Application Of Best Management Practices Research Articles

Evaluating small‐scale harvesting disturbance to the forest soil in Mediterranean beech high forests

AbstractEuropean beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) forests in Central and Southern Italy are managed applying the shelterwood system. Prior to the regeneration cut, it is common to apply 2–3 thinning interventions, aiming to obtain mostly firewood, considering the low dimension and poor quality of the stems. These interventions are usually carried out by local forest enterprises relying on a low or medium level of mechanization (small‐scale forestry). In particular, the short wood system is applied, thus processing the logs to 1 m length and extracting them with forestry‐fitted farm tractors equipped with forwarding bins. Despite the large application of this harvesting system in the Mediterranean forestry, no information is available in the literature about its possible disturbance to the forest soil. To fulfill this knowledge gap, we developed the first assessment of soil physicochemical (bulk density, penetration resistance, shear resistance, organic matter content) and biological (soil microarthropods biodiversity evaluated with the QBS‐ar index, that is, an index based on the idea that high‐quality soils have more groups of microarthropods that are morphologically better adapted to the soil than low‐quality soils) properties for this kind of logging operation. In three case study areas in Central Italy, we applied an experimental design to evaluate separately the impacts related to the passage of the machine and that of the silvicultural treatment itself. We further applied linear mixed‐effect models to investigate the relationship between changes in soil physicochemical and biological properties. We found the effect of the silvicultural treatment to be negligible, but there was a significant alteration of the investigated parameters in the soil affected by the passage of the machine. Soil penetration and shear resistance doubled in the forwarding trails (0.25 MPa and 4.02 t m−2, respectively) in comparison with the other two experimental treatments (control area and soil not affected by the machine passage; about 0.12 MPa and 2.10 t m−2, respectively). Soil organic matter and soil microarthropod biodiversity (QBS‐ar index) were reduced by 25% in the forwarding trails (about 30% and 92 respectively) in comparison with the soil not affected by the machine passage (about 39% and about 130, respectively). Such significant disturbance, which occurred even if the applied machinery had lower weight in comparison to other alternatives (forwarders), is related to the high number of machine passes needed to extract the woody material with forwarding bins applying the short wood system. We found a significant relationship between soil compaction and soil organic matter removal and microarthropod biodiversity, with the latter which resulted significantly lower in more compacted and organic matter‐poor soils. We demonstrated that this small‐scale extraction system can have a negative effect on soil features in the short term. We therefore recommend the application of best management practices, for instance placing brush mats and logging residues, on the forwarding trails to limit the soil disturbance within the framework of small‐scale forestry. We further recommend a wider application of aerial harvesting systems, which generally have lower impacts to the soil. However, this could happen only after an extensive training program aimed to increase the knowledge and skills of local loggers about aerial harvesting systems.

Evaluating the long-term effects of best management practices on pollution reduction and soil quality improvement in sloping farmland of the Three Gorges Reservoir area

Reducing nonpoint-source pollution and improving soil quality by applying best management practices (BMPs) on sloping farmland are essential for ensuring water environmental safety and sustainable agricultural development. However, little is known about the accumulative effect of the long-term application of BMPs on reducing pollution and improving soil quality in major land use types of sloping farmland in watersheds. We conducted a nine-year field experiment for citrus orchard and cropland of sloping farmland in the Three Gorges Reservoir area of China. The treatment settings for the citrus experimental plots were as follows: (1) citrus intercropped with white clover (WC), (2) citrus orchard soil mulched with straw (SM), (3) citrus intercropped with Hemerocallis flava contour hedgerows (HF) and (4) conventional citrus planting pattern (C-CK). The treatment settings for the crop experimental plots were as follows: (1) wheat-peanut rotation intercropped with Toona sinensis contour hedgerows (TS), (2) wheat-peanut rotation intercropped with alfalfa contour hedgerows (AF), (3) ryegrass-sesame rotation (RS) and (4) conventional wheat-peanut rotation (W-CK). We found that compared with C-CK and W-CK, (1) runoff, sediment, total nitrogen and total phosphorus losses were reduced by 18.0 %, 66.1 %, 35.6 % and 40.2 %, respectively, in WC; by 22.4 %, 61.2 %, 43.9 % and 52.4 %, respectively, in SM; by 25.4%, 69.5 %, 52.0 % and 58.1 %, respectively, in HF; by 45.1 %, 73.7 %, 64.6 % and 66.0 %, respectively, in TS; by 41.8 %, 67.4 %, 59.3 % and 60.8 %, respectively, in AF; and by 24.1 %, 42.9 %, 39.3 % and 40.3 %, respectively, in RS; (2) the soil quality index values of the BMP treatments increased; and (3) the application of these BMPs did not significantly affect yield or product value. We suggest the application of these BMPs on sloping farmland to (1) efficiently reduce total runoff, total sediment, and soil total nitrogen and total phosphorus losses; (2) improve soil quality; and (3) have no significant effect on output, of which the BMP HF applied to citrus orchard and the BMP TS applied to cropland are the most effective.

Stormwater characterisation and modelling for Sungai Air Hitam in Selangor, Malaysia using model for urban stormwater improvement conceptualisation (music)

The aim of this study is to evaluate the current water quality status of one of the urban rivers in Malaysia, called Sungai Air Hitam. The river's water supply is not only unsuitable for the inhabitants but also hazardous to the aquatic species that depend on it. In order to simulate the water quality formulation of the river, the Model for Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualization (MUSIC) was used. The effects of various best management practices (BMPs) components have been examined to improve the river's water quality. This study also investigated different scenarios of the expected future changes in the land cover and the quality of the river. As the proportion of impervious surfaces increases, the urban hydrology cycle can be significantly altered, resulting in an increase in volumes and peak flows, and a decrease in storage, infiltration, and interception. The MUSIC results have shown significant reductions in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) after introducing BMPs. It was also noticed that the prediction of pollutants falls within the acceptable range set by the Urban Stormwater Management Manual for Malaysia (MSMA) 2nd edition. For the land cover, it was found that the total reduction of BOD, TSS, TP, and TN for existing land use is 92.5 %, 94.5 %, 90.7 % and 91.9 %. Meanwhile, the total reduction in future land use is 81.6 % for BOD, 86.2 % for TSS, 80.9 % for TP and 80.8 % for TN. From the simulation results, it was observed that the application of BMPs has successfully reduced the observed mean BOD concentration from 92.38 mg/L (Class V) to 6.93 mg/L (Class IV) of the national water quality standards, NWQS, water quality index. As a result, the water quality index of the overall catchment has improved from Class IV to Class III (WQ1, WQ3, and WQ4) and from Class V to IV (WQ2) with the application of the BMPs. This assessment aims to raise awareness within the Sungai Air Hitam community regarding the importance of preserving river cleanliness and understanding the long-term environmental impact of water quality. These findings underscore the importance of an integrated system in managing urban water systems, which can offer valuable insight to the decision-makers.

A Meta‐analysis of the effects of ground‐based extraction technologies on fine roots in forest soils

AbstractFine roots are an important component of forest soil as they play a key role in fundamental processes like plant nutrition and water supply. As with all the features of forest soil, the compaction related to the forest operations and, in particular, to the wood extraction via ground‐based technologies could lead to a significant impact on the presence of fine roots in the soil affected by the passage of the machines. Considering the lack of a review, we used a meta‐analytic approach to synthesise effect sizes of ground‐based extraction technologies affecting the presence of fine roots in the soil, using a multivariate mixed‐effects meta‐analytic model. The obtained results revealed that the presence of fine roots in the soil affected by the passage of the machines was significantly reduced by both skidding (g = −1.23, 95%CI ‐1.87, −0.60) and forwarding (g = −1.37, 95%CI ‐2.01, −0.74). Due to the higher soil compaction caused by forwarding, this method had a marginally but statistically significant greater impact than skidding. We further confirmed the hypothesis that soil compaction and the presence of fine roots were strongly correlated, with the latter being greatly reduced in compacted soils characterised by higher bulk density. What is more, even more than 20 years after a harvesting intervention, the presence of fine roots was significantly lower in both strip roads (forwarding) and skid trails (skidding) as compared to areas which were not impacted by the machine passage. This shows that fine roots are particularly vulnerable to forest operations. On the other hand, the majority of the trails in the database used for the meta‐analysis were created in countries that favour the creation of a small number of widely used trails. Therefore, it would be scientifically valuable to do a comparative evaluation in various forestry contexts, such as in the Mediterranean area, where the development of the forest trails network is oriented on creating a large number of trails with low traffic volumes. Because machinery‐induced soil compaction is the major driver of the decrease in fine roots in skid trails and strip roads, both the application of best management practices as well as of a smarter planning of the trail network to limit soil compaction are strongly recommended. Both applications are highly recommended to be used in the planning phase and in the practical implementation of logging activities.

Impacts of long-term application of best management practices on yields and root carbohydrate content in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) (UK)

Yield physiology of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is strongly influenced by biotic factors such as crown and root rot caused by Fusarium spp. and by abiotic conditions such as precipitation or temperatures, duration of each harvest, and field management practices. Asparagus yields are linked to the availability of soluble carbohydrates (CHO) in the storage root system which is considered a key factor in asparagus productivity. The aim of this study was to quantify the impacts of the long-term application of a range of potential Best Management Practices (BMPs) on yield and storage root carbohydrate content in green asparagus in a long-term field trial. The trial was established in 2016 with the asparagus ‘Gijnlim’ variety. Commercial yields were collected in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Root carbohydrate content was determined in 2019 and 2020. BMPs included (1) companion crops - Rye (Secale cereale L.), Mustard (Sinapis alba L.), (2) interrow surface mulch applications of either straw mulch or PAS 100 compost (Publicly available specification) in combination with shallow soil disturbance (SSD), (3) the conventional practice and modifications of the conventional tillage practice by applying SSD or not applying SSD and (4) a zero-tillage option. Annual re-ridging (R) and not ridging (NR) were applied to BMP options 1–3. SSD had no significant impact on asparagus yields while annual re-ridging negatively affected total yields of treatments with bare soil interrows, which were managed without SSD. Conventional practice was associated with a 22% yield reduction and ∼€4250 ha−1 annual loss in potential revenue as compared to the Zero-tillage treatment. Companion cropping with mustard did not have a significant impact on asparagus yields. Rye without annual re-ridging was however associated with yield reductions of > 20% as compared to the Conventional practice. PAS 100 Compost applied in asparagus interrows (at 25 t ha−1 per year) in combination with SSD without annual re-ridging resulted in improvements to yields of 20%, 10% and 34% in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, as compared to the Conventional practice. No correlation was observed between storage root soluble carbohydrate content and asparagus yields. The results of this study confirmed that asparagus yield, and thus total farm income can be significantly improved through implementation of several of the BMPs investigated.

Modeling runoff-sediment influx responses to alternative BMP interventions in the Gojeb watershed, Ethiopia, using the SWAT hydrological model.

The Soil & Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been calibrated over a 33-year period to evaluate the Gojeb watershed's hydrological processes, sediment yield with downstream loading to the Gibe III dam, and erosion hotspot locations. Best management practices (BMPs) were run through the model to simulate the effects of watershed intervention scenarios on sediment yield and runoff. Simulation results of BMP intervention were compared with the reference and worst-case scenarios. The simulation of sediment production indicates a clear growing trend. Temporally, the maximum amount of sediment transported out of the watershed is experiential from June to September, and the minimum is in February. A plainly defined similar orientation is observed between precipitation, surface runoff, and sediment load in the landscape. Spatially, the maximum sediment transported out of the watershed is from agricultural landscape units with a slope of over 50%, annual precipitation above 1592mm, and surface runoff over 151mm. This signifies that the watershed is under serious threat from erosion due to vegetation loss, steep slope farming, and high surface runoff. Gibe III is a 243-m high roller compacted gravity dam built on the Omo-Gibe River basin in Ethiopia for hydroelectric power and downstream flood control. It is one of Africa's tallest dams, with an annual electric output of 1870MW that began operation in 2016. Thus, Gibe III could see a loss of storage capacity due to higher-than-expected sedimentation resulting from worsening environmental degradation, which implies that the beneficial uses that depend on this dam - electricity production, regulated irrigation water supply, and flood control - will decline with significant economic losses. Despite that, selected sustainable land management interventions and the application of BMPs to critical erosion-prone hotspot areas can support the overall reduction in total sediment yield and surface runoff.

Emerging Technological Methods for Effective Farming by Cloud Computing and IoT

Agriculture provides a solution to the vast majority of problems that threaten human existence. When it comes to agriculture, new or contemporary technology can have a significant impact on a number of factors, including how much food is produced and how long it stays edible. The application of best management practices, for instance, is very common these days in the quest to improve agriculture. New hybrids are resistant to illnesses, use fewer pesticides, have natural defenses against pests, and may be grown in methods that minimize the number of diseases and pests that can affect them. Plants are capable of producing oxygen and medicines in addition to the food that they provide. Consequently, agriculture depends on plants that are in good health. A plant needs water, sunlight, and crucial fertilizer in order to receive the nutrients it needs to have a healthy plant. So, it is necessary to keep an eye on the health of the plant. The article discusses various technological solutions that can be implemented to automate the plant monitoring system. The Internet of Things and cloud computing are two technologies that are contributing to the development of intelligent technology by supplanting traditional agricultural practices. This clever device checks on the well-being of the plants. In order to enable intelligent agriculture, the technology relies on sensors that are dependent on IoT sensors. These sensors monitor the temperature, soil moisture, intensity of the sun's light, air quality value of the soil, vibration, and humidity in the immediate environment of the plant. The networking of these sensors ensures that the plant will continue to be healthy and will function in the appropriate manner. The findings that have been obtained up to this point are encouraging for the continuance of this strategy, which results in the highest possible profit for farmers. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2022-06-05-07 Full Text: PDF

Audit procedures and implementation rates for forest water quality Best Management Practices in the 13 southeastern states

Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs) were established to protect water quality by minimizing nonpoint source pollutants associated with forest operations. Research has shown that appropriate application of BMPs provides effective mitigation of erosion and sedimentation. State forestry agencies are primarily responsible for recommending which BMPs to implement and monitoring their use. Few studies have compared BMP programs, audits, and prescriptions among states and physiographic regions. To address these questions, audit questionnaires were obtained from the 13 member states of the Southern Group of State Foresters to evaluate six forest operational categories: stream crossings, decks, skid trails, haul roads, harvest areas, and overall implementation. These audits were used to assess BMP implementation at 116 harvest sites across 12 states (excluding Kentucky) and three physiographic regions (Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain) in the southeastern United States. Overall implementation was highest in the Coastal Plain, followed by the Piedmont, and lastly the Mountains. We found that skid trail implementation in the Mountains (76.1%) was significantly lower than in both the Piedmont (86.0%) (<i>p</i>-value = 0.0028) and Coastal Plain (85.2%) (<i>p</i>-value = 0.0065) regions. Mountain stream crossing implementation (83.9%) was also significantly lower (<i>p</i>-value = 0.0459) than in the Coastal Plain (92.3%). Findings suggest that additional BMP focus in the Mountain region is needed for constructing and closing out skid trails and stream crossings to enhance water quality protection efforts. The mean overall BMP implementation rate was approximately 90.1% for the southeastern region. The regional BMP implementation rates were also calculated for each feature as follows: decks (92.7%), harvest areas (95.6%), haul roads (91.9%), skid trails (82.9%), and stream crossings (88.2%). Mean BMP implementation rates using each of the 13 state audits were compared. Florida (93.5%) and Kentucky (92.9%) audits produced the highest overall scores, while Virginia (88.3%), Alabama (88.3%), and Tennessee (87.8%) audits provided more stringent evaluations. Implementation rates for the 13 state audits were highly variable for both the stream crossings and skid trails, indicating substantial differences in assessments of these categories. Results from this study (1) provide insight into the current state of BMPs, (2) identify areas where BMPs have the most potential to improve, and (3) demonstrate that BMPs are being implemented at relatively high rates in the southeast. A combined audit among individual states with similar physiographic provinces, operating systems and conditions, and topography could be created so that stronger inferences can be made concerning BMP implementation among states.

Anesthetic considerations and care management of children with traumatic brain injury

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the pediatric population persists to be a global health burden contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. The in-hospital management of pediatric TBI differs from adult TBI due to the various inherent age-specific anatomical, physiological, and pathological differences. Their peri-operative care encompasses initial stabilization in the emergency room, sedation for diagnostic imaging, medical management in the intensive care unit, anesthesia for emergent decompressive craniotomies in the operating room, support of recovery from anesthesia in the postoperative suite, and postoperative management in the emergency trauma care unit until hospital discharge. Disturbed cerebral autoregulation and compromised intracranial compliance predispose to cerebral ischemia and edema. Refractory intracranial hypertension is observed to be the most important predictor of poor outcome and mortality in these patients. Multimodal neuromonitoring paves the way for a better contemplation of the underlying intracranial pressure, cerebral hemodynamics, cerebral oxygenation, and neuronal electrical activity. The peri-operative goals revolve around the maintenance of cerebral and systemic homeostasis, the key components of which are discussed here. This review also discusses the key recommendations and practice guidelines proposed by the Brain Trauma Foundation for the critical care management of pediatric patients with severe TBI. A thorough knowledge about pediatric neuroanatomy and neuropathophysiology of TBI in concordance with the multidisciplinary application of best management practices fosters the best possible neurocognitive outcome among pediatric TBI survivors.

An evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay management strategy to improve water quality in small agricultural watersheds

Chesapeake Bay water quality has been a concern since 1970. In rural areas, agriculture is the dominant N and P source, and the voluntary application of best management practices (BMPs) is the primary management tool. Here we test the hypothesis that the current management approach of primarily voluntary, untargeted BMP implementation is insufficient to create detectable, widespread reductions in N, P, and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations in agricultural watersheds of the Choptank basin, a tributary of Chesapeake Bay. To test this hypothesis, we assessed BMP implementation and sampled water quality on participating farms, at intermediate streams within each watershed, and at watershed outlets of four watersheds from 2013 to 2014. We also present water quality data from 2003 to 2014 at the outlets of 12 additional agricultural and one forested watershed and survey-directed interviews of farmers. By the end of 2014, large numbers of BMPs, both structural and cultural, had been implemented. Of the 16 agricultural watersheds, 50% showed significant decreases in baseflow N, 37.5% showed no changes, and 12.5% showed increasing TN. Baseflow P significantly decreased at just one watershed, increased at one, and remained stable at 14. Stormflow N was similar to baseflow, but stormflow P was 5 times higher than baseflow. These data partially support our hypothesis. Surveys suggested farmers considered themselves responsible for the quality of water leaving their farms, but out-of-pocket cost was the major impediment to further BMP adoption. We suggest that greater outreach and more financial support for farmers to implement BMPs is required to increase the types and densities of BMPs needed to achieve regional water quality goals.

Selection of Optimum Pollution Load Reduction and Water Quality Improvement Approaches Using Scenario Based Water Quality Modeling in Little Akaki River, Ethiopia

The collective impacts of rapid urbanization, poor pollution management practices and insufficient sanitation infrastructure have driven the water quality deterioration in Little Akaki River (LAR), Ethiopia. Water quality modeling using QUAL2Kw was conducted in the LAR aimed at selecting the optimal water quality improvement and pollution load reduction approaches based on the evaluation of five scenarios: modification of point sources (PS) load (S1), modification of nonpoint sources (NPS) load (S2), simultaneous modification of PS and NPS load (S3), application of local oxygenators and fish passages using cascaded rock ramps (S4), and an integrated scenario (S5). Despite the evaluation of S1 resulting in an average load reduction of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) (17.72%), PO4-P (37.47%), NO3-N (19.63%), the water quality objective (WQO) in LAR could not be attained. Similarly, though significant improvement of pollution load was found by S2 and S3 evaluation, it did not secure the permissible BOD and PO4-P pollution load in the LAR. Besides, as part of an instream measure, a scenario evaluated using the application of rock ramps (S4) resulted in significant reduction of BOD load. All the individual scenarios were not successful and hence an integration of scenarios (S5) was evaluated in LAR that gave a relatively higher pollutant load reduction rate and ultimately was found a better approach to improve pollution loads in the river. In conclusion, pollution load management and control strategy integrally incorporating the use of source-based wastewater treatment, control of diffuse pollution sources through the application of best management practices and the application of instream measures such as the use of cascaded rock ramps could be a feasible approach for better river water quality management, pollution reduction, aquatic life protection and secure sustainable development in the LAR catchment.

Digital mapping of structural conservation practices in the Midwest U.S. croplands: Implementation and preliminary analysis

The application of best management practices is a long-term conservation effort in Midwest U.S. croplands, and many farmers have adopted structural conservation practices (SCPs) to reduce soil erosion and surface water runoff, such as terraces and grassed waterways. Despite that, the geographic distribution of these practices is barely known in the region, and mapping initiatives are required to develop timely and spatially explicit inventories of SCP areas. This study presents the first mapping of SCPs in the agricultural areas over 12 Midwest U.S. states. Semantic segmentation model (adapted U-Net) and National Agriculture Imagery Program 2018–2019 data were used to map the SCP areas at 2-m spatial resolution (490.2 billion pixels). In general, mapping results achieved 78.2% overall accuracy across 20 counties. Our results indicate that 52% of SCP areas are distributed over Iowa (26%), Illinois (15%), and Nebraska (11%). In contrast, the states with the lowest SCP areas are Michigan and North Dakota, with less than 4% of SCP areas. Since the SCP extent is also dependent on the number of cropland areas per state, the percentage of SCP per cropland area was calculated. Specifically, the average percentage of SCP area per cropland is ~1.19%, ranging from 0.8 (e.g., North Dakota and south Minnesota) to 5.5% (e.g., northeast Kansas and southwest Iowa). Interestingly, results also illustrate that regions with high soil erosion rates present the largest percentage of SCP areas in croplands, indicating conservation efforts by farmers. While this preliminary analysis shows some limitations in the mapping quality (mislabel, non-accurate location or discontinuity of SCP areas), the framework has a potential for operational conservation monitoring. The development of such mapping has positive implications for conservation programs, and this geospatial inventory is easily accessible information for the large-area evaluation of conservation practices across Midwest U.S. croplands.

Identification and apportionment of nitrate sources in the phreatic aquifers in Northern Jordan using a dual isotope method (δ15N and δ18O of NO3-)

Contamination of groundwater resources from nitrates is a worldwide problem, and Jordan is not an exception. Source identification of contamination is a prerequisite for the protection of water resources and human health. Moreover, investigating the controlling processes of groundwater quality is essential for groundwater sustainability, especially in water-poor countries like Jordan. Environmental isotopes of nitrate (15N and 18O of NO3-) have been applied for the first time in Jordan to assess the origin and cycling of nitrogen pollution in two phreatic aquifer systems: Shallala aquifer (B5/B4) and Amman/Wadi Sir aquifer (B2/A7), hosted in multiple land use area in northern Jordan. The nitrate concentration exceeded the natural background (5–10 mg/L) in all samples, ranging from 14 to 251 mg/l as NO3- in both groundwater systems. About 46% of the samples showed NO3- concentration exceeding the WHO threshold of 50 mg/l in drinking water. Isotope values of nitrate (15N and 18O of NO3-) indicated that manure, urban wastewaters, and nitrified synthetic fertilizers were the main sources of nitrate in the groundwater resources in the study area. SIAR (Stable Isotope Analysis in R) model showed that synthetic fertilizers contributed least to nitrate in groundwater in the study area (average = 3.3%). Nitrified synthetic fertilizers contribution was higher in the B2/A7 aquifer (61%) than in B5/B4 aquifer (49%), whereas anthropogenic organic matter contribution in the B5/B4 (46%) is higher than in the B2/A7 aquifer (36%). Anthropogenic organic matter contribution in the B5/B4 aquifer varied from 20% in the west to 85% in east. Nitrified synthetic fertilizers contribution varied from 10% in the east to 74% in the west. Sustainable management of groundwater resources in the study area necessitates application of best management practices and proper land use planning.

Assessment of soil erosion in social forest-dominated watersheds in Lampung, Indonesia

Social forestry policies grant local communities the right to access protected forest areas contingent upon certain governmental criteria. However, the adoption of social forestry is known to alter land-cover patterns and promote soil erosion. This study assessed the water quality of Sekampung Hulu and Sangharus Rivers in Lampung, Indonesia, based on their total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations. Subsequently, the extent of soil erosion in the two watersheds was determined, and best management practices (BMPs) were recommended for the study area. Water sampling was conducted in 2016 to estimate TSS levels in the two watersheds. Additionally, the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) was integrated with an ArcGIS model to evaluate soil erosion in the watersheds. The results indicated that TSS concentrations in the Sekampung Hulu and Sangharus Rivers ranged from 36-813 mg L-1 and 16-146 mg L-1, respectively. Further, the average soil erosion rates in the Sekampung Hulu and Sangharus watersheds were 12.5 Mg ha-1 year-1 and 5.6 Mg ha-1 year-1, respectively. The results indicated that young coffee trees increased soil erosion rates, especially in areas characterized by vulnerable soil. The USLE results concurred with the TSS analysis and indicated higher erosion rates for the Sekampung Hulu watershed than the Sangharus watershed. The application of BMPs, including conversion to agroforestry coffee, cover crops, and contour systems, was effective in reducing soil erosion in both the Sekampung Hulu and Sangharus watersheds.

Best management practices for agricultural nonpoint source pollution: Policy interventions and way forward

AbstractBest management practices (BMPs) are the tools which are adopted to run any activity while inflicting least negative impacts on the surrounding environment. Since, water pollution is one of the most important issues in today's world; it is indispensable to discuss the activities which are deteriorating its quality. Although, a number of treatment technologies and methods are in place for treating the point sources of pollution, there is a need to address nonpoint sources of pollution. There are many successful practices which are capable of curtailing the impacts of nonpoint source pollution, if adopted. In this paper an attempt has been made to evaluate the performance and trade‐offs of various management practices to address the issues of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of guiding principles which can pave a way for adoption of these practices. Therefore, an attempt has also been made to explore the aspects of policy formulations along with emphasizing the factors which can lead to adoption/ non‐adoption of such practices.

Avaliação do programa de monitoramento ambiental de empreendimentos aquícolas no Estado do Amazonas, Brasil

O presente artigo teve como objetivos avaliar o enquadramento legal para o uso e descarte de efluentes em corpos hídricos utilizados pela atividade aquícola no estado do Amazonas, por meio do acesso às informações de controle e monitoramento de parâmetros ambientais, sendo o principal o resultado dos laudos das análises de indicadores de qualidade da água definidos como legalmente exigidos para um Programa de Monitoramento Ambiental (PMA), solicitado como procedimento obrigatório para manutenção da licença ambiental de empreendimentos classificados como de alto potencial de impactos ambientais pelo Órgão Estadual de Meio Ambiente (OEMA). De acordo com a legislação vigente, verificou-se que os principais parâmetros de variáveis físico-química dos empreendimentos pelo PMA encontravam-se dentro dos padrões aceitáveis permitidos. Não se descarta, porém, a cobrança da aplicação de melhores mecanismos de avaliação e controle de impactos ambientais como exigência para a regularização da atividade, como a aplicação de técnicas de Boas Práticas de Manejo (BPM’s) e implantação de sistemas de tratamento de efluentes nos empreendimentos.

Evolving Silvicultural Practices to Meet Sustainability Objectives in Forested Wetlands of the Southeastern United States

Development and implementation of forestry best management practices (BMPs) to minimize effects on wetland soils and hydrology represents a great success of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The “silvicultural exemption” as specified in Section 404(f) of the CWA allows management activities within jurisdictional forested wetlands so long as practices meet specified criteria and wetlands are not converted to uplands. This is particularly important for establishing and maintaining forest roads and site preparation of harvested stands in jurisdictional wetlands. The presence of poorly drained soils and seasonally high-water tables in the Coastal Plain led to the development of site preparation practices that enhance seedling survival, vigor, and growth. Collaboration among universities, governmental agencies, and the forest products industry has resulted in numerous applied research projects assessing environmental responses to management in forested wetlands. Today, all southeastern Coastal Plain states recommend the use of site preparation BMPs that reduce soil and hydrology disturbances, while facilitating stand regeneration. State forestry agencies routinely monitor BMP implementation to assess application and functionality of BMPs. Additionally, forest landowners and wood procurement entities who participate in voluntary third-party forest certification programs have increased BMP implementation on a scale that contributes to watershed-level benefits.

Farmer and Farmland Owner Views on Spatial Targeting for Soil Conservation and Water Quality

AbstractThe U.S. Corn Belt is highly productive with respect to grain and livestock commodities but often neglects to deliver other benefits such as soil stability, nutrient retention, and clean water. New precision technologies and conservation planning frameworks offer opportunities to adapt the current agricultural system to meet environmental goals along with production by strategically placing best management practices (BMPs) to target and address specific in‐field resource concerns. To understand farmers' and farmland owners' willingness to participate in such targeting schemes, we conducted in‐depth interviews with 18 farmers and farmland owners whose fields were targeted for soil and nutrient loss in two watersheds in central Iowa. We examined their current application of BMPs and opportunities and constraints to further adoption. We found that farmers and farmland owners often recognized the importance of producing a diverse suite of on‐ and off‐farm environmental benefits but lacked the context, information, certainty, and strong incentives to manage for them. Interviewees were generally receptive to using technologies to target BMPs to areas with resource concerns but expressed concerns about applications on their own land. They specifically perceived challenges related to cost, management complexity, coordination with government programs, and loss of autonomy. For broad acceptance, a spatially targeted conservation approach would need to be paired with expanded partnerships, trusted technical service, and adaptation incentives to reduce farm‐level economic trade‐offs.

Pollutant Loading Analysis of Suspended Solid, Nitrogen and Phosphorus at Bertam Catchment, Cameron Highlands using MUSIC

This paper aimed to analyze the pollutant loading composition of suspended solids, nitrogen and phosphorus in urban stormwater at Cameron Highlands which known as popular tourism, agriculture and function as reservoir water to generate electricity. Researchers found the urban stormwater quantity modeling has achieved sufficient accuracy benchmark. However, modeling stormwater runoff quality is relatively difficult and largely depends on catchment characteristics/land-uses. Model of Urban Stormwater Improvement Conceptualization (MUSIC) estimates pollutant transport from catchments and stormwater treatment through different application of Best Management Practices (BMPs). Result obtained from the observed and calculated data was compared with MUSIC's estimations under a similar scenario where no applications of BMPs. As a second scenario, series of treatment train is propose for each sub-catchments based on the suitability and verification on site that consists of constructed stormwater treatment BMPs (wetlands, bio-retention, on-site detention, sediment basin and gross pollutant traps). Implementation of BMPs reduce nearly 100% of gross pollutant, 65% - 83% TSS, 40% - 66% TP and 52% - 78% due to effectiveness of BMPs in treating the pollutant within different landuse. As a summary, MUSIC can conceptually determine the effectiveness of BMPs without giving a detailed design.

Effects of climate change and reduction method on water quality in Cheongmicheon watershed

This study aims to investigate the variation of water quality and discharge under the condition of climate change and Best Management Practices (BMPs), which is one of the reduction methods for non-point source pollution. Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model is applied to case in Cheongmicheon watershed. The coefficients required for SWAT model were calibrated using SWAT Calibration and Uncertainty Program. Climate change is considered by using Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5. It is known from simulation results that the non-point source pollutant increases under the climate change scenario assuming worse condition. It is also found in this study that an appropriate application of BMPs is able to reduce the quantity and temporal variation of non-point source pollutant effectively.