Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

In agricultural land, tile drainage systems can be a primary pathway for the transport of phosphorus to surface waters. Phosphorus losses in agricultural drainage waters, both surface and subsurface, are among the most difficult form of non-point source pollution to mitigate. Investment in technology is needed to develop systems that can provide the necessary drainage for agronomic production, while also ensuring phosphorus is removed from drainage waters to prevent ecological damage to surface waters. The primary objective of this research study is to install, monitor and evaluate an innovative Canadian-developed reactor for the capture and removal of phosphorus from agricultural subsurface drainage water. This research study proposes to install multiple reactors (4) in a full-scale agricultural trial to evaluate their performance under a variety of crops and under ""real world"" agricultural field conditions. In addition to evaluating their ability to capture and remove phosphorus, these field trials will permit a more extensive evaluation of issues related to assembly, installation, and maintenance of these units, as well as their performance under typical Canadian climatic conditions, including freeze-thaw cycles. This research will highlight design specifications and cost estimates for such systems. The results of this research will contribute significantly to new knowledge in the discipline of agri-environmental applications, and to the development of practical solutions for prevention and remediation related to tile drainage induced eutrophication of aquatic environments.