Northeast Region Certified Crop Adviser (NRCCA) Study Resources

In This Section

• PO 56 Watershed functions
• PO 57 Water inputs & outputs
• PO 57 Water inputs & outputs 2
• PO 57 Water inputs & outputs 3
• PO 58 Stream hydrograph
• PO 59 Pollutant delivery process
• PO 60 Precipitation return periods
• PO 61 Sources of contaminants
• PO 62 Aquifers
• PO 63 Well pumping and drawdown
• PO 64 Geologic conditions & contamination
• PO 65 Recharge areas
• PO 66 Hydrologically sensitive areas
• PO 67 Wetlands & riparian buffer zones
• PO 68 Multiple-barrier watershed
• PO 69 Impaired water bodies
• Summary

Competency Area 6: Watershed hydrology AEM

PO 61. Describe the main agricultural point and non-point sources of contaminants in a typical rural watershed in the Northeast.

The main agricultural point or concentrated sources from livestock-based systems are from barnyards, feedlots, silage storage and milkhouse wastewater discharges. For conventional cash grain, horticultural and vegetable production systems, the point sources arise from fertilizer, pesticide and fuel storage areas. The main non-point sources of contaminants from agricultural operations are sediments (largest on a mass basis), phosphorus, pesticides, pathogens, and nitrate-nitrogen (usually from tile drain discharges).