Article
Engineering, Environmental
Philipp Vormeier, Liana Liebmann, Oliver Weisner, Matthias Liess
Summary: Vegetated buffer strips (VBS) are effective in reducing pesticide inputs in streams. The width of the VBS is the main factor in reducing pesticide concentrations, while dry ditches in agricultural fields increase pesticide inputs. VBS retains slightly mobile substances better than mobile substances. Calculations show that a VBS width of 18 m is sufficient to protect 95% of streams, but the presence of dry ditches increases the required width to 32 m. Currently, 26% of water stretches do not comply with the mandated 5 m VBS width.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammad Shokri, Kelly M. Kibler, Christopher Hagglund, Andrew Corrado, Dingbao Wang, Melanie Beazley, Martin Wanielista
Summary: The study tested the impact of implementing self-filtering VFS technology in roadway shoulders on hydraulic and nutrient removal performance, with the best results achieved using engineered media and wider filter strip widths.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meghan Arpino, Jody Stryker, John Hanzas, Michael Winchell, Mark Anthony Thomas, Jerome Schleier, Don Meals
Summary: Agriculture can contribute to pollution in aquatic environments through the use of pesticides and excessive sediment. However, side-inlet vegetated filter strips (VFSs) planted around culverts draining agricultural fields can reduce pesticide and sediment losses while taking up less land than traditional VFSs. This study used field experiments and modeling to estimate reductions in runoff, pesticide and sediment losses using two treatment watersheds with different source to buffer area ratios. The results showed that VFSs were effective in reducing runoff and pesticide loads in the watershed with an area ratio of 80:1, but not in the one with a ratio of 481:1. VFSMOD simulations further confirmed these findings and showed that the effectiveness of VFSs varied based on different factors, such as the source to buffer area ratio.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Kristen A. Kieta, Philip N. Owens, Jason A. Vanrobaeys, David A. Lobb
Summary: In cold climates, vegetation in vegetated filter strips (VFS) releases phosphorus (P) during freeze-thaw cycles, potentially leading to P loss through surface runoff or leaching. Therefore, harvesting vegetation may be a suitable management strategy for VFS in these regions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paula Ortega, Monica Escola Casas, Emilio Gil, Victor Matamoros
Summary: This study assessed the effectiveness of vegetated buffer strips in preventing pesticide ground losses and degradation, and found that these strips significantly reduce pesticide mass retention and degradation time, protecting aquatic ecosystems from pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Robert M. Dunn, Jane M. B. Hawkins, Martin S. A. Blackwell, Yusheng Zhang, Adrian L. Collins
Summary: Buffer strips play an important role in the management of agricultural runoff and water pollution. The efficacy of different vegetation treatments in buffer strips is still debated. The study shows that willow buffer strips are most effective in controlling runoff and suspended sediment loss.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yanxin Hu, Lin Gao, Chuanming Ma, Hao Wang, Chi Zhou
Summary: This study provides a theoretical basis for using herbaceous riparian buffer to remove agricultural non-point source pollution in the Plain Lake area of Hubei Province, China. Unlike previous studies that focused on the elimination of a single pollutant by a single plant species, we consider the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants by natural riparian herbaceous vegetation buffer strips, and the selection of vegetation species based on actual conditions. Indoor simulation experiments were conducted using processed soil samples and collected rainwater to prepare standard solutions representing surface runoff containing five primary water pollutants. The experiment results showed that the reduction capacity of vegetation buffer strips varies depending on the biological structure and growth characteristics, with Dichondra repens Forst and Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers exhibiting a strong comprehensive ability to reduce pollutants.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mathieu Nsenga Kumwimba, Jinlou Huang, Mawuli Dzakpasu, Koshila De Silva, Okugbe Ebiotubo Ohore, Fidelis Odedishemi Ajibade, Xuyong Li, Jingjun Su, Diana Kavidia Muyembe, Kaixuan Huang
Summary: The transport of excess nutrients into freshwater systems poses a threat to water quality and aquatic health. Vegetated buffer zones (VBZs) have been used to intercept and remove pollutants in overland flow, particularly in warm regions. However, cold weather negatively affects the effectiveness of VBZ by interrupting key processes such as microbial degradation and infiltration. Research on VBZ in cold climates is lacking, and the nutrient removal abilities of these systems in cold regions are uncertain. Furthermore, frozen soils and plants may release nutrients during freeze-thaw cycles and subsequent runoff events. Therefore, the management and design of VBZ in cold climates require further examination.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiaxi Tang, Yongle Zhu, Zhongping Wei, Liangshan Feng, Ning Yang, Zhanxiang Sun, Qing Luo
Summary: The study evaluates the long-term effectiveness of riparian vegetated filter strips (RVFS) in reducing agricultural runoff pollutants. Results show that RVFS can effectively reduce the mass of nutrients and suspended solids in runoff events, especially during rainfall events. The Chinese wingnut strip increases the filtering capacity of dissolved phosphorus, making it a more effective option for mitigating agricultural non-point source pollution.
POLISH JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jerry C. Dlamini, L. M. Cardenas, E. H. Tesfamariam, R. M. Dunn, J. Evans, J. M. B. Hawkins, M. S. A. Blackwell, A. L. Collins
Summary: This study investigated the atmospheric losses between croplands and vegetated riparian buffers. The results showed that the no-buffer control generated significant N2O emissions, while the maize crop generated substantial CH4 emissions. Willow and woodland riparian buffers were found to reduce soil N2O and CH4-based global warming potential.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
J. C. Dlamini, L. M. Cardenas, E. H. Tesfamariam, R. M. Dunn, N. Loick, A. F. Charteris, L. Cocciaglia, S. Vangeli, M. S. A. Blackwell, H. R. Upadhayay, J. M. B. Hawkins, J. Evans, A. L. Collins
Summary: Riparian buffer strips play a significant role in reducing nitrogen transfers from agricultural land to freshwater. However, it can lead to increased nitrous oxide production. The study shows that riparian buffer strips with novel deep-rooting grass can potentially address emissions to both water and air.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria Florencia Yorlano, Pablo Martin Demetrio, Federico Rimoldi
Summary: The study analyzed the influence of terrain slope and vegetation on the attenuation of 2,4-D toxicity in surface runoff, showing that toxicity decreased with distance from the application area, with a greater reduction in low-slope plots. Laboratory experiments also found lower relative toxicity of 2,4-D when natural water was used as a solvent, contributing to the design of sustainable agricultural practices.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Yufan Zhang, Rabin Bhattarai, Rafael Munoz-Carpena
Summary: Sediment carried off-site by runoff poses a significant water quality threat. Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are a low-cost management practice that can mitigate runoff impact on surface water quality. This study aimed to systematically investigate the effectiveness of short and sparse VFS on steep slopes (>15%), and found that it can significantly reduce runoff and sediment in high-sloped conditions like a roadway construction site.
Article
Soil Science
Shuhai Wen, Jiao Wang, Yanpei Li, Yu-Rong Liu, Ming'an Shao
Summary: The burrowing activities of earthworms in sloping lands play a significant role in reducing nutrient loss and promoting soil stability. In this study, the presence of earthworms on artificial grass slopes led to decreases in nutrient loss in runoff and sediment, while increasing soil stability and conductivity. This highlights the importance of soil fauna in erosion and nutrient loss regulation in the Loess Plateau.
Article
Forestry
Lichao Zhang, Tingqi Xiao, Hongguang Liu, Peilin Ge, Jinwen Xia, Chenwei Dai, Wenbo Zhang, Xiaomin Zhao
Summary: The study showed that AM fungi can promote the growth of plant roots, strengthen soil anchoring, protect large particle aggregates in soil under rainfall scouring, and reduce soil erosion and nutrient loss in red sandstone erosion areas in southern China. Cynodon dactylon and Zoysia japonica were more prominent than Lotus corniculatus and Astragalus sinicus in inhibiting soil erosion in red sandstone erosion areas.
Article
Ecology
Alexande Eder, Gabriele Weigelhofer, Matthias Pucher, Alexandra Tiefenbacher, Peter Strauss, Martin Brandl, Gunter Bloschl
Summary: The quantity and composition of organic carbon play a major role in controlling water quality and ecological processes in streams. This study investigated the fate of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) quantity and dissolved organic matter (DOM) composition in an agricultural hillslope stream network system. The findings suggest that agricultural land use increases DOC input into streams and alters their DOM quality. Instream processes also modify DOM quality over short distances.
ECOHYDROLOGY & HYDROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Samia Richards, Lucy Bidgood, Helen Watson, Marc Stutter
Summary: The discharge of treated sewage effluent into rivers can negatively impact aquatic ecosystem quality, especially when combined with other stressors in the catchment area. This study conducted in Scotland examined the biogeochemical parameters of water, sediment, and biofilms in rivers near five wastewater treatment works. The results showed that the effects of point source effluents on the river varied spatially, and the downstream pollution levels were influenced by both the effluent itself and other pollution sources in the area. The study also found that the impact of effluent contaminants on microbes and algae outweighed the nutrient subsidy effect of the wastewater treatment works.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lisbeth L. Johannsen, Elmar M. Schmaltz, Olivia Mitrovits, Andreas Klik, Wolfgang Smoliner, Shengping Wang, Peter Strauss
Summary: This study created an updated rainfall erosivity map for Austria and its main agricultural production zones based on a larger number of rainfall stations and a recent time series. The study identified differences in temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall erosivity, erosion index, and erosivity density, indicating areas at risk of soil erosion and vulnerability. The significantly larger number of rainfall stations and an updated time series increased the representativeness of rainfall erosivity estimation in Austria, contributing to a more precise soil erosion risk assessment.
Article
Water Resources
Mariette Vreugdenhil, Borbala Szeles, Jose Luis Salinas, Peter Strauss, Markus Oismueller, Patrick Hogan, Wolfgang Wagner, Juraj Parajka, Guenter Bloschl
Summary: This study in an agricultural catchment in Austria investigates the non-linear relationship between event peak runoff and potential controls, finding that hillslopes dominated by ephemeral overland flow exhibit the most non-linear runoff generation behavior while runoff through tile drains and wetlands is more linear. The mix of different mechanisms in the catchment leads to a more linear response.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiao Li, Yifan Zhang, Xiaodong Ji, Peter Strauss, Zhiqiang Zhang
Summary: Vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating hydrological cycle and controlling soil erosion. Establishing shrub-grass communities is an effective practice to increase rainfall infiltration and reduce soil erosion, particularly in water-limited and highland regions. This study conducted rainfall simulation experiments and found that vegetation significantly reduced overland flow and sediment load while increasing infiltration rate. Shrub-grass communities had a stronger impact compared to shrub only and grass only treatments. The increase in shrub-grass coverage led to a linear decrease in overland flow rate and exponential reduction in sediment yield. Hydrodynamically, shrub-grass communities increased resistance and reduced the velocity and stream power of overland flow. Therefore, developing shrub-grass communities is crucial for reducing the quantity and energy of overland flow and controlling soil erosion in water-limited and highland regions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maral Khodadadi, Christine Alewell, Mohammad Mirzaei, Ehssan Ehssan-Malahat, Farrokh Asadzadeh, Peter Strauss, Katrin Meusburger
Summary: This study investigated the effects of converting forests into vineyards in the Zarivar Lake watershed in Iran. The results showed that deforestation increased soil erosion by around five times and had a negative impact on soil quality and the lake's water quality.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Shan Luo, G. Kenny Png, Nicholas J. Ostle, Huakun Zhou, Xiangyang Hou, Chunling Luo, John N. Quinton, Urs Schaffner, Christopher Sweeney, Dangjun Wang, Jihua Wu, Yuwei Wu, Richard D. Bardgett
Summary: Grassland degradation simplifies soil fungal communities, reducing ecosystem multifunctionality, and restoration efforts are not effective in recovering these belowground properties.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Madhur Atreya, Stacie Desousa, John-Baptist Kauzya, Evan Williams, Austin Hayes, Karan Dikshit, Jenna Nielson, Abigail Palmgren, Sara Khorchidian, Shangshi Liu, Anupam Gopalakrishnan, Eloise Bihar, Carson J. J. Bruns, Richard Bardgett, John N. N. Quinton, Jessica Davies, Jason C. C. Neff, Gregory L. L. Whiting
Summary: This article introduces a novel soil decomposition sensor that can monitor the changes in microbial decomposition activity in real time and compare it with respiration rates to assess soil health. This sensor is of great significance for understanding soil function, managing soil, ensuring agricultural supply, and addressing climate change.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francis Kilundu Musyoka, Peter Strauss, Guangju Zhao, Stefan Strohmeier, Benedict Mwavu Mutua, Andreas Klik
Summary: The strategic implementation of well-targeted sustainable land management (SLM) practices is necessary for managing agricultural watersheds in an environmentally friendly manner. Watershed-scale SLM-scenario modeling can identify effective management strategies from the field to the integrated landscape level. In a case study in Petzenkirchen, Lower Austria, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to evaluate locally adoptable SLM practices, and the results showed that the combination of no-till and cover crops was the most effective soil conservation practice, while contour farming obtained the best results for decreasing nutrient loads.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Shengping Wang, Peter Strauss, Thomas Weninger, Borbala Szeles, Guenter Bloeschl
Summary: It is increasingly discussed that accounting for the spatial structures of soil properties can improve the performance of soil hydraulic property modelling. However, including heterogeneous samples beyond the spatial range of input variables does not necessarily enhance prediction capability, suggesting the importance of considering the spatial structure of the predicted variable and guiding sampling practices.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
David Ramler, Peter Strauss
Summary: An important decision in soil hydrological research is whether to conduct experiments outdoors or indoors. Both approaches have their advantages and trade-offs. Using undisturbed soil monoliths combines some of the advantages of outdoor and indoor experiments; however, there are often size limitations. A promising approach is the combination of smaller blocks to form a single large monolith, thereby optimizing cost and labor efficiency as well as representativity and upscaling potential.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simon Scheper, Barbara Kitzler, Thomas Weninger, Peter Strauss, Kerstin Michel
Summary: This study presents an automated routine model for proposing potential locations for new windbreaks. The model uses a wind erosion risk map as the main input, and the results are ranked based on suitability.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shengping Wang, Borbala Szeles, Carmen Krammer, Elmar Schmaltz, Kepeng Song, Yifan Li, Zhiqiang Zhang, Gunter Bloeschl, Peter Strauss
Summary: Climate change and agricultural intensification are expected to increase soil erosion and sediment production. This study presents long-term monitoring data from a catchment in Austria, showing a significant increase in sediment loads over time. The results suggest that land use and land structure change have a more significant impact on sediment flux under high-flow conditions.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)