Nature-based solutions to preserve water quality

When it comes to agriculture, there’s a lot of discourse around water - how it’s used, how much of it is used, and even the underlying harm that can come from using too much. Water is one of the crucial ingredients for biological life, and it’s no secret that plants need water to grow and thrive. How do we satisfy the demands for water use in agriculture and the need to protect and preserve this important resource? Our global population is at an all-time high. We are experiencing unprecedented climate events with increasing frequency and severity. Regenerative agriculture could be the answer to these pressing questions, and could be the key in unlocking a sustainable future.

Regenerative agriculture practices emphasize soil health, and as a result create several additional benefits to human health and environmental health alike. Let’s take a closer look at the relationship between regenerative agriculture and water quality.

This is the first installment in a two-part series about regenerative agriculture and water. The second installment, “Regenerative Agriculture and Water Conservation,” will follow shortly. Scroll on to read about various agricultural practices that can impact water quality, and how regenerative agriculture mitigates harmful side effects to water quality.

Agricultural producers have a unique opportunity to be environmental stewards, and RIPE is working to empower them to do so. The majority of privately-held land in the United States is agricultural land. Conventional agricultural practices can degrade soil health. There are several associated impacts from sediment, nutrients, pesticides, and herbicides connected to soil degradation.

Let’s define a few key terms:

Nonpoint source pollution occurs when runoff from rain and snowmelt carries pollutants into waterways such as rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and even groundwater.

Nonpoint source pollution is not specific to agriculture - other industries which contribute to this type of indirect pollution include forestry, marinas/boating, resource extraction, etc

Surface runoff is the unconfined flow of water over the ground surface, in contrast to channel runoff. It occurs when excess rainwater, stormwater, meltwater, or other sources, can no longer sufficiently rapidly infiltrate the soil.
Agricultural contaminants commonly studied by the USGS include nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, and pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides

PESTICIDE AND FERTILIZER RUNOFF
Regenerative agriculture practices mimic natural processes, feeding the soil and making it healthier as a result. These conservation practices can reduce the need for pesticide and fertilizer applications, therefore decreasing the harmful impacts of runoff. Additionally, these practices fortify the soil, allowing it to process fertilizer and degrade unused pesticides at a higher rate. This helps keep the nutrients where they are supposed to be rather than running off into local waterways. Regenerative practices create nature-based solutions for pest control, weed control, and soil nutrient management, benefiting water quality and biodiversity alike.

Pesticide and fertilizer use can be helpful in combating pests and keeping weeds under control - but when used off label or against professional recommendations, they can have consequences. One major issue with pesticides and fertilizers is runoff. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “(pesticide) runoff to streams can pose risks to aquatic life, fish-eating wildlife, and drinking water supplies. Pollutants from agricultural operations can also enter groundwater and degrade sources of drinking water. Human health impacts might occur as a result.”

The National Water Quality Assessment shows that agricultural runoff is the leading cause of water quality impacts to rivers and streams, the third leading source for lakes, and the second largest source of impairments to wetlands (EPA). Nutrients in fertilizer, pesticides and other substances used in agriculture don’t always remain stationary on the landscape where they are applied, and these contaminants can flow into local streams, rivers and groundwater, which can degrade water quality. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus are vital for growing crops. However, excess in our waterways can have disastrous results and can impact our drinking water, threaten wildlife, etc.

With less chemical pollution comes a reduction in drinking water pollution (a benefit for human health) and a reduction in harmful algal blooms (a benefit for the ecosystem). Improved soil health also means improved water efficiency, which culminates in better soil water holding capacity, and more water conserved on the farm or ranch. The more water that can percolate through the soil, the less runoff, which also reduces flooding. Improved soil health also goes hand-in-hand with reduced erosion, and the mitigation of associated impacts. In general, regenerative practices make farms and ranches more resilient to extreme weather events, all the while creating ecosystem services and benefits to human health.

Transport of excess nutrients is often influenced by agricultural practices, including methods of tillage and drainage. By using practices that minimize soil disturbance, like no-till or cover crops, runoff may be reduced. Planting and maintaining buffer strips around fields and streams can also be highly effective. Some regenerative farmers also embrace precision farming techniques, including drip irrigation. This allows for better control of the quantities of agricultural contaminants added to irrigation systems.

SOIL EROSION
We can’t talk about regenerative agriculture and water quality without talking about soil erosion in greater detail. In agriculture, soil erosion refers to the wearing away of a field's topsoil by the natural physical forces of water and wind or through forces associated with farming activities such as tillage. As mentioned above, improved soil health has many benefits, including the reduction of soil erosion. By minimizing soil disturbance through practices like reduced-till or no-till or cover crops (to name a few), regenerative methods preserve soil structure and integrity, fortifying the soil against chemical or mechanical weathering. This also leads to improved water retention, ensuring a steady water supply for crops and reducing the needs for irrigation (see Water Blog Pt. 2). Healthier soil means less erosion and better water retention, ultimately reducing runoff and benefiting water quality.

Regenerative agriculture can create benefits for water quality and water conservation alike (see Part 2), and some practices can reduce water needs and reduce runoff. There are many reasons why regenerative agriculture should become the norm on American farmland, including its benefits for the environment (check out our Research), human health (check out our Nutrition White Paper), and for producer livelihood. RIPE is working to reduce or remove barriers to regenerative practice adoption for producers nationwide by leveraging public policy and private markets. Learn more about Our Approach and how you can help us help producers as we scale regenerative agriculture The RIPE Way.

If you are a producer, you can also amplify your impact by becoming a FAN of RIPE - contact us to get started.