Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Using Spatially Targeted Conservation to Evaluate Nitrogen Reduction and Economic Opportunities for Best Management Practice Placement in Agricultural Landscapes

  • Published:
Environmental Management Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The US Cornbelt leads North American production of intensively managed, row-crop corn and soybeans. While highly productive, agricultural management in the region is often linked with nonpoint source nutrient pollution that negatively impacts water quality. Presently, conservation programs designed to install best management practices (BMPs) to mitigate agricultural nonpoint source pollution have not been targeted to those areas of the landscape that contribute disproportionately to surface water quality concerns. We used an innovative spatially targeted conservation protocol coupled with a GIS-based landscape planning tool to evaluate the cost and effect on water quality from nitrate-nitrogen loss under alternative landscape scenarios in an Iowa watershed. Outputs indicate large reductions in watershed-level nitrate-nitrogen loss could be achieved through coordinated placement of BMPs on high-contributing parcels with limited reduction of cultivated land, resulting in improved surface water quality at relatively low economic costs. For example, one scenario, which added wetlands, cover crops, and saturated buffers in the watershed, required the removal of <5% of cultivated area to reduce nitrate-nitrogen loss by an estimated 49%, exceeding the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy goal for enhancing water quality. Annualized establishment and management costs of landscape scenarios that met the nonpoint source nitrogen reduction goal varied from $3.16 to $3.19 million (2017 US dollars). These results support our hypothesis that water quality can be improved by targeting high-contributing parcels, and highlights the potential to minimize tradeoffs by coupling targeted conservation and planning tools to help stakeholders achieve water quality outcomes within agricultural landscapes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexander RB, Smith RA, Schwarz GE, Boyer EW, Nolan JV, Brakebill JW (2008) Differences in phosphorus and nitrogen delivery to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin. Environ Sci Technol 42(3):822–830

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle J (2013) Farmer attitudes toward proactive targeting of agricultural conservation programs. Soc Nat Resour 26(6):625–641

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arbuckle J, Tyndall J, Sorenson E (2015) Iowans’ perspectives on targeted approaches for multiple-benefit agriculture. Sociology Technical Report 1038. Iowa State University, Ames

  • Arbuckle JG, Roesch-McNally G (2015) Cover crop adoption in Iowa: the role of perceived practice characteristics. J Soil Water Conserv 70(6):418–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belt K, Groffman P, Newbold D, Hession C, Noe G, Okay J, Southerland M, Speiran G, Staver K, Hairston-Strang A, Weller D (2014) Recommendations of the expert panel to reassess removal rates for riparian forest and grass buffers best management practices. Chesapeake Bay Program. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/documents/Riparian_BMP_Panel_Report_FINAL_October_2014.pdf. Accessed 19 July 2018

  • Berry JK, Delgado JA, Pierce FJ, Kholsla R (2005) Applying spatial analysis for precision conservation across the landscape. J Soil Water Conserv 60(6):363–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Claassen R (2014) 2014 farm act continues most previous trends in conservation. Amber Waves Magazine. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2014/may/2014-farm-act-continues-most-previous-trends-in-conservation/. Accessed 11 June 2018

  • Claassen R, Ribaudo M (2016) Cost-effective conservation programs for sustaining environmental quality. Choices 31(3):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • Comly HH (1945) Cyanosis in infants caused by nitrates in well water. JAMA 129(2):112–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conley DL, Paerl HW, Howarth RW, Boesch DF, Seitzinger SP, Havens KE, Lancelot C, Likens GE (2009) Controlling eutrophication: nitrogen and phosphorus. Science 323(5917):1014–1015

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conley DJ, Carstensen J, Aigars J, Axe P, Bonsdorff E, Eremina T, Haahti B-M, Humborg C, Jonsson P, Kotta J, Lannegren C, Larsson U, Maximov A, Rodriguez Medina M, Lysiak-Pastuszak E, Remeikaite-Nikiene N, Walve J, Wilhelms S, Zillen L (2011) Hypoxia is increasing in the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea. Environ Sci Technol 45(16):6777–6783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Des Moines Register (2018) Reynolds signs water quality bill, her first as governor. https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/31/reynolds-signs-water-quality-bill-her-first-governor/1082084001/. Accessed 18 June 2018

  • Diaz RJ, Rosenberg R (2008) Spreading Dead Zones and Consequences for Marine Ecosystems. Science 321(5891):926–929

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dinnes DL (2004) Assessments of practices to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus nonpoint source pollution of Iowa’s surface waters. Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines, IA

    Google Scholar 

  • Dosskey MG, Eisenhauer DE, Helmers M (2005) Establishing conservation buffers using precision information. J Soil Water Conserv 60(6):349–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke JM, Dundas SJ, Messer KD (2013) Cost-effective conservation planning: lessons from economics. J Environ Manag 125:126–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Environmental Working Group (2018) Conservation in Iowa: USDA Conservation Programs. https://conservation.ewg.org/region.php?fips=19000&regionname=Iowa. Accessed 18 June 2018

  • Graham W (2011) Water Quality Improvement Plan for Big Creek Lake Polk County, Iowa. Total Maximum Daily Load for pathogen indicators (E. coli). US EPA. http://www.epa.gov/waters/tmdldocs/40769_Big%20Creek%20Lake%20TMDL.pdf. Accessed 15 Nov 2014

  • Greenhalgh S, Selman M (2012) Comparing water quality trading programs: what lessons are there to learn? J Reg Anal Policy 42(2):104–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Grima N, Singh SJ, Smetchka B, Ringhofer L (2016) Payment for ecosystem services in Latin America: analysing the performance of 40 case studies. Ecosyst Serv 17:24–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes D, Kling C, Lawrence J (2016) Economic evaluation of Governor Brandstad’s Water Quality Initiative. Iowa State University. https://governor.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ISU%20CARD%20Economic%20Evaluation.pdf. Accessed 10 July 2018

  • Helmers M, Crumpton W, Pederson C, Stenback G, Christianson R (2008) Water and nutrient research: in-field and offsite strategies. Iowa State University, Ames, IA

    Google Scholar 

  • Helmers MJ, Zhou X, Baker JL, Melvin SW, Lemke DW (2012) Nitrogen loss on tile drained Mollisols as affected by nitrogen application rate under continuous corn and corn-soybean rotations. Can J Soil Sci 92(3):493–499

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IDALS et al.) (2017a) Iowa nutrient reduction strategy. A science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico. Iowa State University. http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/2017%20INRS%20Complete_Revised%202017_12_11.pdf. Accessed 5 Apr 2018

  • Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, and Iowa State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (IDALS et al.) (2017b) Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy: 2016-2017 Executive Summary. Iowa State University. http://www.nutrientstrategy.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/20171113_INRS_2017AnnualReport_ExecutiveSummary_final.pdf. Accessed 11 June 2018

  • Iowa Department of Natural Resources (2016) Water Quality Assessments Impaired Waters List: Big Creek Lake, IA 04-UDM-1242. https://programs.iowadnr.gov/adbnet/Assessments/158. Accessed 17 Mar 2017

  • Iowa Department of Natural Resources (2019) Ambient stream monitoring. https://www.iowadnr.gov/Environmental-Protection/Water-Quality/Water-Monitoring/Streams. Accessed 1 Apr 2019

  • Iowa State University Extension and Outreach (2018) Cash rental rates for Iowa. Ag Decision Maker. https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/wholefarm/html/c2-10.html. Accessed 7 June 2016

  • Iowa Water Quality Information System (2019) Water quality sensors. https://iwqis.iowawis.org/app/?iwqis=/sensors-map. Accessed 1 Apr 2019

  • Jaynes DB, Isenhart TM (2014) Reconnecting tile drainage to riparian buffer hydrology for enhanced nitrate removal. J Environ Qual 43(2):631–638

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson CJ, Kross BC (1990) Continuing importance of nitrate contamination of groundwater and wells in rural areas. Am J Ind Med 18(4):449–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CS, Nielsen JK, Schilling KE, Weber LJ (2018) Iowa stream nitrate and the Gulf of Mexico. PloS ONE 13(4):e0195930

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kalcic M, Prokopy L, Frankenberger J, Chaubey I (2014) An in-depth examination of farmers’ perceptions of targeting conservation practices. Environ Manag 54(4):795–813

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalcic M, Frankenberger J, Chaubey I, Prokopy L, Bowling L (2015) Adaptive targeting: engaging farmers to improve targeting and adoption of agricultural conservation practices. J Am Water Resour 51(4):973–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaspar TC, Jaynes DB, Parkin TB, Moorman TB (2007) Rye cover crop and gamagrass strip effects on NO3 concentration and load in tile drainage. J Environ Qual 36(5):1503–1511

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaspar TC, Jaynes DB, Parkin TB, Moorman TB, Singer JW (2012) Effectiveness of oat and rye cover crops in reducing nitrate losses in drainage water. Agr Water Manag 110:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kling C (2013) The Iowa nutrient reduction strategy to address Gulf of Mexico hypoxia. Agricultural. Policy Rev 2013(1):1

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox AK, Dahlgren RA, Tate KW, Atwill ER (2008) Efficacy of natural wetlands to retain nutrient, sediment, and microbial pollutants. J Environ Qual 37(5):1837–1846

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus WF, Mulla DJ, Wall D (2014) A spreadsheet planning tool for assisting a state agency with cost effective watershed scale surface water nitrogen planning. J Soil Water Conserv 69(2):45A–50A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee K-H, Isenhart TM, Schultz RC, Mickelson SK (2000) Multispecies riparian buffers trap sediment and nutrients during rainfall simulations. J Environ Qual 29(4):1200–1205

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lemke AM, Lindenbaum TT, Perry WL, Herbert ME, Tear TH, Herkert JR (2010) Effects of outreach on the awareness and adoption of conservation practices by farmers in two agricultural watersheds of the Mackinaw River, Illinois. J Soil Water Conserv 65(5):304–315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcillo GS, Miguez FE (2017) Corn yield response to winter cover crops: an updated meta-analysis. J Soil Water Conserv 72(3):226–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McLellan EL, Schilling KE, Wolter CF, Tomer MD, Porter SA, Magner JA, Smith DR, Prokopy LS (2018) Right practice, right place: a conservation planning toolbox for meeting water quality goals in the Corn Belt. J Soil Water Conserv 73(2):29A–34A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meals DW, Dressin SA, Davenport TE (2010) Lag time in water quality response to best management practices: a review. J Environ Qual 39(1):85–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (MRGMWNTF) (2008) Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan 2008. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-03/documents/2008_8_28_msbasin_ghap2008_update082608.pdf. Accessed 12 June 2015

  • Otto D, Tylka K, Erickson S (2012) The economic value of outdoor recreation activities in Iowa. Iowa State University. http://www.card.iastate.edu/research/resource-and-environmental/items/DNR-AmenityRevised_9-25-12.pdf. Accessed 12 Feb 2014

  • Petrolia DR, Gowda PH (2006) Missing the boat: midwest farm drainage and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia. Rev Agric Econ 28(2):240–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porter SA, Tomer MD, James DE, Boomer KM (2015) Agricultural Conservation Planning Toolbox User’s Manual. North Central Region Water Network. www.northcentralwater.org/acpf/. Accessed 12 Dec 2017

  • Prior J (1991) Landforms of Iowa. University of Iowa Press, Iowa City

    Google Scholar 

  • Prokopy LS, Towery D, Babin N (2014) Adoption of agricultural practices: insights from research and practice. Purdue Extension Bulletin, West Lafayette, IN

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabalais NN, Diaz RJ, Levin LA, Turner RE, Gilbert D, Zhang J (2010) Dynamics and distribution of natural and human-caused hypoxia. Biogeosciences 7:585–619

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rabotyagov SS, Kling CL, Gassman PW, Rabalais NN, Turner RE (2014) The economics of dead zones: causes, impacts, policy challenges, and a model of the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. Rev Env Econ Policy 8(1):58–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reimer A, Doll JE, Basso B, Marguart-Pyatt ST, Robertson GP, Stuart D, Zhao J (2017) Moving toward sustainable farming systems: insights from private and public sector dialogues on nitrogen. J Soil Water Conserv 72(1):5A–9A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson MM (2006) Emerging ecosystem service markets: trends in a decade of entrepreneurial wetland banking. Front Ecol Environ 4(6):297–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roley S, Tank J, Tyndall JC, Witter J (2016) How cost-effective are cover crops, wetlands, and two-stage ditches for nitrogen removal in the Mississippi River Basin? Water Resour Econ 15:43–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schilling KE, Libra RD (2000) The relationship of nitrate concentrations in streams to row crop land use in Iowa. J Environ Qual 29(6):1846–1851

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schilling KE, Wolter CF (2009) Modeling nitrate-nitrogen load reduction strategies for the Des Moines River, Iowa using SWAT. Environ Manag 44(4):671–682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulte LA, Niemi J, Helmers MJ, Liebman M, Arbuckle JG, James DE, Kolka RK, O’Neal ME, Tomer MD, Tyndall JC, Asbjornsen H, Drobney P, Neal J, Van Ryswyk G, Witte C (2017) Prairie strips improve biodiversity and the delivery of multiple ecosystem services from corn-soybean croplands. PNAS 114(42):11247–11252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Secchi S, Tyndall J, Schulte LA, Asbjornsen H (2008) High crop prices and conservation—Raising the stakes of conservation. J Soil Water Conserv 63(3):68A–73A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Selman M, Greenhalgh S, Branosky E, Jones C, Guiling J (2009) Water quality trading programs: an international overview. World Resources Institute Issue Brief. http://www.wri.org/sites/default/files/pdf/water_trading_quality_programs_international_overview.pdf. Accessed 15 Apr 2018

  • Tomer MD, Locke MA (2011) The challenge of documenting water quality benefits of conservation practices: a review of USDA-ARS’s conservation effects assessment project watershed studies. Water Sci Technol 64(1):300–310

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomer MD, Porter SA, Boomer KMB, James DE, Kostel JA, Helmers MJ, Isenhart TM, McLellan E (2015) Agricultural conservation planning framework: 1. developing multipractice watershed planning scenarios and assessing nutrient reduction potential. J Environ Qual 44(3):754–767

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomer MD, Porter SA, James DE, Boomer KMB, Kostel JA, McLellan E (2013) Combining precision conservation technologies into a flexible framework to facilitate agricultural watershed planning. J Soil Water Conserv 68(5):113A–120A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomer MD, Boomer KMB, Porter SA, Gelder BK, James DE, McLellan E (2015a) Agricultural conservation planning framework: 2. classification of riparian buffer design types with application to assess and map stream corridors. J Environ Qual 44(3):768–779

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomer MD, James DE, Sandoval-Green CMJ (2017) Agricultural conservation planning framework: 3. land use and field boundary database development and structure. J Environ Qual 46(3):676–686

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Turner RK, Georgiou S, Gren I-M, Wulff F, Barrett S, Soderqvist T, Bateman IJ, Folke C, Langaas S, Zylicz T, Maler K-G, Markowska A (1999) Managing nutrient fluxes and pollution in the Baltic: an interdisciplinary simulation study. Ecol Econ 30(2):333–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyndall J, Bowman T (2016) Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy Best Management Practice cost overview series. Department of Ecology & Natural Resource management, Iowa State University. https://www.nrem.iastate.edu/bmpcosttools/. Accessed 18 May 2017

  • Tyndall JC, Roesch GE (2014) Agricultural water quality BMPs: a standardized approach to financial analysis. J Ext 52(3):1–12

    Google Scholar 

  • USDA NASS (2017) Quick stats. https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov/. Accessed 25 May 2018

  • USGS (2017) Gulf of Mexico ‘dead zone’ is the largest ever measured. http://www.noaa.gov/media-release/gulf-of-mexico-dead-zone-is-largest-ever-measured. Accessed 14 Apr 2018

  • Van Meter KJ, Basu NB, Veenstra JJ, Buras CL (2016) The nitrogen legacy: emerging evidence of nitrogen accumulation in anthropogenic landscapes. Environ Res Lett 11:035014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walter T, Dosskey M, Khanna M, Miller J, Tomer MD, Wiens J (2007) The science of targeting within landscapes and watersheds to improve conservation effectiveness. In: Schnepf M, Cox C (eds) Managing agricultural landscapes for environmental quality: strengthening the Science Base. Soil and Water Conservation Society, USA, pp 63–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Weyer PJ, Cerhan JR, Kross BC, Hallberg GR, Kantameni J, Breuer G, Jones MP, Zheng W, Lynch CF (2001) Municipal drinking water nitrate level and cancer risk in older women: the Iowa women’s health study. Epidemiology 12(3):327–338

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • White MJ, Santhi C, Kannan N, Arnold JG, Harmel D, Norfleet L, Allen P, DiLuzio M, Wang X, Atwood J, Haney E, Vaughn Johnson M (2014) Nutrient delivery from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico and effects of cropland conservation. J Soil Water Conserv 69(1):26–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wunder S, Engel S, Pagiola S (2008) Taking stock: a comparative analysis of payments for environmental services programs in developed and developing countries. Ecol Econ 65(4):834–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman EK, Tyndall JC, Schulte LA, Larson GLD (2019) Farmer and farmland owner views on spatial targeting for soil conservation and water quality. Water Resour Res 55(5):3796–3814

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (E2013-08). The Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) was developed by the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS). The authors thank USDA ARS employees Mark Tomer, David James, and Sarah Porter for their development, assistance, and guidance with the ACPF and its associated data.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

    Emily K. Zimmerman, John C. Tyndall & Lisa A. Schulte

Authors
  1. Emily K. Zimmerman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. John C. Tyndall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Lisa A. Schulte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emily K. Zimmerman.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zimmerman, E.K., Tyndall, J.C. & Schulte, L.A. Using Spatially Targeted Conservation to Evaluate Nitrogen Reduction and Economic Opportunities for Best Management Practice Placement in Agricultural Landscapes. Environmental Management 64, 313–328 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01190-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01190-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation