system
ABSTRACT This work describes a simple, passive sampling system for measuring runoff, sediment, and chemical losses from typical agricultural fields. The sampler consists of a 5 to 7 m wide runoff collector connected to a series of multislot divisors. These divisors split the flow into aliquots, providing a continuous sampling during the runoff event. Divisors were located in a wooden box below ground level. With an adequate pump, this system can operate in fields with a slope gradient as low as 2%, and can stay in the field during winter to record first snowmelt‐generated runoff. A radio transmitter reports by telemetry the occurrence and magnitude of any runoff event, and indicates when the system should be sampled and emptied. This article includes a description of the equipment, advantages, and disadvantages based on 2 yr of operation, and examples of data collected.