This study investigates the role of soil moisture on the threshold runoff response in a small headwater catchment in the Italian Alps that is characterised by steep hillslopes and a distinct riparian zone. This study focuses on: (i) the threshold soil moisture-runoff relationship and the influence of catchment topography on this relation; (ii) the temporal dynamics of soil moisture, streamflow ...

Evaluation of phosphorus (P) management strategies to protect water quality has largely relied on research using simulated rainfall to generate runoff from either field plots or shallow boxes packed with soil. Runoff from unmanured, grassed field plots (1 m wide x 2 m long, 3-8% slope) and bare soil boxes (0.2 m wide and 1 m long, 3% slope) was compared using rainfall simulation (75 mm h(-1)) s...

Urban planning is associated with land transformation from natural areas to modified and developed ones which leads to modification of natural environment. The basic knowledge of relationship between both should be ascertained before proceeding for the development of natural areas. Changes on land surface due to build up pavements, roads and similar land cover, affect surface water flow. There ...

The large quantities of slurry and manure that are produced annually in many areas in which cattle are raised could be an important source of organic matter and nutrients for agriculture. However, the benefits of waste recycling may be partially offset by the risk of water pollution associated with runoff from the fields to which slurry or manure has been applied. In this paper, the effects of ...

A common strategy in mitigating secondary salinity in southern Australia is the planting of trees and other deep-rooted perennial vegetation. Planting needs to target areas where perennials will provide the most benefit by minimising runoff and groundwater recharge. A number of one-dimensional (1D) water balance models have been developed in Australia that predict water balance components (evap...

Recent university research has shown that a compost system can reduce storm runoff, sediment and nutrient loss, and increase vegetation and soil quality parameters relative to industry standard best management practices. State departments of transportation and construction companies have reported positive results in using compost as a filter media within filter socks. Compost used as a sediment...

The Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting program (P2R) (Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2009) is investigating ways to improve agricultural management practices and the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef. One of the major risks to GBR water quality is pesticide runoff from agricultural industries. Direct measurement of pesticide fate and behavior is bo...

Current microbial source tracking (MST) methods for water depend on testing for fecal indicator bacterial counts or specific marker gene sequences to identify fecal contamination where potential human pathogenic bacteria could be present. In this study, we applied 454 high-throughput pyrosequencing to identify bacterial pathogen DNA sequences, including those not traditionally monitored by MST ...

[1] Using the VEMAP Phase 2 data set, we tested the hypothesis that changes in climate would result in changes in the water balance as projected by four terrestrial ecosystem models: BIOME-BGC, Century, LPJ, and MC1. We examined trends in runoff and actual evapotranspiration (AET), changes in runoff in relation to changes in precipitation, and differences in runoff ratios as produced by these m...

Bioremediation is the use of living organisms, primarily microorganisms, to degrade environmental contaminants into less toxic forms. Nine biobeds (ground cavity filled with a mixture of composted organic matter, topsoil, and a surface grass) were established at Kentucky State University research farm (Franklin County, KY) to study the impact of this practice on reducing surface runoff water co...