A decade of conservation effects assessment research by the USDA Agricultural Research Service: Progress overview and future outlook

• DOI: 10.2489/jswc.69.5.365
• Publication Date: 2014-09-05T20:07:28Z
• Authors: M.D. Tomer; E.J. Sadler; R.E. Lizotte; R.B. Bryant; T.L. Potter; M.T. Moore; T.L. Veith; C. Baffaut; M.A. Locke; M.R. Walbridge
• Keywords: Watershed Management; Conservation Agriculture

Ten years ago, the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) began a series of watershed assessment studies as part Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). In this overview, decade research progress in 14 watersheds dominated by rain-fed croplands is reviewed to introduce special section journal issue containing papers describing multiwatershed syntheses. The evaluate impacts agricultural practices on soil quality, stream sediment sources, and role climate variability conservation assessments at scale. cross-watershed comparisons help enhance our understanding emerging technologies terms their readiness suitability for wide-scale adoption. from ARS CEAP published during past 10 suggests encouraging (1) wider adoption minimum disturbance reduce runoff risks associated with applying manure, nutrients, agrichemicals; (2) winter cover crops; (3) renewed emphasis riparian corridors control loads sediment, phosphorus (P), other contaminants originating within (and near) channels. management requires that watershed-scale data can be interpreted applied farm scale, farm-scale information, including financial constraints, used clarify opportunities challenges. Substantial needs remain, social engagement communities, use multiple account environmental tradeoffs, improved models simulate dynamics nutrient retention movement watersheds, ecosystem responses changes water quality. Moreover, long-term commitment understand land trends, quality dynamics, impacts, real effectiveness precision approaches improving will secure agriculture9s capacity provide food, water, services vital society.