A Risk-Based Evaluation of Best Management Practices to Control Agricultural Groundwater Contamination

by Edward D. Mize, Oklahoma State Univ, United States,
William F. McTernan, Oklahoma State Univ, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Environmental Engineering

Abstract:

The probabilities of groundwater contamination by pesticides under different management alternatives were evaluated in a single county in Oklahoma by coupling an agricultural infiltration model with a three dimensional saturated zone code within a Monte Carlo and simulation approach. This study suggested that pesticide selection and the method of irrigation simulated had the greatest effects upon the amount of pesticide leached annually to the groundwater as well as in the resultant peak concentrations and total affected aquifer volumes. 'Traditionally' managed systems generally delivered their annual pesticide loads to the top of the water table more quickly than did the no-irrigation or 'scientifically' managed systems. Additional aspects of the subject are discussed.

Subject Headings: Groundwater pollution | Agricultural wastes | Pesticides | Groundwater management | Water pollution | Systems management | Three-dimensional models | Oklahoma | United States

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