An Integrated Research Program for Management of Soil and Water Resources

Managing our soil and water resources is important to create sustainable, resilient agricultural systems and urban landscapes, and healthy aquatic ecosystems. Different components of my research program tied these goals will be given. First, an assessment is presented on the effects of novel cropping systems on nitrate-N losses in central Minnesota. The SWAT hydrologic and water quality model was used to examine the effects of increased “perennialized” agriculture on nitrate-N losses from tile-drained fields in the Rogers Creek watershed. Perennialized rotations included: alfalfa-corn, intermediate wheatgrass (IWG)-soybean, and winter camelina-soybean. Results of this worked showed that alfalfa and IWG rotations were particularly effective at reducing nitrate-N losses. I will also discuss an ongoing effort to improve erosion predictions from the Daily Erosion Project (DEP) by including soil erosion caused by the wind. Last, I will give an overview of new research that will be investigating what chemicals are found in the wastewater generated during structural fires, with the analysis focusing on heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants.

Biography - Grace Wilson is an Assistant Research Professor in the Dept. of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota. Her research focuses on water quality, watershed hydrology, hydrologic modeling, and soil erosion.