Design, construction, and operation of tilted beds to simulate agricultural runoff in vegetative filter strips

This paper describes the design, construction, and operation of tilted beds to investigate the effectiveness of vegetative filter strips (VFS) in removing agricultural chemicals from runoff water. The beds are designed to catch surface runoff, leachate, and subsurface lateral flow. Switchgrass was established on beds filled with Cullen clay loam or Emporia sandy loam. Switchgrass established on Cullen clay loam beds reduced surface runoff by 60% and by 11% in sandy loam containing switchgrass compared to respective bare soils. Infiltration was 64, 26, 17, and 8% for clay loam with switchgrass, clay loam without switchgrass, sandy loam with switchgrass, and sandy loam without switchgrass, respectively.