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Land Use And Water And Soil Management Practices Impacts On Potential Groundwater Recharge In Loess Regions Of South Central Nebraska, Gustavo Bosch-Rubia

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sustainability of agro-ecosystems must consider land use and water and soil management effects on groundwater recharge. Water flow beneath the plant root zone through the intermediate vadose zone determines potential groundwater recharge. Different land uses, water and soil management practices control deep percolation as a result of changes on evapotranspiration and infiltration. This study of the impact of surface activities on deep percolation was conducted at six locations across Nebraska: Two center-pivot irrigated no-till planting systems fields were compared with one tilled center-pivot irrigated field, a furrow irrigated field with multiple tillage treatments, an eco-fallow dryland farming system, and a …