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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
08:49
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Prairie and turf buffer strips for controlling runoff from paved surfaces
K Steinke1, J C Stier, W R Kussow
1Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. ksteinke@ag.tamu.edu
Journal of Environmental Quality
|January 27, 2007
Summary
Vegetative buffer strips showed minimal impact on reducing nutrient runoff in urban environments, especially when most runoff occurs during frozen soil conditions. Natural biogeochemical cycling dictates baseline nutrient loss thresholds.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Water Quality Management
- Urban Hydrology
Background:
- Urban nonpoint source pollution leads to eutrophication, necessitating reduced runoff from impervious surfaces.
- Precautionary phosphorus (P) application restrictions and vegetative buffer strips are implemented.
- Need to assess the effectiveness of plant communities and surface ratios on runoff quality and quantity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of two plant communities (prairie and Kentucky bluegrass) and three impervious/pervious surface ratios on runoff water quality and quantity.
- To analyze nutrient losses (total P, soluble P, bioavailable P) and sediment loads.
- To determine the efficacy of vegetative buffers in reducing nutrient loading in urban runoff.
Main Methods:
- Monitored runoff volume and quality from seeded mixed forb/grass prairie and Kentucky bluegrass plots.
- Assessed three impervious/pervious surface ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:4).
- Analyzed runoff for total P, soluble P, bioavailable P, total suspended solids, and total organic suspended solids.
Main Results:
- Mean annual runoff volumes, P losses, and sediment loads were not significantly affected by treatments due to >80% runoff occurring during frozen soil conditions.
- Total P losses were similar for prairie (1.96 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)) and turf (2.12 kg ha(-1) yr(-1)).
- During non-frozen conditions, turf and lower impervious/pervious ratios showed significantly less runoff.
Conclusions:
- Vegetative buffer strips alone are unlikely to significantly reduce runoff and nutrient loading in climates with predominantly frozen-ground runoff.
- Natural nutrient biogeochemical cycling establishes baseline nutrient loss thresholds.
- Vegetation, especially during winter dormancy, can contribute nutrients to runoff.
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