will measure chemical composition and the potential of subsurface drainage to cause a detrimental overabundance of nutrients from a variety of management practices.

will continue an existing study for two more years (conducted under natural rainfall) to evaluate impacts of a winter cereal rye cover crop on soil, nitrogen and phosphorus loss with surface runoff in a field testing high in phosphorus, managed with a corn-soybean rotation.

will use new topographical information to expand on the evaluation and quantification of phosphorus loads in Iowa rivers.

will assess the effects of prairie strips on the quantity and quality of surface water runoff from cropped watersheds, the effects of prairie strips on dissolved nutrient concentrations in shallow groundwater and disseminate project information through field days, presentations and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach fact sheets.

will focus on delivery-scale evaluation and modeling of the effectiveness of in-field and edge-of-field practices including cover crops, fertilizer management and wetlands in increasing ecosystem nitrogen and phosphorus retention and reducing downstream nutrient loads.

 will study dissolved phosphorus in runoff for a wide range of soil P levels, fertilizer and manure P management practices and soil conservation practices.

will evaluate nitrate-nitrogen fate in woodchip bioreactors over a range of water retention rates, while gaining knowledge about improved bioreactor design for field implementation.

will assess the value of reverse auctions and enrollment restrictions in improving the cost-effectiveness of conservation programs offered to Iowa farmers.

 will look at ways to fine-tune cover crop management so nitrogen immobilization is unlikely and it can be mineralized for crop use.

will study the structural practices of conservation practices adoption and assess and compare farmers¹ and local stakeholders attitudes toward water quality and conservation within intervention and non-intervention watersheds.

will collect baseline monitoring data at a farm in Calhoun County to characterize the soil, geology, hydrology and water quality conditions of the farm prior to the establishment of conservation best management practices.