Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Water Quality Impacts Of Natural Riparian Grasses Part 1: Empirical Studies, B. J. Barfield, R. L. Blevins, Alex W. Fogle, C. E. Madison, S. P. Inamdar, D. I. Carey, V. P. Evangelou

KWRRI Research Reports

Studies were conducted on the effectiveness of natural riparian grass buffer strips in removing sediment and ag chemicals from surface runoff. No till and conventional tillage erosion plots served as the sediment and chemical source area. Runoff from the plots was directed onto 15, 30, and 45 foot filter strips where the inflow and outflow concentrations and sediment size distributions. Trapping percentages for sediment and ag chemicals typically ranged near or above 90%. An evaluation was made of the distribution of trapped chemicals among infiltrated mass and mass stored in the surface layer and on plant surfaces. The analysis showed …