Theses and Dissertations

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

Paz, Joel O.

Committee Member

Tagert, Mary Love M.

Committee Member

Massey, Joseph H.

Date of Degree

12-14-2013

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Engineering Technology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Abstract

The onarm water storage (OFWS) systems at Metcalf and Pitts farm in Porter Bayou Watershed were monitored for changes in nutrient levels and water withdrawal for irrigation from March 2012 to April 2013. Nitrogen and phosphorus levels were generally higher during the early part of the growing season. The OFWS systems can reduce nitrate and phosphorus in runoff up to 81% and 85%, respectively. However, the systems did not consistently reduce sediment and nutrients especially after significant rainfall and runoff events. The systems provided a total of 130 and 233 acreeet of recycled water for irrigating crops at Metcalf and Pitts, respectively, during the 2012 growing season. These amounts reflect significant savings in terms of groundwater. This study highlights the advantages of OFWS systems as structural BMPs to reduce nutrient loading into the Gulf of Mexico and to minimize groundwater withdrawals from the Mississippi Alluvial Aquifer.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19463

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