Sectional model of a prairie buffer strip in a laboratory flume for water quality research

Vegetative buffers have shown promising results in reducing runoff volume, sediment, nutrients, and manure-borne contaminants from agricultural fields. Although these vegetative buffer systems been extensively tested field plot-scale studies that utilize either natural or simulated rainfall, of such under highly controlled conditions the laboratory limited. Here, we present development a new system for testing full-scale, sectional, physical model practice Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Clean Lakes, Estuaries, Rivers (CLEAR) Initiative, CP-43 Prairie Strips. This work includes extraction prairie strip sections their integration into an existing flume facility with specific auxiliary features to facilitate overland flow experimentation. As proof concept run, potassium chloride (KCl) tracer study was conducted verify functionality inform future work. The pulse injected saturated response monitored through surface water (upstream downstream model) subsurface (infiltrated) sampling continuous rate monitoring at locations. test provided resolved breakthrough curves (BTCs) 93.5% mass recovered, useful information on partitioning, velocities, dispersion characteristics along profile model. is expected be optimizing performance strips contaminant source conditions.