Start Date
15-2-2013 2:50 PM
Description
The groundwater in agricultural karst areas, such as Kentucky’s Pennyroyal Plateau, is susceptible to contamination from organic soil amendments and pesticides. During 2011, water samples and geochemical data were collected every four hours before, during, and between storm events from a waterfall in Crumps Cave from January to September to track the transport and residence time of epikarst water and organic soil amendments during variable fl ow conditions. Geochemical data consisting of pH, specific conductivity, temperature, and discharge were collected continuously at 10-minute intervals, along with rainfall amounts. The changes in geochemistry indicate simultaneous storage and transport of meteoric water through epikarst pathways into the cave, with rapid transport of bacteria occurring through the conduits that bypass storage. Results indicate current best management practices in agricultural karst areas need to be revisited to incorporate areas that do not have surface runoff but where contaminants are transported by seepage into local aquifers.
Recommended Citation
Polk, Jason; Vanderhoff, Sean; Groves, Chris; Miller, Benjamin; and Bolster, Carl, "Multiple Storm Event Impacts on Epikarst Storage and Transport of Organic Soil Amendments in South-central Kentucky" (2013). Mammoth Cave Research Symposia. 26.
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/mc_reserch_symp/10th_Research_Symposium_2013/Research_Posters/26
Included in
Animal Sciences Commons, Forest Sciences Commons, Geology Commons, Hydrology Commons, Other Earth Sciences Commons, Plant Sciences Commons
Multiple Storm Event Impacts on Epikarst Storage and Transport of Organic Soil Amendments in South-central Kentucky
The groundwater in agricultural karst areas, such as Kentucky’s Pennyroyal Plateau, is susceptible to contamination from organic soil amendments and pesticides. During 2011, water samples and geochemical data were collected every four hours before, during, and between storm events from a waterfall in Crumps Cave from January to September to track the transport and residence time of epikarst water and organic soil amendments during variable fl ow conditions. Geochemical data consisting of pH, specific conductivity, temperature, and discharge were collected continuously at 10-minute intervals, along with rainfall amounts. The changes in geochemistry indicate simultaneous storage and transport of meteoric water through epikarst pathways into the cave, with rapid transport of bacteria occurring through the conduits that bypass storage. Results indicate current best management practices in agricultural karst areas need to be revisited to incorporate areas that do not have surface runoff but where contaminants are transported by seepage into local aquifers.
Comments
Abstract only