Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID AL_2024_Chakraborty

Is Cover Crop a Threat to Water Quality in Alabama? Challenges and Opportunities

Institute: Alabama
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $35,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $35,001

Principal Investigators: Debolina Chakraborty

Project Summary: Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for crop production, but a portion of added P can be lost from cropland via runoff to surface water bodies. Dissolved reactive P (DRP), a highly reactive form of P, can lead to harmful algal blooms (HABs) and water quality degradation. Soils in Alabama are highly weathered and easily erodible. The uses of cover crops and no-till systems are encouraged to reduce erosion, leaching, and runoff. Increased DRP concentration in runoff from cropland has been linked to the increased use of cover crops and no-till systems. Cover crops mine and accumulate P from subsurface soil which can significantly contribute to dissolved P during runoff events. Most research on cover crops and P loss has been conducted in the Midwest, however, no information exists for Alabama soil and weather conditions. This project aims to quantify dissolved and particulate P loss from soils with and without cover crop residues and determine biochar's effectiveness in reducing these losses. Biochar is proposed to enhance soil quality, crop productivity, and nutrient management.