![\"Arthur](\"https:\/\/www.fondriest.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/KStateBody.jpg\" "\\"Arthur")
Arthur Fink, graduate student in agronomy, and Laura Kemp, undergraduate student in agronomy, conducting an in-field nitrate test on soil samples. The in-field tests were used to determine if the soil sample depth was beyond the depth of the contaminant plume. (Credit: Jeanna Walters-Fancella)<\/p><\/div>\n
Nitrates and ammonia concentrations were tested in the labs at KSU. Students submitted half of their samples to an independent lab in Salina, Kan., to verify their data. \u00a0Findings were consistent between labs.<\/p>\n
They found three out of four groundwater testing wells contained nitrate levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s 10 milligrams per liter maximum contaminant level for drinking water. One of the wells contained 46 milligrams per liter.<\/p>\n
Next, the team collected water for isotope samples. Datta said samples were difficult to obtain as they require minimal contact with air. \u201cThe (sampling) bottles had to be dipped inside the wells and they had to cap them immediately,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Analysis of nitrogen-15 isotopes, which are often used in fertilizers, helped the team estimate sources. \u00a0Testing revealed adjacent cattle feedlots and fertilizers stored on site were both contributing to pollution.<\/p>\n
Once all the groundwater data were collected, Nelson\u2019s team of students started analyzing soil quality to formulate a cleanup plan.<\/p>\n
They found high concentrations of nitrate in the upper levels of soil that decreased with depth. \u00a0Nitrate was found as deep as 12 feet deep and in concentrations as high as 4,700 parts per million.<\/p>\n
The second phase of the process was to pitch the remediation to the state. \u00a0Nelson\u2019s students collaboratively pitched four scenarios for cleanup, including a required no-action plan, removal of contaminated soil removal, phytoremediation and a combination of both processes.<\/p>\n
Students weighed costs and benefits of each option, including off-site impacts, short- and long-term risks to human health, and benefits to the community. \u00a0Following in-depth analysis, they recommended the combination of soil excavation and phytoremediation.<\/p>\n
State regulators accepted the recommendation. \u00a0Construction crews removed 183 tons of contaminated soil and filled in the plot with clean soil. Native flora including cottonwood trees and several grasses were planted to absorb nutrients and minimize further nitrate seepage into groundwater.<\/p>\n
Local farmers used the nitrate-rich soil to as a nutrient source for plants.<\/p>\n
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It took three semesters of classes to assess the extent of contamination and develop and implement the remediation plans. \u00a0Nelson said it will be several years before the phytoremediation process reaches its full potential.<\/p>\n
Future classes will be monitoring groundwater to keep an eye on the nitrate levels and the effectiveness of the phytoremediation.<\/p>\n
The experience students had has been invaluable, Datta said. He mentioned that several list the project on their resumes and bring it up with possible employers during interviews.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kansas State University professors transformed a plot of land from a problem to a classroom, teaching students on the fly to remediate nutrient pollution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":14800,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[129,60],"class_list":["post-14798","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-earth-atmosphere","tag-environmental-education","tag-featured"],"remote_post_permalink":false,"remote_post_featured_image":false,"yoast_head":"\n