Potential Influence of Sugarcane Cultivation on Estuarine Water Quality of Louisiana's Gulf Coast

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Lloyd M. Southwick ; Brandon C. Grigg ; Ted S. Kornecki ; and James L. Fouss
• 刊名：Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
• 出版年：2002
• 出版时间：July 17, 2002
• 年：2002
• 卷：50
• 期：15
• 页码：4393 - 4399
• 全文大小：137K
• 年卷期：v.50,no.15(July 17, 2002)
• ISSN：1520-5118

文摘

Sugarcane is cultivated on some 170000 ha of land in south central and southwestern Louisiana.This acreage drains into bayous and rivers that empty into Louisiana's coastal bays and estuaries.For a number of years the state's Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Department ofEnvironmental Quality have collected water quality data from this sugarcane area. Study of thesedata shows that approximately one in five detections of atrazine is above the maximum contaminantlevel (MCL) for drinking water. Currently there is no U.S. atrazine standard for protection of aquaticlife. February and October detections of this herbicide are probably due to sugarcane cultivation.Nitrate levels have remained below the MCL for drinking water, but nitrate and phosphorusconcentrations may pose a potential for eutrophication problems. The contribution of sugarcaneproduction to the nutrient status of Louisiana's coastal water bodies is difficult to assess becausethere are other sources of nutrients in the area and native soil phosphorus levels are high. Culturalpractices such as subsurface drains, open drainage ditches, and postharvest residue managementhave potential through enhancement of soil infiltration for decreasing sugarcane's contribution towater quality problems in southern and coastal Louisiana. A new field project is being installed at theLouisiana State University Agricultural Experiment Station's Sugarcane Research Station at St. Gabrielto assess the water quality benefits of these practices with respect to sugarcane cultivation.Keywords: Nitrate; phosphorus; dissolved oxygen; herbicide; insecticide; atrazine; rainfall infiltration;estuary; bay; runoff