Evaluating Best Management Practice Efficacy Based on Seasonal Variability and Spatial Scales

Vivek Venishetty; Prem B. Parajuli; Filip To; Dipesh Nepal; Beth Baker; Veera Gnaneswar Gude

doi:10.3390/hydrology11040058

Hydrology (Apr 2024)

Evaluating Best Management Practice Efficacy Based on Seasonal Variability and Spatial Scales

Vivek Venishetty,
Prem B. Parajuli,
Filip To,
Dipesh Nepal,
Beth Baker,
Veera Gnaneswar Gude

Affiliations

Vivek Venishetty: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Prem B. Parajuli: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Filip To: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Dipesh Nepal: Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Beth Baker: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
Veera Gnaneswar Gude: Mechanical and Civil Engineering Department, Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN 47907, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11040058
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 11, no. 4
p. 58

Abstract

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Implementing best management practices (BMPs) has proven to be an efficient method for reducing non-point source (NPS) pollutants. Agricultural NPS pollution is considered to be a major contributor to water quality impairment. This study aims to assess the variation in hydrologic and water quality outputs at field and watershed scales when BMPs are implemented using modeling approaches. The Yazoo River Watershed (YRW) is the largest watershed basin in the state of Mississippi with approximately 50% agricultural land. Runoff generated from agricultural areas carries sediments and nutrients. The Merigold watershed (MW) is a sub-basin of the YRW and a field-scale watershed with most of the land use being agriculture. It is essential to quantify the streamflow, sediment, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) when BMPs are implemented. BMPs such as vegetative filter strips (VFS) and cover crops (CC) were tested in this study. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to quantify the watershed’s hydrologic and water quality outputs. SWAT model accuracy assessment was performed by calibration and validation process using the Nash and Sutcliffe Efficiency Index (NSE). Model performance was satisfactory for monthly streamflow, with NSE values in the range of 0.62 to 0.81, and for daily sediments, TN, and TP load estimation, with NSE values of 0.21, 0.20, and 0.47, respectively. CC was planted after harvesting the main crop. Therefore, it is essential to quantify the seasonal reduction in pollutants. Water quality was improved after BMP implementation, and an overall decrease in streamflow, sediment, TN, and TP loads was observed for both MW and YRW during dry and wet seasons. Previous studies regarding seasonal assessments with CC implementation in the MW and YRW were limited. Therefore, the results from this study could be a unique addition to the scientific literature.

Published in Hydrology

ISSN: 2306-5338 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/hydrology

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