In a growing world, environmental management strategies that get the most out of every acre of land are imperative. When it comes to protecting water quality in agricultural landscapes, wetlands are a critical part of any efficient, cost-effective strategy. Wetlands are known for helping remove nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural runoff, but they also can be major sources of greenhouse gasses, including methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). With help from a $500,000 grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Dr. Jacob Hosen, assistant professor of ecology analytics and the internet of things for Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources, will be studying how hydrology and plant community diversity can be modulated to maximize nutrient retention and minimize production of greenhouse gasses from wetlands.
November 23, 2020