Concentrations, and estimated loads and yields of nutrients and suspended sediment in the Little River basin, Kentucky, 2003-04

Abstract

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Multiple-source tracking: Investigating sources of pathogens, nutrients, and sediment in the Upper Little River Basin, Kentucky, water years 2013–14

“…The estimated mean loads of TP and orthoP contributed from the SFLR Basin (site SF14) were 36,500 and 8,000 lb/yr, respectively (table 14). Crain (2006) reported similar estimated mean loads of TP from the SFLR Basin, but estimated mean loads of orthoP were 75 percent larger in 2003-4 than in 2013-14 (table 15). Estimated yields of TP and orthoP from the SFLR Basin were 540 and 120 lb/yr/mi 2 , respectively.…”

“…The variability in flow affects the observed concentrations and the mean nutrient and sediment load delivered to the streams. Estimated mean annual loads for this study (water years 2013-14) were compared to estimated mean annual loads from a previous study (water years 2003-4) in the Little River Basin (Crain, 2006). Overall, the mean annual streamflows were fairly similar between the SFLR and NFLR, as well as between the two studies.…”

“…Crain (2001) published mean annual loads of nutrients and total suspended solids from 1985-97 using water-quality data for a state ambient-monitoring network site in the Little River Basin (Little River at Cadiz, Ky.). Crain (2006) published nutrient and suspended-sediment loads from three tributaries to the Little River and the Little River itself for water years 2003-4. The tributaries included the NFLR, the SFLR, and the Sinking Fork.…”

Supplemental information for "Effectiveness of Nutrient Management for Reducing Phosphorus Losses From Agricultural Areas"

“…Applying P to agricultural fields allows for increased crop yields and a subsequent increase in overall agricultural production, which can benefit producers by increasing farm profit. However, applying P fertilizers also creates the potential for excess P to be transported from agricultural lands to receiving water bodies and propel an increase in algal production and a subsequent decline in water quality (Alexander et al, 2008;Conley et al, 2009;Crain, 2006;Kane et al, 2014;Ni et al, 2020;Sharpley, 1995;USEPA, 2016USEPA, , 2017. In particular, P has been identified as the primary limiting nutrient for algal growth in most freshwater systems and a secondary limiting nutrient, along with nitrogen, in coastal marine systems (Howarth and Paerl, 2008;Smith and Schindler, 2009).…”

A Meta‐Analysis on the Effect of Agricultural Conservation Practices on Nutrient Loss

“…F ertilizers increase crop yields but have unintended consequences if they run off from agricultural lands and become nonpoint source pollutants to receiving water bodies, putting water bodies at greater risk for eutrophication (Sharpley, 1995; Vagstad et al, 1997; Fuhrer, 1999; Crain, 2006). When investigating the effect of nutrient loading from fertilizers into receiving water bodies, it is important to consider the influences of both P and N on eutrophication (Conley et al, 2009; Chaffin et al, 2011).…”