Evaluation of Sedimentation Control as a Best Management Practice for Removing Copper-based Crop Protectants in Plasticulture Runoff

dc.contributor.authorStall, Karen Marieen
dc.contributor.committeecochairGallagher, Daniel L.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairDietrich, Andrea M.en
dc.contributor.committeememberDillaha, Theo A. IIIen
dc.contributor.departmentEnvironmental Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:35:35Zen
dc.date.adate1999-05-12en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:35:35Zen
dc.date.issued1999-04-22en
dc.date.rdate2000-05-12en
dc.date.sdate1999-05-07en
dc.description.abstractThe fate and distribution of copper-based crop protectants, applied to tomato fields to protect against disease, were investigated in a greenhouse-scale simulation of farming conditions in a coastal environment. Following rainfall, 99% of the applied copper was found to remain on the fields sorbed to the soil and plants; most of the soil-bound copper was found sorbed to the top 2.5 centimeters of soil. Of the copper leaving the agricultural fields, 82% was found in the runoff with the majority, 74%, sorbed to the suspended solids. The remaining copper, 18%, leached through the soil and entered the groundwater with 10% in the dissolved phase and 8% sorbed to suspended solids. Although only one-percent of the copper was found to leave the field, this was sufficient to cause high copper concentrations (average 2102 ± 433 mg/L total copper and 189 ± 139 mg/L dissolved copper) in the runoff. Copper concentrations in groundwater samples were also high (average 312 ± 198 mg/L total copper and 216 ± 99 mg/L dissolved copper). Sedimentation, a best management practice for reducing copper loadings, was found to reduce the total copper concentrations in runoff by 90% to a concentration of 245 ± 127 mg/L; however, dissolved copper concentrations remained stable, averaging 139 ± 55 mg/L. Total copper concentrations were significantly reduced by the effective removal of suspended solids with sorbed copper. This research was supported by a grant from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Funding was also provided by Sea Grant.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-050799-123132en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-050799-123132/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/32347en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartksbody5.PDFen
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dc.relation.haspartksvita.PDFen
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dc.relation.haspartksbeg1.PDFen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectsedimentationen
dc.subjectplasticultureen
dc.subjectcopperen
dc.subjectcrop protectanten
dc.subjectbest management practiceen
dc.titleEvaluation of Sedimentation Control as a Best Management Practice for Removing Copper-based Crop Protectants in Plasticulture Runoffen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineEnvironmental Planningen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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