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Institute of Agricultural & Environmental Research Tennessee State University |
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Seminar Series Abstract
An Overview of Water Quality Research at the Collins River Basin of Middle Tennessee Sam Dennis Tennessee State University Institute of Agricultural & Environmental Research The main goal of the research is to assess the concentration of essential nutrients derived from agricultural fertilizer and lime in surface water. The protection of surface water from agricultural pollutants continues to pose a major challenge. Agricultural production contributes to non-point source pollution. The USEPA is now strictly enforcing provisions of the 1972 Federal Clean Water Act by ensuring that States implement Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for contaminants. The Collins River is listed in the State’s 303(d) list of impaired water bodies. Plowing, liming and fertilization of nursery fields can result in the runoff of tons of soil and essential crop nutrients. Phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are essential nutrients for crop production and are the primary factors controlling eutrophication. In middle Tennessee, especially in Warren and Grundy counties, large concentrations of nursery crop operations exist and the Collins River watershed spans these counties. Therefore, the potential for nutrient loading by overland and subsurface flow to the Collins River exist. To our knowledge most growers are not aware of the impact of these chemicals in surface water. Therefore, the specific objectives of the research are: (1) to asses the concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in the Collins River basin as a function of in-field nursery crop production; (2) to develop essential nutrients chemical index relative to the seasons and as a measure of in-stream water quality and (3) to develop and administer a survey instrument to growers to provide baseline data on the nature of their farm operations and management practices in the Collins River sub-watershed.
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