Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
, Robert
Committee Member
Cox, Michael
Committee Member
Moore, Matthew
Committee Member
Boyd, Christopher
Date of Degree
8-11-2012
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Wildlife and Fisheries Science
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Forest Resources
Department
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Abstract
Low grade rip rap weirs installed in agricultural surface drainage ditches manage downstream eutrophication by slowing water flow, allowing sediments time to settle out of the water column and phosphorus (P) to sorb to soil. A laboratory experiment was conducted in microcosm chambers to simulate increased hydraulic residence time caused by weirs and two field studies were conducted to compare experimental data with field data and determine sediment deposition rates. One field study monitored weirs monthly after installation and the other measured weirs of varying ages. Weirs retained significantly more water and sediment than controls. Longer inundation times led to abiotic factors known to release P during hydrologic flux, but did not translate to reduced P storage. By converting intermittently inundated sediments into more consistently saturated sediments, weirs function as a viable conservation practice for about a year until temporary P retention mechanisms and sediment retention capacities are reached.
Recommended Citation
Usborne, Elizabeth Louise, "Sediment and phosphorus dynamics behind weirs in agricultural drainage ditches" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. 5637.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5637