Degree Type

Thesis

Date of Award

2015

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Major

Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

First Advisor

Steven K. Mickelson

Abstract

Vegetative Filter Strip (VFS) buffers have been used for over two decades to function as filters for surface runoff from agricultural land into streams and other water bodies. Many studies have revealed that the classic VFS design along the length of an agricultural field does not adequately address non-uniform flow through the buffer. New designs are being researched to increase the efficiency of the VFS, but in order to accurately implement new design strategies, researchers must be able to accurately model the runoff flowpaths through the agricultural field into the VFS. The common assumption about field runoff is that the runoff flows perpendicularly across VFS as sheet flow. But there is minimal research information available about the actual surface runoff flowpaths and the performance of VFS buffers. This research assesses the performance of existing established VFS by modeling and analyzing the flow accumulation from the field in the VFS, with the help of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) derived Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and using new approach of Coefficient of Flow Interception (CFI) to assess the performance of VFS buffers. As spatially non-uniform runoff can reduce the efficiency of filter strips, this study will also prove to be helpful in identifying areas in the farmland where the flow is concentrated and help in designing more efficient filter strips to account for the concentrated runoff.

Copyright Owner

Manish Shrivastav

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

File Size

60 pages

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