A component of the course “Filling the Pipeline: Agricultural Drainage Education to Meet 21st Century Water Management Needs”
Instructor: Dr. Laura Christianson, University of Illinois
Overview: This module combines background information about water quality with concepts of subsurface drainage and nutrient loss. It includes water quality terminology and concepts, an overview of how and why nutrient pollutants end up in drainage water, and interpretation and calculation of concentrations and loads.
Course Materials Zip File
Outline, PowerPoints, Homework
Learning Objectives:
After completing this module, students will be able to:
- Define water quality terminology and differentiate between key concepts
- Describe how and why nutrient pollutants end up in drainage water
- Interpret typical drainage N and P concentrations relative to water quality criteria
- Perform water-related calculations in Excel using formulas (loads/losses; flow-weighting)
Step by Step Guide to Complete the Module:
Define water quality terminology and differentiate between key concepts
- Watch Video 1 “Water quality terms and criteria” (12:32 min)
- Optional: Watch the “Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy” video (15:02 min) which includes a mini biography of Rachel Carson.
- Watch Video 2 “Loading terms” (07:35 min)
- Watch Video 1 “Water quality terms and criteria” (12:32 min)
- Perform water-related calculations in Excel using formulas (loads/losses; flow-weighting)
- Watch Video 3 “Excel: How to calculate loads” (09:06 min)
- Watch Video 4 “Excel: Flow-weighted mean concentration” (04:03 min)
- Describe how and why nutrient pollutants end up in drainage water and interpret typical drainage N and P concentrations relative to water quality criteria
- Watch Video 5 “Drainage water quality - Nitrogen” (15:31 min)
- Optional: Read the “Ten ways to reduce nitrogen loads from drained cropland in the Midwest” booklet or 4-pg factsheet.
- Watch Video 6 “Drainage water quality - Phosphorus” (11:35 min)
- Optional: Read the “Phosphorus transport in agricultural subsurface drainage: A review” review article by King et al.
- Watch Video 5 “Drainage water quality - Nitrogen” (15:31 min)
- Perform the homework assignment using the data provided.
Optional Readings
- Christianson, L., J. Frankenberger, C. Hay, M. Helmers, and G. Sands. 2016. Ten ways to reduce nitrogen loads from drained cropland in the Midwest. Pub. C1400, University of Illinois Extension, Urbana, Illinois. http://go.aces.illinois.edu/TenWays
- King, K., M. Williams, M. Macrae, N. Fausey, J. Frankenberger, D. Smith, P. Kleinman, and L. Brown. 2015. Phosphorus transport in agricultural subsurface drainage: A review. J. Environ. Qual. 44(2):467-485. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2014.04.0163
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (award number 2018-70003-27661). Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
