Graduate Research

This research examines on-farm storage reservoirs in Arkansas, which are increasingly used to reduce reliance on declining groundwater resources for agricultural irrigation. Reservoirs in the Cache and Grand Prairie regions were evaluated for trace gas fluxes and water quality to gain a better understanding of nutrient cycling and water management. Results show substantial variability in methane flux and nutrient concentrations among reservoirs, with patterns primarily driven by reservoir characteristics such as age, size, and levee protection rather than location. Older and larger reservoirs tend to exhibit higher and more variable trace gas flux, while newer reservoirs exhibit lower and more stable conditions. These findings highlight the importance of reservoir maturity, soil development, and physical structure in influencing trace gas flux and nutrient retention in constructed reservoirs, both of which do not deter from the overall benefit of using on-farm storage reservoirs for irrigation.