Role of Prior Converted Croplands on Nitrate Processing in Mid-Atlantic Agricultural Landscapes

Prior Converted Croplands (PCCs) are historic wetlands that were transformed (drained, dredged, filled or leveled) to support production of agricultural crops prior to “Swampbuster” provisions of the 1985 Food Security Act. Our research suggests that PCCs can substantially reduce nitrate export from agricultural watersheds in the region, an ecosystem function shared with natural and restored wetlands. The main objectives of this study are (1) to test the hypothesis that PCCs can substantially reduce nitrate export from agricultural watersheds and (2) to describe new methods to map, identify, and model these important areas. The wetland ecological service of “nutrient attenuation” helps reduce natural resources concerns associated with degradation of water quality in agricultural landscapes.