A Decision Support Framework for Effective Design and Placement of Vegetated Buffer Strips Within Agricultural Field Systems

Deeks, Lynda K.; Duzant, J. H.; Owens, Philip N.; Wood, Gavin

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-394275-3.00002-x

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…These factors include plant litter (Engman 1986), plant canopy and basal cover (Weltz et al 1992), basal plant stem and litter cover (Abrahams et al 1994), buffer width (Pearce et al 1997), plant density (Ogunlela and Makanjuola 2000), biomass, cover or density of plants (Hook 2003), plant community structure and micro-topography (Marlow et al 2006), as well as stem diameter and plant density (Deeks et al 2012). Although plant height may influence sediment filtration when plants are inundated, a complex interaction of various factors is likely more important (Clary 2000).…”

Section: Influence Of Mowed Buffers On Runoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff

et al. 2015

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S. 2015. Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 139Á151. Little research has been conducted on the effect of mowing and buffer width on the effectiveness of short-width (B10 m) native grass buffers to filter sediment, nutrients, and bacteria. A 2-yr (2011Á2012) field study was conducted on native rangeland in southern Alberta. The treatments of mowing and buffer width (1.5, 3, 6 m) were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with four replicates. The buffer plots were pre-wet with distilled water. A spiked solution was then applied to each plot using a run-on distribution device and the runoff collected every 10 min for 30 min once the runoff started discharging from the plot. The volume of runoff, and percent reduction in concentration and mass of sediment [total dissolved solids (TSS)], phosphorus [dissolved reactive P (DRP), total P], nitrogen (total N), and bacteria (Escherichia coli, total coliforms) in runoff were determined. The findings did not support our hypothesis that percent reductions in concentrations and mass for sediment, nutrients, and bacteria were greater for mowed than unmowed buffers. In contrast, the findings supported our hypothesis that increasing buffer width would significantly (P 50.05) decrease mass (but not concentration) of sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in runoff. The significant mass reduction was attributed to a reduced runoff ratio caused by longer residence time and greater infiltration in the wider buffers. Mass reductions for the three buffer widths ranged from 29 to 92% for TSS, 22 to 93% for DRP, 38 to 93% for total P, 23 to 92% for total N, and between 61 and 94% for E. coli and total coliforms. These findings suggest that buffer width but not mowing may reduce runoff quantity and improve runoff quality over the short term.Key words: Grass buffers, filtering, runoff, sediment, nutrients, bacteria Miller, J. J., Curtis, T., Chanasyk, D. S. et Reedyk, S. 2015. Incidence de la tonte et de la largeur des bandes d'herbe tampon sur la diminution des se´diments, des oligoe´le´ments et des bacte´ries dans le ruissellement de surface. Can. J. Soil Sci. 95: 139Á151. On ne s'est gue`re inte´resse´aux conse´quences de la tonte et de la largeur de la zone tampon sur l'efficacite´des e´troites bandes ( B10 m) de gramine´es indige`nes qui filtrent les se´diments, les oligoe´le´ments et les bacte´ries. Pendant deux ans (2011)(2012), les auteurs ont re´alise´une e´tude sur des parcours indige`nes du sud de l'Alberta. À cette fin, ils ont e´value´la tonte et la largeur de la bande tampon (1,5, 3 et 6 m) dans le cadre d'un essai en blocs ale´atoires complets a`quatre re´pe´titions. Les parcelles ont d'abord e´te´humidifie´es avec de l'eau distille´e, puis on a verse´sur elles une solution enrichie graˆce a`un dispositif de distribution par application directe. Ensuite, les auteurs ont pre´leve´des e´chantillons aux dix minutes pendant trente minutes de`s que l'eau a commen...

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Section: Influence Of Mowed Buffers On Runoffmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff

et al. 2015

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“…These tools are built to be practical and easy to use, as the Buffers DSS and the Stewart et al (2011) model include flowcharts for landowners to follow. However, each framework is deficient when specifically focusing on cold climates, as neither the BZIEF (Ducros and Joyce 2003) nor the Buffers DSS (Deeks et al 2012) include snowmelt-related parameters. The tool designed specifically for the Canadian prairies recognizes the unique impact that prolonged freezing temperatures can have on buffers, but it still assumes that under prairie frozen soil conditions, trapping of soluble nutrients is primarily achieved through infiltration and, furthermore, sediment trapping by frozen buffers is still effective (Stewart et al 2011).…”

Section: Models Used To Investigate Buffer Effectiveness In Cold Climmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phosphorus dynamics in vegetated buffer strips in cold climates: a review

et al. 2018

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The movement of excess phosphorus (P) into streams, rivers, and lakes poses a significant threat to water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems and thus, P has been targeted for reduction. In landscapes dominated by agriculture, P is primarily transported through non-point sources, which a number of best management practices aim to target. One such practice is vegetated buffer strips (VBS), which are designed to use dense vegetation above the surface and extensive root systems below the surface to reduce runoff velocity, trap sediments, increase infiltration, and increase plant uptake of nutrients. The effectiveness of VBS in reducing P concentrations has been studied and reviewed, but most studies have been undertaken in warm or temperate climates, where runoff is primarily driven through summer rainfall events and when vegetation is actively growing. In cold climates, the majority of runoff occurs during the snowmelt period, when soils are frozen and vegetation has been flattened by snow and ice over the winter period and is not actively taking up nutrients. These conditions hinder the ability of VBS to work as designed. Additionally, frozen vegetation can release P after undergoing freeze–thaw cycles (FTCs). Thus, this review aimed to (i) summarize research designed to determine the effectiveness of VBS in reducing P transport in cold climates, (ii) collate research on the potential for vegetation to release P after undergoing FTCs, and (iii) identify research gaps to be addressed in determining VBS effectiveness in cold climates. Cold-climate VBS implemented in Canada, the northern United States, and northern Europe have shown P removal efficiencies ranging from −36% to +89%, a range that identifies the uncertainty surrounding the use of VBS in these landscapes. However, there is consensus among researchers globally that vegetation does release P after undergoing FTCs, though P concentrations from different species vary across studies. The design and management of VBS in cold climates requires careful consideration, and VBS may not always be the best management strategy to reduce P transport. Future research should be undertaken at a larger scale in natural systems and focus on VBS design and management strategies.

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“…Research completed in Ontario, Canada, showed that an increase in the percent vegetation cover within a buffer will increase sediment trapping efficiency (Abu-Zreig, Rudra, Whiteley, Lalonde, & Kaushik, 2003). These findings were supported by the output of a modified soil erosion model (Morgan-Morgan-Finney) that was completed by Deeks et al (2012) in order to develop a framework for designing more effective buffers. They found that sediment trapping efficiency is most impacted by stem diameter and fraction of ground cover whereas soil texture was most important in determining the distance particles traveled within the buffer.…”

Section: Establishment and Managementmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…However, when planning a buffer it is important to take into consideration its width and placement, soil texture, species of vegetation to be planted, as well as the stem diameter and density of vegetation (Deeks, Duzant, Owens, & Wood, 2012). Research completed in Ontario, Canada, showed that an increase in the percent vegetation cover within a buffer will increase sediment trapping efficiency (Abu-Zreig, Rudra, Whiteley, Lalonde, & Kaushik, 2003).…”

Section: Establishment and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of vegetation characteristics and hydrologic flow pathways on the effectiveness of vegetated buffer strips for phosphorus reduction in an agricultural watershed

Kieta¹

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Vegetated buffer strips are a management practice implemented in agricultural landscapes because of their effectiveness in reducing the transport of phosphorus (P) to surface water.However, in northern climates, buffers can become a source of P when soils are frozen and vegetation is dead or dormant during the most significant runoff period. This research investigated buffer vegetation as a potential source of P at the Morden Research Station, Manitoba. Vegetation sampling in two new buffers and an established buffer in fall 2015 and spring 2016 showed biomass P loss of 32-47% and an increase in soil Olsen P of 25-43% over winter. Thus, it is likely that much of the leached P was retained in the soil. Laboratory experiments subjected timothy grass to zero, three or six freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs), followed by extraction to leach P. Results showed an increased number of FTCs resulted in increased concentrations of leached P.ii Contents

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A Decision Support Framework for Effective Design and Placement of Vegetated Buffer Strips Within Agricultural Field Systems

Cited by 10 publications

References 23 publications

Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff

Influence of mowing and narrow grass buffer widths on reductions in sediment, nutrients, and bacteria in surface runoff

Phosphorus dynamics in vegetated buffer strips in cold climates: a review

An assessment of vegetation characteristics and hydrologic flow pathways on the effectiveness of vegetated buffer strips for phosphorus reduction in an agricultural watershed

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