Agricultural Runoff-Characteristics and Control

Agricultural runoff consists of nonpoint sources that range from almost natural runoff to that from concentrated agricultural operations such as animal feedlots and fertilized fields. Control of the latter is possible by waste management and land conservation techniques. Increases in agricultural efficiency have been associated with a variety of potential and real environmental problems. The paper attempts to quantify some pollution problems due to agricultural runoff and to put these problems in perspective. The major topical areas include erosion, animal feedlots, rural runoff, pollution characteristics, and effect of fertilizers. Management methods to control the quantity and pollutional quality of the runoff are noted. The paper stresses that agriculture should institute a systematic, coordinated approach for specific production operations to reduce excesses that could cause environmental degradation.