South Dakota Ag Connection - South Dakotans Encouraged to Have Ag Water Tested

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South Dakotans Encouraged to Have Ag Water Tested
South Dakota Ag Connection - 04/26/2017

South Dakotans can test their agriculture water for nitrate-nitrogen this summer during one of three events hosted by SDSU Extension and partners.

The events will be held near Beresford July 19 to 20 at the SDSU Southeast Research Farm (29974 University Road, Beresford) and near Volga July 26 at the SDSU Volga Research Farm (21254 464th Ave., Volga). The date and location of the third event will be announced later this summer.

"Subsurface drainage water can look clean to the eye when coming out the end of a pipe. However, it doesn't always mean it is," said David Kringen, SDSU Extension Water Resources Field Specialist and one of the events' organizers. "Tile water can carry with it high concentrations of dissolved nutrients such as nitrate-nitrogen which can contribute to the eutrophication of surface water."

Eutrophication, Kringen explained, is when excess nutrients enter a body of water stimulating the growth of aquatic plants and depleting the water's dissolved oxygen content as the plants decompose.

The project is funded by SD Corn, the East Dakota Water Development District (WDD), the James River WDD and the Vermillion Basin WDD.

The goals of this water testing pilot project are to:

- Educate participants about the potential for nutrient loss in surface runoff and/or subsurface drainage;

- Provide information about potential economic and environmental impacts associated with elevated nutrient losses; and

- Provide information on best management practices aimed to reduce nitrogen loading from agricultural land to South Dakota lakes and streams.

"The nutrient testing program is meant to be entirely voluntary and confidential," said Anthony Bly, SDSU Extension Soils Field Specialist. "We hope that through this project, landowners, producers, agronomists and other stakeholders will learn more about nutrient management, water quality and soil health."

While nitrate testing of tile drainage water is the program's primary driver, water samples taken from other sources such as a wells used for drinking and/or livestock or a ditch or stream are also welcome.

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