Multiple models guide strategies for agricultural nutrient reductions

摘要: In response to degraded water quality, federal policy makers in the US and Canada called for a 40% reduction phosphorus (P) loads Lake Erie, state provincial Great Lakes region set load-reduction target year 2025. Here, we configured five separate SWAT (US Department of Agriculture's Soil Water Assessment Tool) models assess load strategies agriculturally dominated Maumee River watershed, largest P source contributing toxic algal blooms Erie. Although several potential pathways may achieve loads, our results show that any successful pathway will require large-scale implementation multiple practices. For example, one involved targeting 50% row cropland has highest loss watershed with combination three practices: subsurface application fertilizers, planting cereal rye as winter cover crop, installing buffer strips. Achieving these levels local, state/provincial, agencies collaborate private sector shared goals demand innovation honest assessments quality-related programs, policies, partnerships.