Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 22, 2025
08:49
Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
10.7K
Modeling effectiveness of two runoff mitigation measures in the Netherlands.
Marius Heinen1, Wim H J Beltman1, Harry T L Massop1
1Wageningen Environmental Research, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
The Science of the Total Environment
|May 26, 2022
Summary
Micro-dams significantly reduce agricultural runoff events and volume, especially in ridge-furrow systems on non-sandy soils, offering >70% effectiveness. Edge-of-field trenches show moderate reductions, proving less effective overall for mitigating surface water contamination.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Soil Science
Background:
- Surface water contamination from agricultural runoff is a significant environmental concern.
- Runoff occurs when rainfall intensity exceeds soil infiltration capacity, transporting pollutants.
- Mitigation strategies focus on enhancing soil infiltration or increasing on-field water storage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of micro-dams and edge-of-field trenches in reducing runoff events and volume.
- To compare the performance of these two runoff mitigation measures under various agricultural conditions.
- To identify factors influencing the efficacy of these measures in preventing surface water contamination.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations using a deterministic soil-water-atmosphere-plant model.
- Modeling runoff under reference conditions and with implemented micro-dams and trenches.
- Analysis of effectiveness based on varying soil types, groundwater levels, crop types, and field surface storage in the Netherlands.
Main Results:
- Micro-dams demonstrated high effectiveness (>70%, potentially >90%) in reducing runoff for ridge-furrow systems on non-sandy soils.
- Edge-of-field trenches reduced runoff events by 24-35% and volume by 13-48% (non-sandy soils).
- Sandy soils exhibited limited runoff due to high hydraulic conductivity; effectiveness varied with soil type and surface storage.
Conclusions:
- Micro-dams are a highly effective runoff mitigation measure for specific Dutch agricultural systems.
- Edge-of-field trenches offer moderate reductions in runoff, with effectiveness influenced by soil properties.
- The choice of mitigation measure should consider soil type, cropping system, and hydrological conditions to optimize surface water protection.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Typical Model Studies
449
Fluid mechanics model studies often utilize scaled-down systems to predict fluid behavior in full-scale environments, such as river flows, dam spillways, and structures interacting with open surfaces. Maintaining Froude number similarity in river models is crucial, as it replicates surface flow features like wave patterns and velocities.
449
01:17Design Example: Analyzing Capacity Contours for Flood Risk Assessment
110
Flood risk assessment involves careful planning and analysis to ensure the safety of communities near water retention structures. Capacity contours are a vital tool in this process, as they illustrate the potential spread of water at specific levels in a given area. In the context of building a bund across a small valley, these contours play a critical role in evaluating the safety of nearby residential areas.In this example, the bund is intended to store stormwater in the valley. The engineers...
110
01:12Modeling and Similitude
350
Scaled modeling is a fundamental technique in engineering, enabling the study of large and complex systems by creating smaller, manageable replicas that recreate critical characteristics of the original. In hydrology and civil infrastructure, for example, scaled models of dams help analyze water flow, turbulence, and pressure. This method allows for accurate predictions of real-world behavior within a controlled environment, significantly reducing the cost and time involved in full-scale...
350
01:21Design Example: Creating a Hydraulic Model of a Dam Spillway
341
Scaled hydraulic models of dam spillways provide a practical way to replicate and study the intricate flow dynamics of these structures. Often built to a 1:15 ratio, these models allow for observing critical water behavior, such as velocity distribution, flow patterns, and energy dissipation.
341
01:14Conservation of Mass in Moving, Nondeforming Control Volume
1.1K
Stormwater detention basins are essential in managing runoff during heavy rainfall, particularly in urban areas where impervious surfaces increase the risk of flooding. Understanding the conservation of mass in these systems allows engineers to optimize basin performance, balancing inflow, outflow, and water storage.
In the context of a detention basin, the conservation of mass states that the total mass of water entering the basin must equal the mass leaving the basin plus any accumulation of...
In the context of a detention basin, the conservation of mass states that the total mass of water entering the basin must equal the mass leaving the basin plus any accumulation of...
1.1K
01:19Design Example: Maintaining Level of an Embankment
135
Constructing a roadway embankment over uneven terrain requires precise leveling to ensure stability and proper drainage. Surveyors use a leveling instrument and staff to calculate ground elevations and determine the required fill material at each point along the embankment alignment.The process begins by positioning a leveling instrument near a benchmark with a known elevation. A backsight reading establishes the instrument height, which serves as a reference for subsequent measurements. A...
135