Department of Biological Systems Engineering

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https://hdl.handle.net/10919/24227
Biological Systems Engineering (BSE) is the engineering discipline that applies concepts of biology, chemistry and physics, along with engineering science and design principles, to solve problems in biological systems. Our faculty and students work in a broad range of biological systems, from natural systems, such as watersheds with a focus on water resources, to built systems, such as bioreactors and bioprocessing facilities. We work from the nanoscale to the macroscale. We seek to improve animal, human, and environmental health through development and design of healthy food products, vaccines, bioenergy, biomaterials, and water quality management practices. We convert biological resources, such as switchgrass, plant proteins, and animal manure, into value-added products, such as biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biomaterials, in a sustainable manner.

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Browsing Department of Biological Systems Engineering by Department "Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation"

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    Effects of forest harvesting best management practices on surface water quality in the Virginia coastal plain
    Thompson, Theresa M.; Mostaghimi, Saied; Frazee, J. W.; McClellan, P. W.; Shaffer, R. M.; Aust, W. Michael (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2000)
    Three small watersheds located in Westmoreland County, Virginia, were monitored to evaluate the impact of forest clearcutting on surface water quality and to evaluate the effectiveness of forestry best management practices (BMPs) for minimizing hydrologic and water quality impacts associated with timber harvesting. One watershed (7.9 ha) was clearcut without implementation of BMPs, one watershed (8.5 ha) was clearcut with the implementation of BMPs and a third watershed (9.8 ha) was left undisturbed as a control Forest clearcutting without BMP implementation reduced storm runoff volume and did not significantly change peak flow rates. Following site preparation, both storm flow volumes and peak flow rates decreased significantly. For the watershed with BMP implementation, storm flow volume decreased significantly following harvest, while peakflow increased. Site preparation did not change storm flow volumes over post-harvest conditions, bur did significantly reduce storm peak flow rates. Disruptions in subsurface flow pathways during harvest or rapid growth of understory vegetation following harvest could have caused these hydrologic changes. Harvest and site preparation activities significantly increased the loss of sediment and nutrients during storm events, Storm event concentrations and loadings of sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus increased significantly following forest clearcutting and site preparation of the No-BMP watershed. Both the BMP watershed and the Control watershed showed few changes in pollutant storm concentrations or loadings throughout the study. Results of this study indicate forest clearcutting and site preparation without BMPs can cause significant increases in sediment and nutrient concentrations and loadings in the Virginia Coastal Plain. However these impacts can be greatly reduced by implementing a system of BMPs on the watershed during harvesting activities.
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    Effects of Large Wood on Floodplain Connectivity in a Headwater Mid-Atlantic Stream
    Keys, Tyler A.; Governer, Heather; Jones, C. Nathan; Hession, W. Cully; Hester, Erich T.; Scott, Durelle T. (2018-05-08)
    Large wood (LW) plays an essential role in aquatic ecosystem health and function. Traditionally, LW has been removed from streams to minimize localized flooding and increase conveyance efficiency. More recently, LW is often added to streams as a component of stream and river restoration activities. While much research has focused on the role of LW in habitat provisioning, geomorphic stability, and hydraulics at low to medium flows, we know little about the role of LW during storm events. To address this question, we investigated the role of LW on floodplain connectivity along a headwater stream in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Specifically, we conducted two artificial floods, one with and one without LW, and then utilized field measurements in conjunction with hydrodynamic modeling to quantify floodplain connectivity during the experimental floods and to characterize potential management variables for optimized restoration activities. Experimental observations show that the addition of LW increased maximum floodplain inundation extent by 34%, increased floodplain inundation depth by 33%, and decreased maximum thalweg velocity by 10%. Model results demonstrated that different placement of LW along the reach has the potential to increase floodplain flow by up to 40%, with highest flooding potential at cross sections with high longitudinal velocity and shallow depth. Additionally, model simulations show that the effects of LW on floodplain discharge decrease as storm recurrence interval increases, with no measurable impact at a recurrence interval of more than 25 years.
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    Laboratory measurements and modeling N mineralization potential in Virginia Coastal Plain agricultural, fallow, and forest soils
    Shukla, S.; Mostaghimi, Saied; Burger, James A. (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, 2000)
    A long-term aerobic incubation and leaching technique was used to measure N mineralization of surface and subsurface soils (sandy loam) from agricultural,forest, and fallow sites in a Virginia Coastal Plain watershed. N mineralization potential was measured to refine models used to describe this process in a watershed-scale nutrient export assessment. Potentially mineralizable N (N-0) and reaction rate constants (k) were estimated using a first-order model and a nonlinear regression procedure. Large variations in cumulative N mineralized, N-0, and k, were found for the surface soils from agricultural areas. Forest soils had much higher potentially mineralizable N than agricultural soils. For subsurface soils, the differences among land uses were less variable than those observed for the surface soils. The first order model (single-pool approach) was adequate for predicting N mineralization in surface soils from agricultural and fallow areas, but less suitable for forest surface soils. Consideration of a double exponential (two-pool approach) model did not improve the performance of N mineralization prediction for forested or agricultural soils. Large variations occurred in the field-predicted values of mineralized N due to temperature and moisture ranges commonly occurring throughout the season. Variability in the N mineralization potential of soils in the watershed suggests that individual k and N-0 should be derived for soils with similar properties to obtain better predictions of N mineralization and thus N movement to groundwater.