Locating turfgrass production sites for removal of phosphorus in Erath County, Texas

Abstract

The North Bosque River watershed of central Texas hosts a large portion of diary production in the state. In recent years, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), formerly known as the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), has applied a Total Maximum Daily Load Program for soluble phosphorus to the watershed. Best management practices (BMPs) are now necessary to remedy the issue of excess phosphorus. This thesis explores the application of GIS as an agricultural planning tool in support of a BMP for the region. The suggested BMP calls for the production of turfgrass sod using composted dairy manure; this sod is then transported at a profit from the watershed and provides an economically sustainable means to reduce the nutrient loading in the watershed. Using GIS, a geospatial database was developed with available data from government and institutional sources. As part of the development process, these sites were verified by field technicians and the results were combined in the GIS to refine the database. This database demonstrates the suitability of GIS as a tool for large-scale planning in agriculture.