There are ongoing studies to determine concentrations of herbicides and pesticides such as diazinon and 2,4-D in runoff from treated areas. This work is accompanied to related studies to evaluate the influences of variables such as weather and rainfall as well as practices to reduce pesticide loss. We are then conducting parallel work to evaluate the effects of chemical amendments such as alumn and ferric chloride on those concentrations.
Preliminary results are very favorable.
This work is being done by a team of scientists, including other agricultural engineers and animal scientists. We have rainfall simulators that will be used to produce runoff from the plots. Data collection will begin in Summer, 1996. This is more of an ongoing activity than the other two. In general, I try to keep modeling activities parallel with data collection.