A new study by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign explores the impact of extreme rainfall on nutrient runoff and potential mitigation strategies.
After analyzing over a decade worth of data from Wisconsin, researchers found that heavy rainfall significantly increases ammonia and phosphorus runoff, with spikes occurring immediately after precipitation and persisting through the growing season. One inch of rain led to a 49% rise in ammonia and a 24% rise in phosphorus within five days.
The researchers identified agricultural management practices, such as planting cover crops, as effective in reducing nutrient runoff. Cover crops significantly mitigated spikes in ammonia and phosphorus and sustained their benefits throughout the growing season.
Photo Credit: Growing Produce (GP)
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