A new partnership kicked off in 2018 to study the saturated buffer practice. A saturated buffer connects a drainage tile outlet with an edge-of-field buffer using denitrification and vegetative uptake to remove nutrients from drainage water. The Edge-of Field Partnership includes the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Chapter of the Land Improvement Contractors of America, USDA NRCS, and Southern Illinois University.
The group will see the first installation in early 2019. The partners plan to establish a new saturated buffer site each year, for five years, in different counties, starting in Moultrie County. By studying sites with a saturated buffer, researchers can develop a better understanding of the benefits of this practice. The partners are working to expand the suite of nutrient loss reduction practices to meet the diverse needs of farmers across Illinois.
For more information, see www.illica.net/projects
