Nutrient Management in Environmental Runoff
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Student Year and Major
Senior, Aerospace Engineering
Presentation Description/Abstract
This project explores the effectiveness of subsurface fertilizer injection as a sustainable nutrient management strategy for mitigating nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, a primary driver of eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and dissolved oxygen depletion in freshwater ecosystems. The oversaturation of synthetic fertilizers in agricultural systems continues to disrupt critical planetary boundaries, particularly biogeochemical flows, by introducing excessive nutrient loads into freshwater environments. To help restore regional waterways to a safe operating space, this research focuses on the strategic placement and timing of fertilizer injections within agricultural soils, particularly in areas vulnerable to nutrient runoff and erosion. By injecting fertilizers beneath the soil surface and below erosion-prone layers, nutrients can remain closer to plant root systems, reducing their exposure to surface runoff while improving plant uptake. The effectiveness of this strategy can be evaluated by comparing subsurface injection with conventional surface fertilizer application through measurements of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in soil and nearby runoff, nutrient uptake by crops, fertilizer use efficiency, and overall crop yields. Implementing precision agriculture technologies to determine crop-specific nutrient requirements and optimal application timing could further reduce unnecessary fertilizer use and nutrient loss.
Despite its environmental benefits, subsurface fertilizer injection presents several technical, social, and economic tradeoffs. Soil composition, drainage patterns, precipitation intensity, crop root depth, and nutrient mobility vary significantly across agricultural regions, meaning injection depth and application rates must be adapted to local conditions rather than applied as a generalized solution. Additionally, subsurface injection requires specialized equipment, increased initial infrastructure investments, and technical knowledge that may discourage adoption among agricultural stakeholders. Although this approach has the potential to reduce nutrient pollution, improve fertilizer efficiency, and protect freshwater ecosystems, its implementation may temporarily increase production costs and place financial pressure on smaller farming operations. Ultimately, this research examines whether targeted subsurface fertilizer injection can provide a measurable reduction in agricultural nutrient runoff while maintaining crop productivity, emphasizing the need to balance environmental restoration with long-term agricultural and economic sustainability.
Keywords
Runoff, Nutrient Management
Nutrient Management in Environmental Runoff
This project explores the effectiveness of subsurface fertilizer injection as a sustainable nutrient management strategy for mitigating nitrogen and phosphorus runoff, a primary driver of eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, and dissolved oxygen depletion in freshwater ecosystems. The oversaturation of synthetic fertilizers in agricultural systems continues to disrupt critical planetary boundaries, particularly biogeochemical flows, by introducing excessive nutrient loads into freshwater environments. To help restore regional waterways to a safe operating space, this research focuses on the strategic placement and timing of fertilizer injections within agricultural soils, particularly in areas vulnerable to nutrient runoff and erosion. By injecting fertilizers beneath the soil surface and below erosion-prone layers, nutrients can remain closer to plant root systems, reducing their exposure to surface runoff while improving plant uptake. The effectiveness of this strategy can be evaluated by comparing subsurface injection with conventional surface fertilizer application through measurements of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in soil and nearby runoff, nutrient uptake by crops, fertilizer use efficiency, and overall crop yields. Implementing precision agriculture technologies to determine crop-specific nutrient requirements and optimal application timing could further reduce unnecessary fertilizer use and nutrient loss.
Despite its environmental benefits, subsurface fertilizer injection presents several technical, social, and economic tradeoffs. Soil composition, drainage patterns, precipitation intensity, crop root depth, and nutrient mobility vary significantly across agricultural regions, meaning injection depth and application rates must be adapted to local conditions rather than applied as a generalized solution. Additionally, subsurface injection requires specialized equipment, increased initial infrastructure investments, and technical knowledge that may discourage adoption among agricultural stakeholders. Although this approach has the potential to reduce nutrient pollution, improve fertilizer efficiency, and protect freshwater ecosystems, its implementation may temporarily increase production costs and place financial pressure on smaller farming operations. Ultimately, this research examines whether targeted subsurface fertilizer injection can provide a measurable reduction in agricultural nutrient runoff while maintaining crop productivity, emphasizing the need to balance environmental restoration with long-term agricultural and economic sustainability.