Cystic River

Ag practices are mucking with the Mississippi River, says research

Posted at 2:47 PM on 24 Jan 2008

The Mississippi River has been dramatically changed by agricultural practices, says new research in the journal Nature. In the past 50 years or so, carbon levels in the river have jumped 40 percent, while the actual amount of water flowing through the riverbed has increased 9 percent -- the equivalent of five Connecticut Rivers. "Agricultural practices are causing a greater percentage of rainfall to make it to river water instead of being evaporated back into the atmosphere," explains researcher Peter Raymond. The extra-mighty Mississippi then transports ever more nutrients and pollution into the Gulf of Mexico, where they contribute to an oxygen-starved dead zone. But hey, at least we've got lots of corn!

sources: Reuters, Environmental Data Interactive Exchange, ScienceDaily, National Science Foundation
see also, in Grist: Grist takes a road trip down the Mississippi River

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Agricultural practices

"farming practices, such as changes in tile drainage and crop type and rotation, are most likely responsible"

The Midwestern prairie was barely passable by oxcart until drainage was improved. It's too flat for the rainfall to escape without good ditch work.

Starting about 50 years ago individual fields began to be fitted with below ground "field tile" to reduce the regular flooding which occurs in parts of the field with insufficient slope. Those types of tiles are still going in now every year. They pay for themselves pretty quickly in better yields and lower cost of crop insurance.

The best answer is more crop rotation and fewer acres planted in row crops. Nobody will be closing up their drainage ditches and field tile anytime soon.

by Boyscientist at 7:05 AM on 25 Jan 2008

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