Several stimulating talks on the state of water use in Arkansas were presented by representatives of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission (AR Water Plan) and by USA Rice. Nutrient balance and loss were discussed in relation to retention in the soil versus washing downstream and contributing to the dead zone in the Mississippi Delta off the coast of Louisiana. However, the most exciting part of the conference were the student posters. These outstanding graduate students are studying different aspects of water quality in agricultural fields, the role of cover crops in preventing nutrient loss, the response of soils to rain events based on their organic matter content, and populations of mussels that reflect the quality of water downstream of agricultural fields. These young scientists will contribute to our understanding of the state of agriculture and the practices that conserve our soil and water in the future.
For more information on this year’s conference: https://goo.gl/DKVL6q