A Framework for Long-term Monitoring and Research for Agricultural Sustainability in the Lower Mississippi River Basin

Abstract:

The Lower Mississippi River Basin (LMRB) is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the United States and has recently become a member of the USDA-ARS Long-term Agricultural Research (LTAR) Network. As the hydrologic gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the LMRB links agricultural practices and associated runoff and nutrient loads from the Upper Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio basins with the ecology of the Gulf of Mexico. We review the major challenges for agricultural sustainability in the region and outline a long-term research program within the LTAR Network to address these challenges. Despite the humid climate of the region, water quantity and quality issues are integral to the sustainability of the region. The geography of water-use in the region, current research at plot- to watershed-scales, and knowledge gaps that must be addressed to meet growing production demand will be displayed.