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Seasonal Efficacy of Vegetated Filter Strips for Phosphorus Reduction in Surface Runoff
Author(s) -
Vanrobaeys J. A.,
Owens P. N.,
Lobb D. A.,
Kieta K. A.,
Campbell J. M.
Publication year - 2019
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/jeq2018.12.0452
Subject(s) - surface runoff , environmental science , hydrology (agriculture) , phosphorus , growing season , buffer strip , inflow , filter (signal processing) , water quality , outflow , agronomy , ecology , meteorology , geography , chemistry , biology , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , computer science , computer vision
A vegetated filter strip (VFS) is a measure commonly implemented in agricultural landscapes for the purpose of improving water quality. However, much of the evidence to support their effectiveness comes from warm regions dominated by rainfall driven runoff. This study assessed the performance of VFS plots and compared them with annual crop strips to reduce phosphorus (P) levels in runoff in the cold climate of the Canadian Prairies. Analysis of water samples from 22 events during the study indicated no significant difference in the inflow and outflow concentrations of total dissolved P (TDP) or total P (TP) for either the VFS or the annual crop strips. Although the VFS plots had little effect on TDP or TP during the spring, they performed better during the growing season, reducing mean TP concentrations in five out of seven, or 71%, of these events. The VFS plots did not perform as well during the fall events, with the overall mean TP concentration in runoff increasing after flowing through the filters during this time period. Core Ideas Vegetated filter strips are dynamic in cold climates and P retention capacity changes seasonally. Vegetated filter strips were not effective at retaining P outside the growing season. New designs and management are required for vegetated filter strips for P retention in cold climates.