U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Sadeghi, Aliitem
                                            McCarty, Gregoryitem
                                            MORIASI, DANIEL - USDA-ARS-GRLitem
                                            Hively, Wells

                                                         - *Dean*
  Submitted to: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International (ASABE)
                                    Publication Type: Proceedings
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2008
                                    Publication  Date: 3/29/2008
                                    Citation: Sadeghi, A.M., McCarty, G.W., Moriasi, D., Hively, W.D. 2008. Watershed SWAT evaluation of control drainage structure in ditch management for improved water quality. In: Proceedings of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering International Conference, March 29-April 3, 2008, Concepcion, Chile. 2008 CDROM.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: In the Eastern Shore region of Maryland, extensive land areas used for crop production require drainage systems either as tile drains or open ditches. Increased nutrient loading of the Chesapeake Bay is being partly linked to the prevalence of ditch drainage in the region. Studies have shown that annually an average of 6% of nitrogen applied to agricultural fields can be transported as nitrate in drainage water to receiving surface waters. One of the best management practices (BMPs) being used in these open ditches is the installation of a water control structures at drainage outlets. These control structures can be used to control water levels in agricultural fields to reduce water flow from the field and promote nitrate nitrogen removal processes such as denitrification.  A typical management schedule is to increase water elevation at the outlet such that the water table is just below the root zone during the growing season and lower water elevation to or near the bottom of the drainage ditch (free drainage) during planting and harvesting operations. Our research site, Choptank River basin located within the Eastern Shore region, also consisted of extensive open ditches. We have instrumented four control drainage structures with V notch weirs along with a number of shallow monitoring wells both upstream and downstream of the structures. Information from this research site will be used to validate newly modified SWAT control drainage component to assess the effectiveness of this BMP for water quality evaluation at the watershed level.  Preliminary findings show reduction of nitrate in drainage water from 15% to 30%.  Findings from this study will provide quantitative efficiencies for both water and nitrate reductions and better management strategies for more efficient use of these control drainage BMPs.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov