Improved management of agricultural drainage ditches for water quality protection: An overview
Abstract
Agricultural drainage ditches are essential for the removal of surface and ground water to allow for crop production in poorly drained agricultural landscapes. Ditches also mediate the flow of pollutants from agroecosystems to downstream water bodies. This paper provides an overview of the science, management, and policy of ditches. Ditches provide a unique opportunity to address nonpoint source pollution problems from agriculture due to the concentration of the contaminants and the engineered nature of ditch systems. A better understanding of the nature of these complex system and the technologies available and under development to improve their management will assist in the design and implementation of water quality protection programs.
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Ditches play a unique biogeochemical role due to their high connectivity with the surrounding landscape, processing inputs of nutrients, sediments, and pollutants from the wider environment.
“Ditches play a unique biogeochemical role due to their high connectivity with the surrounding landscape, processing inputs of nutrients, sediments, and pollutants from the wider environment 103 .”
From Lines in the landscape (2025) · cites this paper as [103]
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References 42 · Cited by 165
- Authors
- Needelman, B. A., Kleinman, P. J. A., Strock, J. S., & Allen, A. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Maryland, College Park (US)
- United States Department of Agriculture (US)
- University of Maryland Eastern Shore (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-07
- Volume
- 62
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 171-178
- ISSN
- 0022-4561 (ISSN-L)
- 1941-3300
- OpenAlex
- W2407947120
- Cited by
- 165
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 3.42
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Soil and Water Conservation (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Integrated Water Resources Management
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
- Keywords
- agricultural drainage ditches, water quality protection, non-point source pollution, poorly drained soils, agricultural runoff, contaminant transport
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