Non Point Source Pollution in a Mixed Agricultural Area
Non Point Source Pollution in a Mixed Agricultural Area
Our agricultural land usage is 80,000 acres of mixed agriculture. This means that we model not only land that is used by farmers growing crops, but also land that is used to raise livestock. These two usages produce different effects on the indicators, but our simulator combines the result into a single station. Agricultural activities can result in increases in sediment, increased nutrients, and increased toxins. The growing of crops with relatively shallow roots leads to a decrease in the ability of the vegetation to "hold onto the soil", thus increasing sediments as well does the constant grazing of livestock. Livestock increase nutrients in the watershed by deposition of fecal matter. Nutrients are also increased by fertilizers added to crops and pesticides, which increase the amount of toxins.