Strategies for Reducing Pollutants from Irrigated Lands in the Great Plains

摘要

A manual has been prepared which will serve as a planning guide for determining alternative management practices to limit nonpoint source water pollution from irrigated lands in the Great Plains. Section One contains a summary of federal water pollution legislation as it relates to irrigated agriculture. The areal extent and intensity of irrigation in the newly-defined Irrigated Great Plains is given, along with a review of select physical characteristics of the region. Five irrigated crop production areas are broadly delineated. Pollutants in irrigation return flows are identified and described in Section Two. The authors examine the effects of current irrigation management practices on pollution in the return flow. The most probable pollution problems are discussed.