Water Resource Protection by Riparian Buffer Zones
Growing switch-grass in a riparian buffer zone can be one of future best management practices in water resource protection. Switch-grass requires no fertilizers and less land and water. It was recently found to be a good source of biomass. In this study, Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to a watershed to examine the effectiveness of buffer zones of switch-grass in reducing pollutants (nitrate) from crop fields to rivers or lakes. Numerical experiments were conducted to identify potential subbasins in the watershed that have high impact and to assess the effects of buffer size on pollution reduction. Simulation results showed that a buffer zone having 10%-50% of the sub-basin area could lead to 55%-90% reduction in nitrate loading to rivers. The combination of buffer zone and switch-grass for bio-energy can become an emerging environmentally beneficial practice and economically feasible solution to energy problem. The results of this study can assist in cost-benefit analysis and evaluation of growing switch-grass for biofuel in riparian buffer zones and decision-making in best management practices for water quality assessment and environmental protection.
Roy R.Gu Mahesh K.Sahu
College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering South China University of Technology Guangzhou, Ch Dept.of Civil, Constr.and Environmental Engineering Iowa State University Ames, Iowa, USA
国际会议
成都
英文
1-4
2010-06-18（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）