Abstract

Can GIS Improve the Arkansas phosphorus Index?
Track: Water Resources
Authors: Cara Hastings

In Arkansas a phosphorus index (P-Index) is used in nutrient management planning to assess the risk of offsite transport of phosphorus from fields. The P-Index has three components: source factors, transport processes and a best management practice multiplier. The focus of this study is to evaluate different methodologies used to measure the transport component of the index and to assess if Geographic Information System (GIS) methodologies can be used within transport measurement. Slope information from field work, from soil series, and from Digital Elevation Model's (DEM's) will be used to calculate transport factor values and subsequently compared. Additionally, area occupied by frequently flooded mapping units will be compared to areas flooded by modeling water level rise. This study is important for validating soil series information, testing the sensitivity of the index to slope information, for increasing the efficiency and accuracy of P-Index risk assessment.