Record Display for the EPA National Library Catalog

RECORD NUMBER: 3 OF 4

Main Title Nonpoint Source Pollution Impacts of Alternative Agricultural Management Practices in Illinois: A Simulation Study.
Author Phillips, D. L. ; Hardin, P. D. ; Benson, V. W. ; Baglio, J. V. ;
CORP Author Corvallis Environmental Research Lab., OR. ;Soil Conservation Service, Temple, TX. ;ManTech Environmental Technology, Inc., Corvallis, OR.
Publisher c1993
Year Published 1993
Report Number EPA/600/J-93/500;
Stock Number PB94-136140
Additional Subjects Soil erosion ; Farm management ; Nonpoint sources ; Water pollution control ; Farm crops ; Cultivation ; Simulation ; Corn ; Soybeans ; Yield ; Losses ; Nitrogen ; Phosphorus ; Ground water ; Standards ; Runoff ; Mathematical models ; Graphs(Charts) ; Illinois ; Reprints ; Crop rotation
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NTIS  PB94-136140 Some EPA libraries have a fiche copy filed under the call number shown. 07/26/2022
Collation 11p
Abstract
The 1987 National Resources Inventory (NRI) was used to provide a random sample of 100 Illinois cropland sites growing corn and soybeans. These were used with the Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator (EPIC) model to examine responses of soil erosion and nutrient exports to different tillage and crop rotation practices. The NRI and other data sources were used for site-specific characterizations which reflected the multidimensional variability in site conditions in Illinois. The use of a statistically based sampling scheme and aggregation of simulation results represents a theoretically more sound approach to estimation of regional responses than simulation of typical or hypothetical average sites. Four alternative management schemes were simulated: continuous corn and soybean/corn rotations under conventional tillage and no-till. Average crop yields varied little under the four management schemes and closely correspond to expected yields. However, no-till significantly reduced soil erosion rates and loss of soil organic carbon compared to conventional tillage. This reduced erosion under no-till also led to reduced losses of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in eroded soil Percolation below the root zone represented the greatest N export and is of concern for the issue of groundwater contamination in this region.