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Large areas of mine tailings are reclaimed by applying organic amendments such as paper mill sludge (PMS). Although mining industries can use PMS freshly generated by paper mills, operational constraints on paper industries make temporary landfilling of this material an unavoidable alternative for the paper industries, creating the most prominent PMS source for mining industries. This study aimed to quantify soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (N2O, CO2, and CH4) after application of landfilled PMS (LPMS; i.e., excavated from a landfill site at a paper mill) and LPMS combined with a seeding treatment of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) on nonacidic mine tailings site prior to reforestation. Soil N2O, CO2, and CH4 fluxes were measured after applications of 50 and 100 Mg dry LPMS ha-1 during two consecutive snowfree seasons on two adjacent sites; LPMS was applied once in the first season. The LPMS application increased N2O emissions (7.6 to 34.7 kg N2O-N ha-1, comprising 1.04 to 2.43% of applied N) compared with the unamended control during the first season; these emissions were negligible during the second season. The LPMS application increased CO2 emissions (~5800 to 11,400 kg CO2-C ha-1, comprising 7 to 27% of applied C) compared with the unamended control on both sites and in both seasons. Fluxes of CH4 were negligible. White clover combined with LPMS treatments did not affect soil GHG emissions. These new GHG emission factors should be integrated into life-cycle analyses to evaluate the C footprint of potential symbioses between the mining and paper industries. Future research should focus on the effect of PMS applications on soil GHG emissions from a variety of mine tailings under various management practices and climatic conditions to plan responsible and sustainable land reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory policies to manage land application of organic materials are risk based, with focus on the quality of these residuals. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) determined that limited information was available on pulp and paper biosolids (PPB) with respect to human enteric pathogens. To address this data gap, MOECC conducted an extensive survey (2005-2006) across Ontario to characterize the microbiological quality of PPB. Quantitative testing was performed for fecal indicators (Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens) and enteric pathogens (Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia) using matrix-validated methods. Comparative benchmark materials (soils and soil amendments) were analyzed concurrently for risk comparison. Results showed that detection rates in PPB were low, 5 to 25% for pathogens and <55% for E. coli. Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, and Shigella were found at low frequency (6-8% of samples) and at low mean concentrations (2 most probable number g-1 dry wt., 9 oocysts g-1 dry wt., and 7 cells g-1 dry wt., respectively). Giardia was more frequently observed (19% of samples), with a mean of 30 cysts g-1 dry wt. Pathogen concentrations in PPB were generally equivalent to or higher than those in soils, composts, and pelletized sewage biosolids but significantly lower than in sewage biosolids. Escherichia coli levels exceeded standards (1000 colonyforming units g-1 dry wt.) in one-third of samples, most often in fresh PPB rather than stored and lagoon solids. Microbial quality of PPB across all surveyed mills tended to be variable and sector-and/or site-specific but in many cases would not consistently meet Canadian federal fertilizers standards. These findings were important to inform Ontario's nutrient management regulations, supporting classification of PPB as higher pathogen risk than compost and commercial fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to establish an appropriate mixture ratio of fly ash (F) to optimized cow dung-waste paper mixtures (CP) to develop a high-quality vermicompost using earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Fly ash was mixed with cow dung-waste paper mixtures at ratios of (F:CP) 1:1,1:2,1:3,2:1, and 3:1 or CP alone and composted for 14 wk. Olsen P, inorganic N (NO3, NO2, and NH4), C:N ratio, ash content, microbial biomass C, and humification parameters were measured together with scanning electron micrograph images to determine compost maturity. Based on C:N ratio, the extent of vermidegradation of the waste mixtures followed the decreasing order (F:CP) of 1:3 > 1:2 > 1:1 > CP alone >2:1 > 3:1. Similarly, Olsen P was significantly higher (P < 0.05) where earthworms were added. The mean percentage increase in extractable P was in the order CP alone > 1:2 > 1:3 > 1:1 > 2:1 > 3:1, with earthworm addition almost doubling P release across the 1:1, 1:2, and CP alone treatments. Fly ash incorporation enhanced conversion of organic N to the plant-available inorganic forms, with the 1:3 treatment resulting in the highest conversion. Scanning electron micrograph images confirmed the extent of vermidegradation reflected by the various humification parameters determined. Fly ash incorporation at the 1:2 ratio proved to be the most appropriate because it allows processing of more fly ash while giving a vermicompost with desirable maturity and nutritional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of industrial residuals in agriculture may raise concerns about soil and crop metal accumulation. A complete study using a fractionation scheme would reveal build-up in metal pools occurring after material addition and predict the transformation of metals in soil between the different forms and potential metal release into the environment. An experimental study was conducted from 2000 to 2008 on a loamy soil at Yamachiche, Quebec, Canada, to evaluate the effects of repeated annual addition of combined paper mill biosolids when applied alone or with several liming by-products on soil Cu, Zn, and Cd fractions. Wet paper mill biosolids at 0, 30, 60, or 90 Mg ha-1 and calcitic lime, lime mud, or wood ash, each at 3 Mg ha-1 with 30 Mgpaper mill biosolids ha-1, were surface applied after seeding. The soils were sampled after 6 (soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.]) and9 [corn (ZeamaysL.)] crop years and analyzed using the Tessier fractionation procedure. Results indicated that biosolids addition increased exchangeable Zn and Cd, carbonate-bound Cd, Fe-Mn oxide-bound Zn and Cd, organically bound Cu and Zn, and total Zn and Cd fractions but decreased Fe-Mn oxide-bound Cu in the uppermost 30-cm layer. With liming by-products, there was a shift from exchangeable to carbonate-bound forms. Even with very small metals addition, paper mill and liming materials increased the mobility of soil Zn and Cd after 9 yr of application, and this metal redistribution resulted into higher crop grain concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land application of residuals from the forest industry can help to restore soil fertility, but few studies have assessed the effects of metal accumulation in plants. An experimental study was initiated in 2000 on a loamy soil at Yamachiche, QC, Canada, to evaluate the effects of repeated annual applications of combined paper mill biosolids, when applied alone or with several liming by-products. This study assessed the accumulation of Cu, Zn, Mo, and Cd in plants and soil after 6 (soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]) and 9 [corn (Zea mays L.)] crop yr. Wet paper mill biosolids at 0, 30, 60, or 90 Mg ha-1 were surface applied after seeding. Calcitic lime, lime mud, and wood ash were applied wet each at 3 Mg ha-1 with 30 Mg wet paper mill biosolids ha-1. Repeated applications of paper mill biosolids increased plant and soil metal concentrations after 6 and 9 yr in the order of Cd > Mo (soybean) > Zn > Cu. Liming increased soil pH and Mo availability and decreased Zn and Cd availability. Metals in crop stover responded more positively to applications than those in grains, but the concentrations in plant tissues were generally well below critical values. The Cu/Mo ratio of soybean plants at pH > 6.8 fell below 2:1, however, and may pose a risk for inducing Cu metabolism disorder in ruminants. Results of this study indicate that paper mill biosolids and alkaline residuals, when applied with respect to regulations and soil pH, have a limited effect on metal accumulation in plants and soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disposing of sludge recovered from the effluent stream of pulp and paper mills has traditionally involved landfilling. Shortages in landfill space and increasingly stringent environmental regulations in many countries have forced the industry to seek alternative disposal options. We assessed the feasibility of compost‐recycling a primary pulp and paper mill sludge (PMS) for use as a nutrient‐releasing mulch in plantation forestry. The effects of the composted PMS on the growth, nutrition, water relations, and weed suppression in a 3‐yr‐old plantation of radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don) on an infertile sandy soil in southern Tasmania were assessed. Compost was applied to the surface without incorporation in 0.5‐m wide bands in tree rows at rates of 0, 20, 40, and 60 metric t ha−1 (dry matter). One year after application of compost, the percentage increase in stem diameter was 40 to 66% greater than that achieved in untreated plots, with better growth at the highest compost application rate. Improved growth of radiata pine after application of compost was primarily attributable to a 17 to 37% increase in the concentration of foliar N and to decreased water stress in amended plots. Nitrogen released from the compost was mostly absorbed by plant roots within the first 20 cm of the soil profile, with no significant movement beyond this depth range. Application of compost prepared from PMS to young stands of radiata pine was found to be an acceptable recycling alternative for this material, capable of improving plantation productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastes from animal production and from the paper industry are often used as amendments to agricultural soils. Although data exist on the impacts of raw animal wastes on N2O production, little is known regarding the effects of paper wastes and biosolids from treated animal waste. We measured N2O emissions for two consecutive snow‐free seasons (mid‐May through the end of October) from poorly drained clayey soils under corn (Zea mays L.). Soils were amended with raw pig slurry (PS) or biosolids (four PS‐derived and two paper sludges) and compared with soils with mineral N fertilizer (CaNH4NO3) or without N addition (Control). Area‐based N2O emissions from the mineral N fertilizer (average, 8.2 kg N2O–N ha−1; 4.2% of applied N) were higher (P < 0.001) than emissions from the organic amendments, which ranged from 1.5 to 6.1 kg N2O–N ha−1 (−0.4 to 2.5% of applied N). The N2O emissions were positively correlated with mean soil NO3 availability (calculated as "NO3 exposure"), which was highest with mineral N fertilizer. In plots treated with organic amendments (i.e., biosolids and raw PS), NO3 exposure was negatively correlated to the C:N ratio of the amendment. This resulted in lower N2O emissions from the higher C:N ratio biosolids, especially compared with the low C:N ratio PS. Application of paper sludge or PS‐derived biosolids to these fine‐textured soils, therefore, reduced N2O emissions compared with raw PS and/or mineral N fertilizers (P < 0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a study which examined the impact of using paper mill sludge (PMS) for surface-mine reclamation on runoff water quality and plant growth. The PMS sample was analyzed for solids content, total nitrogen (N), total carbon (C) inorganic C, nitrate-nitrogen, ammonium-nitrogen, and major elements. The chemical properties of the runoff were described. It was observed that the application of PMS at both rates greatly reduced runoff and erosion from the plots, particularly during the 2.5-mo Pre-Plant period when the control plots were bare.

The article presents the effects of a waste paper product on soil phosphorus, carbon, and bulk density. Soil test values for phosphorus have increased due to the applications of manures to agricultural fields in the United States. Because of the application, there is a probability that phosphorus will be in the surface water. The effect will be the degradation of water quality. The danger of phosphorus transport to surface water may be lowered through the application of waste paper on soils with high soil test phosphorus. In Booneville, Arizona, a test was conducted to show the effects of adding waste paper product on soil phosphorus, carbon, and bulk density.

The evaluation and validation of a new low-cost microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPAD) for the determination of reactive phosphate in soil solution is described. This device allows up to 15 replicate measurements of reactive phosphate on one credit card-sized device and requires only a desktop or hand scanner for signal detection and quantification. The proposed method showed a linear response between 0.1 and 1.0 mg L-1 and between 1.0 and 10.0 mg L-1 P with a limit of detection of 0.05 mg L-1 P. When applied to the analysis of soil solution, there was excellent agreement between results obtained using the µPAD and those obtained by a reference spectrophotometric method, as indicated by the following regression equation: [P]µPAD = (0.997 ± 0.005)[P]Reference Method - (0.020 ± 0.008) (R² = 0.997; n = 110). It was found that the ambient temperature storage stability of the µPAD could be extended to 15 d by incorporating a removable polymeric interleaving sheet between the adjacent paper layers of the device. The observed sensitivity of the µPADs to sunlight, which was manifested by photoreduction of the chromogenic molybdate reagent used in the assay, was overcome by preparing the µPADs with an ultraviolet-filtering laminating material. The proposed method is rapid, with a reaction time of only 10 min, is easy to perform, and is suitable for application in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the short- and intermediate-term effects of repeatedly amending sandy soil with paper mill residuals (PMR) and composted PMR in a vegetable rotation in Wisconsin's central sands. Effects of PMR and composted PMR on total soil carbon; Changes in water-holding capacity and plant-available water (PAW); Relationship between total soil carbon and PAW.

The article presents information on the new category of publication called dataset papers to be adopted by the "Journal of Environmental Quality" starting in 2015 issue.

Losses of N from livestock operations due to ammonia (NH3) volatilization from animal wastes is a major source of pollution inEurope and North America, and represents a significant economic loss. Paper products have potential as amendments to reduce NH3 loss because their high carbon (C) and low nitrogen (N) contents would be expected to cause N immobilization. Reduction in NH3 volatilization from liquid hog manure (LHM) by paper bag (PB), filter paper (FP), newsprint (NP), and pulp sludge (PS) added at 2.5 and 5% (fresh LHM weight) was evaluated in a 56 d incubation study. Cumulative NH3 volatilization ranged between 28 and 53% of initial manure N. When the rate increased from 2.5 to 5%, NH3 volatilization was reduced by 47, 40, 37, and 29%, respectively, compared to the control. Increasing the rate increased the amount of C lost from the LHM and reduced the net mineralization of organic N. Hence, the addition of organic amendments appeared to have decreased NH3 volatilization by increasing microbial activity and N immobilization. Liquid hog manure pH was negatively correlated with C loss, indicating that microbial decomposition of paper amendments lowered manure pH but this effect did not appear to be important in controlling NH3 volatilization. Paper lignin content was not correlated with the loss of C, manure pH, or NH3 volatilization, suggesting that the effective ness of paper products in reducing NH3 volatilization is not controlled by lignin content but rather by other more labile components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Ireland, constructed wetland systems are increasingly being used to perform tertiary treatment on municipal waste effluent from small towns and villages located in areas whose receiving waters are deemed sensitive. The bedrock formation in the west of Ireland is primarily karst limestone and where the overburden–soil cover is very shallow, such waters are highly sensitive to pollution sources, as little or no natural attenuation and/or treatment will occur. Constructed wetland technology has been seen to offer a relatively low‐cost alternative to the more conventional tertiary treatment technologies, particularly when dealing with low population numbers in small rural communities. This paper examines the waste treatment performance, in terms of nutrient (P and N) reduction, of a recently constructed surface‐flow wetland system at Williamstown, County Galway, Ireland. Performance evaluation is based on more than two years of water quality and hydrological monitoring data. The N and P mass balances for the wetland indicate that the average percentage reduction over the two‐year study period is 51% for total N and 13% for total P. The primary treatment process in the wetland system for suspended solids (between 84 and 90% reduction), biological oxygen demand (BOD) (on average, 49% reduction), N, and P is the physical settlement of the particulates. However, the formation of algal bloom during the growing season reduces the efficiency of the total P removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research concerning the chemical and physical effects of papermill biosolids application in soils. Details are given outlining the measurements of various soil properties under a high carbon/nitrogen ratio de-inked papermill biosolid annual application over three years. Phenomena analyzed include soil bulk density, growth of hydraulic conductivity, acidity, heavy metal accumulation, and others. Discussion is also given regarding the implications of the study, suggesting utilization of papermill biosolids to enhance soil structural stability.

Erosion and sedimentation pose serious threats to soil and water quality worldwide, including in the U.S. southern Great Plains. To better understand these processes in agricultural landscapes, eight 1.6‐ha watersheds were established and instrumented in 1976 at the USDA‐ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, ∼50 km west of Oklahoma City near El Reno, OK, to measure precipitation and surface runoff quantity and quality. Prior to construction, all watersheds were in native grass, primarily big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman.), little bluestem [Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash], and Indiangrass [Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash]; afterwards, four of the eight watersheds were cropped initially into winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (two conventionally tilled and two minimally or no‐till). Although there have been many peer‐reviewed papers from the Water Resources and Erosion (WRE) watersheds, none included all the datasets collected during the period 1977–1999. The objectives of this paper were (a) to present and discuss all archived historical data, including methods of collection and analysis, (b) to provide summary analyses of the variability in each dataset, and (c) to provide details about how to access these datasets. These datasets are valuable resources to improve modeling in relation to land use and management changes, climate variability, and other environmental factors and may be useful in developing strategies to mitigate environmental impacts of agricultural systems. They are available at https://doi.org/10.15482/USDA.ADC/1518421. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of soil organic matter (SOM) biogeochemistry is critical to meeting the environmental challenges that we face currently with the changing climate. Humic substances obtained from alkaline extractions of soils have played a predominant role in developing our knowledge of SOM chemistry and behavior during the 20th century. Recently, there have been new important developments that, according to some researchers, may be used to argue against the existence of the humic substances in soils as they are presently defined. A debate on the definition and continued use of the term "humic substances" has been taking place at conferences and in the scientific literature. However, because a consensus has not been reached on this important topic, the use of the term "humic substances" in this special issue conforms to the current existing definition of this term. This special issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality includes 10 papers on the subject of "Alkaline Extraction of Soils and Natural Waters to Understand Environmental Processes" and contributes to the ongoing assessment of the role of humic substances in current and future soil, environmental, and ecological studies. The contributed papers are grouped into three broad subject headings: (i) chemistry of humic substances, (ii) humic substances in environmental processes, and (iii) case studies and reviews of humic substances. Continued progress in understanding SOM and C biogeochemistry is essential to achieve long‐term ecological, environmental, and agricultural sustainability through the development of management strategies that conserve soil C and reduce the reliance on chemical inputs for meeting crop nutrient needs. Core Ideas: This section aims to provide a wide‐ranging view of current humic substances research.Are humic substances appropriate proxies for soil organic matter?Better understanding of soil organic matter will enable future environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After its discovery in 1669, phosphorus (P) was named Phosphorus mirabilis ("the miraculous bearer of light"), arising from the chemoluminescence when white P is exposed to the atmosphere. The metaphoric association between P and light resonates through history: from the discovery of P at the start of the Enlightenment period to the vital role of P in photosynthetic capture of light in crop and food production through to new technologies, which seek to capitalize on the interactions between novel ultrathin P allotropes and light, including photocatalysis, solar energy production, and storage. In this introduction to the Journal of Environmental Quality special section "Celebrating the 350th Anniversary of Discovering Phosphorus—For Better or Worse," which brings together 22 paper contributions, we shine a spotlight on the historical and emerging challenges and opportunities in research and understanding of the agricultural, environmental, and societal significance of this vital element. We highlight the role of P in water quality impairment and the variable successes of P mitigation measures. We reflect on the need to improve P use efficiency and on the kaleidoscope of challenges facing efficient use of P. We discuss the requirement to focus on place‐based solutions for developing effective and lasting P management. Finally, we consider how cross‐disciplinary collaborations in P stewardship offer a guiding light for the future, and we explore the glimmers of hope for reconnecting our broken P cycle and the bright new horizons needed to ensure future food, water, and bioresource security for growing global populations. Core Ideas: This special section comprises 22 papers celebrating the 350th anniversary of P discovery.Historical and emerging challenges and opportunities exist in P research and understanding.Authors address P use efficiency and a kaleidoscope of challenges for efficient P use.Focusing on place‐based solutions is required for effective P management.Cross‐disciplinary collaborations in P stewardship are needed for food and water security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Buffer strips between land and waters are widely applied measures in diffuse pollution management, with desired outcomes across other factors. There remains a need for evidence of pollution mitigation and wider habitat and societal benefits across scales. This paper synthesizes a collection of 16 new primary studies and review papers to provide the latest insights into riparian management. We focus on the following areas: (i) diffuse pollution removal efficiency of conventional and saturated buffer strips, (ii) enhancing biodiversity of buffers, (iii) edge‐of‐field technologies for improving nutrient retention, and (iv) potential reuse of nutrients and biomass from buffers. Although some topics represent emerging areas, for other well‐studied topics (e.g., diffuse pollution), it remains that effectiveness of conventional vegetated buffer strips for water quality improvement varies. The collective findings highlight the merits of targeted, designed buffers that support multiple benefits, more efficiently interrupting surface and subsurface contaminant flows while enhancing diversity in surface topography, soil moisture and C, vegetation, and habitat. This synthesis also highlights that despite the significant number of studies on the functioning of riparian buffers, research gaps remain, particularly in relation to (i) the capture and retention of soluble P and N in subsurface flows through buffers, (ii) the utilization of captured nutrients, (iii) the impact of buffer design and management on terrestrial and aquatic habitats and species, and (iv) the effect of buffers (saturated) on greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for pollution swapping. Core Ideas: We present an updated synthesis on riparian management incorporating insights from 16 new papers.Topics cover diffuse pollution, biodiversity, new technologies, and biomass reuse.The synthesis shows a move toward designed elements to improve riparian functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial water quality lies in the nexus of human, animal, and environmental health. Multidisciplinary efforts are under way to understand how microbial water quality can be monitored, predicted, and managed. This special collection of papers in the Journal of Environmental Quality was inspired by the idea of creating a special section containing the panoramic view of advances and challenges in the arena of microbial water quality research. It addresses various facets of health-related microorganism release, transport, and survival in the environment. The papers analyze the spatiotemporal variability of microbial water quality, selection of predictors of the spatiotemporal variations, the role of bottom sediments and biofilms, correlations between concentrations of indicator and pathogenic organisms and the role for risk assessment techniques, use of molecular markers, subsurface microbial transport as related to microbial water quality, antibiotic resistance, real-time monitoring and nowcasting, watershed scale modeling, and monitoring design. Both authors and editors represent international experience in the field. The findings underscore the challenges of observing and understanding microbial water quality; they also suggest promising research directions for improving the knowledge base needed to protect and improve our water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adapting to the anticipated impacts of climate change is a pressing issue facing agriculture, as precipitation and temperature changes are expected to have major effects on agricultural production in many regions of the world. These changes will also affect soil organic matter decomposition and associated stocks of soil organic C (SOC), which have the potential to feed back to climate change and affect agroecosystem resiliency. This special section brings together multiple efforts to assess effects of climate change on SOC stocks around the globe in grassland, pasture, and crop agroecosystems under varying management practices. The overall goal of these efforts is to identify optimum practices to enhance SOC accumulation. In this article, we summarize the highlights of these papers and assess their broader implications for future research to enhance agroecosystem SOC accumulation and resiliency to climate change. Fourteen of the twenty contributions apply dynamic process-based models to assess climate and/or long-term management impacts on SOC stocks, and four papers use statistical SOC models across landscapes or regions. Also included are one meta-analysis and one long-term study. The models applied in this collection performed well when reliable input data were available, underlining the usefulness of modeling efforts to inform management decisions that enhance SOC stocks. Overall, the findings confirm that most agroecosystems have the potential to store SOC through improved management. However, this will be challenging, particularly for dryland agriculture, unless crop yield and crop biomass increase under projected climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the biogeochemistry of nutrients and contaminants in environmental media, their speciation and behavior under different conditions and at multiple scales must be determined. Synchrotron radiation-based X-ray techniques allow scientists to elucidate the underlying mechanisms responsible for nutrient and contaminant mobility, bioavailability, and behavior. The continuous improvement of synchrotron light sources and X-ray beamlines around the world has led to a profound transformation in the field of environmental biogeochemistry and, subsequently, to significant scientific breakthroughs. Following this introductory paper, this special collection includes 10 papers that either present targeted reviews of recent advancements in spectroscopic methods that are applicable to environmental biogeochemistry or describe original research studies conducted on complex environmental samples that have been significantly enhanced by incorporating synchrotron radiation-based X-ray technique(s). We believe that the current focus on improving the speciation of ultra-dilute elements in environmental media through the ongoing optimization of synchrotron technologies (e.g., brighter light sources, improved monochromators, more efficient detectors) will help to significantly push back the frontiers of environmental biogeochemistry research. As many of the relevant techniques produce extremely large datasets, we also identify ongoing improvements in data processing and analysis (e.g., software improvements and harmonization of analytical methods) as a significant requirement for environmental biogeochemists to maximize the information that can be gained using these powerful tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of antibiotic drug residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in agroecosystems has become a significant area of research in recent years and is a growing public health concern. While antibiotics are used in both human medicine and agricultural practices, the majority of their use occurs in animal production where historically they have been used for growth promotion, in addition to the prevention and treatment of disease. The widespread use of antibiotics and the application of animal wastes to agricultural lands play major roles in the introduction of antibiotic-related contamination into the environment. Overt toxicity in organisms directly exposed to antibiotics in agroecosystems is typically not a major concern because environmental concentrations are generally lower than therapeutic doses. However, the impacts of introducing antibiotic contaminants into the environment are unknown, and concerns have been raised about the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems. Despite increased research focused on the occurrence and fate of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance over the past decade, standard methods and practices for analyzing environmental samples are limited and future research needs are becoming evident. To highlight and address these issues in detail, this special collection of papers was developed with a framework of five core review papers that address the (i) overall state of science of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems using a causal model, (ii) chemical analysis of antibiotics found in the environment, (iii) need for background and baseline data for studies of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a decision-making tool to assist in designing research studies, as well as (iv) culture- and (v) molecular-based methods for analyzing antibiotic resistance in the environment. With a focus on the core review papers, this introduction summarizes the current state of science for analyzing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems, discusses current knowledge gaps, and develops future research priorities. This introduction also contains a glossary of terms used in the core reivew papers of this special section. The purpose of the glossary is to provide a common terminology that clearly characterizes the concepts shared throughout the narratives of each review paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large tracts of abandoned urban land, resulting from the deindustrialization of metropolitan areas, are generating a renewed interest among city planners and community organizations envisioning the productive use of this land not only to produce fresh food but to effectively manage stormwater and mitigate the impact of urban heat islands. Healthy and productive soils are paramount to meet these objectives. However, these urban lands are often severely degraded due to anthropogenic activities and are generally contaminated with priority pollutants, especially heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Characterizing these degraded and contaminated soils and making them productive again to restore the required ecosystem services was the theme of the "Soil in the City- 2014" conference organized by W-2170 Committee (USDA's Sponsored Multi-State Research Project: Soil-Based Use of Residuals, Wastewater, & Reclaimed Water). This special section of Journal of Environmental Quality comprises 12 targeted papers authored by conference participants to make available much needed information about the characteristics of urban soils. Innovative ways to mitigate the risks from pollutants and to improve the soil quality using local resources are discussed. Such practices include the use of composts and biosolids to grow healthy foods, reclaim brownfields, manage stormwater, and improve the overall ecosystem functioning of urban soils. These papers provide a needed resource for educating policymakers, practitioners, and the general public about using locally available resources to restore fertility, productivity, and ecosystem functioning of degraded urban land to revitalize metropolitan areas for improving the overall quality of life for a large segment of a rapidly growing urban population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic nitrogen fertilizer has been a double-edged sword, greatly improving human nutrition during the 20th century but also posing major human health and environmental challenges for the 21st century. In August 2013, about 160 agronomists, scientists, extension agents, crop advisors, economists, social scientists, farmers, representatives of regulatory agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other agricultural experts gathered to discuss the vexing challenge of how to produce more food to nourish a growing population while minimizing pollution to the environment. This collection of 14 papers authored by conference participants provides a much needed analysis of the many technical, economic, and social impediments to improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in crop and animal production systems.These papers demonstrate that the goals of producing more food with low pollution (Mo Fo Lo Po) will not be achieved by technological developments alone but will also require policies that recognize the economic and social factors affecting farmer decision-making. Take-home lessons from this extraordinary interdisciplinary effort include the need (i) to develop partnerships among private and public sectors to demonstrate the most current, economically feasible, best management NUE practices at local and regional scales; (ii) to improve continuing education to private sector retailers and crop advisers; (iii) to tie nutrient management to performance-based indicators on the farm and in the downwind and downstream environment; and (iv) to restore investments in research, education, extension, and human resources that are essential for developing the interdisciplinary knowledge and innovative skills needed to achieve agricultural sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many challenges currently facing agriculture require long-term data on landscape-scale hydrologie responses to weather, such as from the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW), located in northeastern Missouri, USA. This watershed is prone to surface runoff despite shallow slopes, as a result of a significant smectitic clay layer 30 to 50 cm deep that restricts downward flow of water and gives rise to a periodic perched water table. This paper is the first in a series that documents the database developed from GCEW. The objectives of this paper are to (i) establish the context of long-term data and the federal infrastructure that provides it, (ii) describe the GCEW/Central Mississippi River Basin (CMRB) establishment and the geophysical and anthropogenic context, (iii) summarize in brief the collected research results published using data from within GCEW, (iv) describe the series of papers this work introduces, and (v) identify knowledge gaps and research needs. The rationale for the collection derives from converging trends in data from long-term research, integration of multiple disciplines, and increasing public awareness of increasingly larger problems. The outcome of those trends includes being selected as the CMRB site in the USDA-ARS Long-Term Agro-Ecosystem Research (LTAR) network. Research needs include quantifying watershed scale fluxes of N, P, K, sediment, and energy, accounting for fluxes involving forest, livestock, and anthropogenic sources, scaling from near-term point-scale results to increasingly long and broad scales, and considering whole-system interactions. This special section informs the scientific community about this database and provides support for its future use in research to solve natural resource problems important to US agricultural, environmental, and science policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite decades of effort toward reducing nitrogen and phosphorus flux to Chesapeake Bay, water‐quality and ecological responses in surface waters have been mixed. Recent research, however, provides useful insight into multiple factors complicating the understanding of nutrient trends in bay tributaries, which we review in this paper, as we approach a 2025 total maximum daily load (TMDL) management deadline. Improvements in water quality in many streams are attributable to management actions that reduced point sources and atmospheric nitrogen deposition and to changes in climate. Nutrient reductions expected from management actions, however, have not been fully realized in watershed streams. Nitrogen from urban nonpoint sources has declined, although water‐quality responses to urbanization in individual streams vary depending on predevelopment land use. Evolving agriculture, the largest watershed source of nutrients, has likely contributed to local nutrient trends but has not affected substantial changes in flux to the bay. Changing average nitrogen yields from farmland underlain by carbonate rocks, however, may suggest future trends in other areas under similar management, climatic, or other influences, although drivers of these changes remain unclear. Regardless of upstream trends, phosphorus flux to the bay from its largest tributary has increased due to sediment infill in the Conowingo Reservoir. In general, recent research emphasizes the utility of input reductions over attempts to manage nutrient fate and transport at limiting nutrients in surface waters. Ongoing research opportunities include evaluating effects of climate change and conservation practices over time and space and developing tools to disentangle and evaluate multiple influences on regional water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging technologies and practices allow wastewater treatment facilities to recover valuable resources such as nutrients, energy, and recycled water during the wastewater treatment process. The ability to recover resources from wastewater introduces new tradeoffs in both water quality and quantity management. In particular, the fact that communities can obtain revenue from the sale of resources that are recovered from wastewater may help internalize the externalities of insufficient wastewater treatment. In this paper, we develop a theoretical model to characterize these tradeoffs within a hydroeconomic framework of optimal wastewater treatment with resource recovery, which is particularly well suited for applications in nutrient management. We use this model to derive analytical results that describe the economically optimal level of deployment, accounting for the fact that the technology or practice is costly and it generates benefits in the form of revenue from the recovered resource, as well as other societal benefits, such as improvements in human and ecosystem health. In addition, we present two examples using specific functional forms for treatment costs to demonstrate how the model can be applied to obtain general principles regarding societally optimal deployment. Our hydroeconomic framework can be used to explore the socioeconomic implications of strategies that target deployment of wastewater treatment with resource recovery, especially nutrients, at multiple scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient pollution is considered a wicked problem because of its many significant economic, social, and environmental impacts that are caused by multiple pollutants originating from a variety of sources and pathways that exist across different temporal and spatial scales. Further adding to the difficulty in managing nutrient pollution is that it is a global, rural, and urban problem. A systems approach can improve nutrient management by incorporating technological, environmental, and societal considerations. This approach can consider valuation of monetized and nonmonetized co‐benefits and the inherent consequences that make up a nutrient management program. In this introduction to a special collection of papers on nutrient pollution, we describe several systems frameworks that can be used to support nutrient management and evaluation of system performance as it relates to impacts, then highlight several attributes and barriers of nutrient management that point to the need for a systems framework, and conclude with thoughts on implementing systems approaches to nutrient management with effective community engagement and use of new technologies. This special collection presents results from a USEPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) initiative to advance solutions to nutrient pollution through innovative and sustainable research and demonstration projects for nutrient management based on a systems approach. These studies evaluate several promising nutrient control technologies for stormwater or domestic wastewater, investigate the effects of agricultural conservation practices and stream restoration strategies on nutrient loads, and discuss several challenges and opportunities—social, policy, institutional, and financial considerations—that can accelerate adoption of reliable technologies to achieve system‐level outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is central to life and earth processes, connecting physical, biological, chemical, ecological, and economic forces across the landscape. The vast scope of hydrologic sciences requires research efforts worldwide and across a wide range of disciplines. While hydrologic processes and scientific investigations related to sustainable agricultural systems are based on universal principles, research to understand processes and evaluate management practices is often site-specific to achieve a critical mass of expertise and research infrastructure to address spatially, temporally, and ecologically complex systems. In the face of dynamic climate, market, and policy environments, long-term research is required to understand and predict risks and possible outcomes of alternative scenarios. This special section describes the USDA-ARS's long-term research (1961 to present) in the Upper Washita River basin of Oklahoma. Data papers document datasets in detail (weather, hydrology, physiography, land cover, and sediment and nutrient water quality), and associated research papers present analyses based on those data. This living history of research is presented to engage collaborative scientists across institutions and disciplines to further explore complex, interactive processes and systems. Application of scientific understanding to resolve pressing challenges to agriculture while enhancing resilience of linked land and human systems will require complex research approaches. Research areas that this watershed research program continues to address include: resilience to current and future climate pressures; sources, fate, and transport of contaminants at a watershed scale; linked atmospheric-surface-subsurface hydrologic processes; high spatiotemporal resolution analyses of linked hydrologic processes; and multiple-objective decision making across linked farm to watershed scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model has emerged as one of the most widely used water quality watershed- and river basin--scale models worldwide, applied extensively for a broad range of hydrologic and/or environmental problems. The international use of SWAT can be attributed to its flexibility in addressing water resource problems, extensive networking via dozens of training workshops and the several international conferences that have been held during the past decade, comprehensive online documentation and supporting software, and an open source code that can be adapted by model users for specific application needs. he catalyst for this special collection of papers was the 2011 International SWAT Conference & Workshops held in Toledo, Spain, which featured over 160 scientific presentations representing SWAT applications in 37 countries. This special collection presents 22 specific SWAT-related studies, most of which were presented at the 2011 SWAT Conference; it represents SWAT applications on five different continents, with the majority of studies being conducted in Europe and North America. The papers cover a variety of topics, including hydrologic testing at a wide range of watershed scales, transport of pollutants in northern European lowland watersheds, data input and routing method effects on sediment transport, development and testing of potential new model algorithms, and description and testing of supporting software. In this introduction to the special section, we provide a synthesis of these studies within four main categories: (i) hydrologic foundations, (ii) sediment transport and routing analyses, (iii) nutrient and pesticide transport, and (iv) scenario analyses. We conclude with a brief summary of key SWAT research and development needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regulatory initiatives in the United States have created the impetus to reassess application methods for metam sodium (sodium N-methyldithiocarbamate), a methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) generator, to reduce flux to the atmosphere. his paper compares flux rates in the years 1990 through 2002 with flux rates based on four studies conducted during the period 2008 through 2010 in California, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Washington using current shank-injection/compaction methods. Up to a 100-fold reduction in peak flux rates and total loss of MITC have been observed. A combination of the following factors led to these reductions in flux: soil moisture goals set at 70% of the field water holding capacity; improved design of shank-injection systems to break up the voids after injection; effective shank compaction to further reduce volatilization; and the use of water sealing, where applicable. These refinements in the application methods for metam sodium provide a means to merge environmental and agricultural goals in the United States and in other countries that use metam sodium. his paper documents the reduced atmospheric emissions of MITC under commercial production conditions when applied using good agricultural practices. his research also shows that MITC flux can be effectively managed without the use of high barrier tarp material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban agriculture, though often difficult to define, is an emerging sector of local food economies in the United States. Although urban and agricultural landscapes are often integrated in countries around the world, the establishment of mid- to large-scale food production in the U.S. urban ecosystem is a relatively new development. Many of the urban agricultural projects in the United States have emerged from social movements and nonprofit organizations focused on urban renewal, education, job training, community development, and sustainability initiatives. Although these social initiatives have traction, critical knowledge gaps exist regarding the science of food production in urban ecosystems. Developing a science-based approach to urban agriculture is essential to the economic and environmental sustainability of the movement. This paper reviews abiotic environmental factors influencing urban cropping systems, including soil contamination and remediation; atmospheric pollutants and altered climatic conditions; and water management, sources, and safety. This review paper seeks to characterize the limited state of the science on urban agricultural systems and identify future research questions most relevant to urban farmers, land-use planners, and environmental consultants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of bedding material (corn stover, soybean stover, wheat straw, switchgrass, wood chips, wood shavings, corn cobs, and shredded paper) on concentration of odorous volatile organic compounds (VOC) in bedded pack material and to determine the effect of bedding material on the levels of total Escherichia coli in laboratory‐scaled bedded manure packs. Four bedded packs of each bedding material were maintained for two 6‐wk periods (N = 64). Straight‐ and branched‐chained fatty acids and aromatic compounds were measured. Corn cob bedding had the highest concentration of odorous VOC, and wood shavings had the lowest (P < 0.01). Calculated odor activity values were highest for corn cob bedding and shredded paper and lowest for wood shavings (P < 0.01). Escherichia coli concentrations decreased from week to week for all treatments from Week 2 to Week 6. At Week 6, E. coli levels in bedded packs with shredded paper were higher (P < 0.05) than bedded packs containing wood shavings, wood chips, or switchgrass (P < 0.05). At Weeks 4, 5, and 6, E. coli concentrations in bedded packs with wood shavings were lower (P < 0.05) than bedded packs of all treatments except wood chips. Results of this study indicate that ground corn cobs or shredded paper may increase odor production and shredded paper may increase E. coli when used in deep‐bedded livestock facilities, whereas wood shavings may have the least impact on air quality and E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery and development of phosphorus (P) and P fertilizers provide context for current management conventions. Average crop yields were stagnant before the Green Revolution but have steadily increased since. This, along with conventional P management, has resulted in widely depleting soil P levels. Improved technology and management are needed to meet the increasing P demand. Modern hybrids and cultivars have different P demand and uptake patterns that require changes in conventional P fertilizer placement and timing. Phosphorus fertilizer recommendations based on soil analysis remains valid, but evidence suggests a need for recalibrating soil test P (STP) critical levels (the STP concentration at which a response to P fertilizer would not be expected) and P fertilizer rates to accommodate high‐yield scenarios. Considering higher P fertilizer rates as a single solution poses environmental challenges, highlighting the need for improved P use efficiency (PUE). Phosphorus fertilization approaches that have the potential to improve PUE and enable high yields include crop‐specific precision placement of P, informed timing of P fertilizers, and new enhanced efficiency sources of P fertilizer. This paper examines these management approaches from historical, production, and environmental perspectives in modern cropping systems. Core Ideas: History of P fertilization illuminates traditional soil P management and needed changes.Recalibration of STP and P fertilizer recommendations are needed to match increasing yield and rates of P uptake.Environmental concerns and diminishing P supply necessitate improvement in P use efficiency.Placement and timing are improved through understanding of variable rooting patterns.Enhanced efficiency P fertilizers can be effective if applied correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil phosphorus (P) cycling in agroecosystems is highly complex, with many chemical, physical, and biological processes affecting the availability of P to plants. Traditionally, P fertilizer recommendations have been made using an insurance‐based approach, which has resulted in the accumulation of P in many intensively managed agricultural soils worldwide and contributed to the widespread water quality issue of eutrophication. To mitigate further environmental degradation and because future P fertilizer supplies are threatened due to finite phosphate rock resources and associated geopolitical and quality issues, there is an immediate need to increase P use efficiency (PUE) in agroecosystems. Through cultivar selection and improved cropping system design, contemporary research suggests that sufficient crop yields could be maintained at reduced soil test P (STP) concentrations. In addition, more efficient P cycling at the field scale can be achieved through agroecosystem management that increases soil organic matter and organic P mineralization and optimizes arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) symbioses. This review paper provides a perspective on how agriculture has the potential to utilize plant and microbial traits to improve PUE at the field scale and accordingly, maintain crop yields at lower STP concentrations. It also links with the need to tighten the P cycle at the regional scale, including a discussion of P recovery and recycling technologies, with a particular focus on the use of struvite as a recycled P fertilizer. Guidance on directions for future research is provided. Core Ideas: There is an urgent need to increase P use efficiency in agroecosystems.Crop yields could be maintained at lower than recommended soil test P concentrations.Both the quantity and quality of organic matter influence P availability.Further research on ability of organic P to supply P to crops is needed.Struvite has the potential to fill an important niche in P recycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of highly concentrated phosphorus (P) fertilizers, such as triple superphosphate, by the Tennessee Valley Authority helped mark the beginning of a revolution in the way we manage food crop nutrition. Since then, scientists, with the help of farmers, have made great advancements in the understanding of P fate and transport across many environments but largely have failed to produce a new generation of products and/or application techniques that are widely accepted and that vastly improve plant acquisition efficiency. Under certain conditions, important advancements have been made. For example, applying liquid formulations of phosphates in lieu of dry granules in some highly calcareous soils has dramatically reduced precipitation as sparingly soluble calcium phosphate minerals, but other attempts, such as the co‐application of humic substances, sorption to layered double hydroxides, or use of nanoparticles, have not generated the kind of results necessary to continue economically increasing crop yields without further environmental cost. New sources of fertility will need to be affordable to produce, transport, and furnish P to soil solution in a manner well synchronized with crop demand. This paper provides a review of recent literature on cutting‐edge phosphorus fertilizer technology. The goal is that this synthesis will be used as a starting point from which a larger discussion on responsible nutrient management and increased P use efficiency research can be built. Core Ideas: Reaction with some soil constituents limits P availability and crop yield.A variety of approaches to improve fertilizer use efficiency are being explored.Ideally, P availability should be well synchronized to crop demand.More innovation along with mechanistic and field‐scale trials is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold agricultural regions are important sites of global food production. This has contributed to widespread water quality degradation influenced by processes and hydrologic pathways that differ from warm region analogues. In cold regions, snowmelt is often a dominant period of nutrient loss. Freeze–thaw processes contribute to nutrient mobilization. Frozen ground can limit infiltration and interaction with soils, and minimal nutrient uptake during the nongrowing season may govern nutrient export from agricultural catchments. This paper reviews agronomic, biogeochemical, and hydrological characteristics of cold agricultural regions and synthesizes findings of 23 studies that are published in this special section, which provide new insights into nutrient cycling and hydrochemical processes, model developments, and the efficacy of different potentially beneficial management practices (BMPs) across varied cold regions. Growing evidence suggests the need to redefine optimum soil phosphorus levels and input regimes in cold regions to allow achievement of water quality targets while still supporting strong agricultural productivity. Practices should be considered through a regional and site‐specific lens, due to potential interactions between climate, hydrology, vegetation, and soils, which influence the efficacy of nutrient, crop, water, and riparian buffer management. This leads to differing suitability of BMPs across varied cold agricultural regions. We propose a systematic approach ("CUPCAKE"), to achieve water quality objectives in variable and changing climates, which combines nutrient transport process Conceptualization, Understanding BMP functions, Predicting effects of variability and change, Consideration of producer input and agronomic and environmental tradeoffs, practice Adaptation, Knowledge mobilization, and Evaluation of water quality improvement. Core Ideas: Processes and controls on nutrient export in cold regions differ from warmer zones.The nongrowing season is a key period of phosphorus and nitrogen loss.Management practices show varied efficacy across different cold regions.Nutrient mitigation should consider cold region processes and local context.Nutrient management practices merit revisiting in cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents annual reports of the Journal of Environmental Quality (JEQ) in the meeting held at San Diego, CA on January 9, 2019. Topics include summary of promotion and public relations through science communication department; offers published papers, total pages, and article length for year 2018 compared with previous volumes; and exhibit the number of submissions and location of corresponding author in 2018.

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) plays a fundamental role in biological and chemical processes within the benthic layer of a water body. Land use, including agricultural land use, can affect SOD. However, a wide variety of approaches have been used for in situ SOD chamber construction and data collection, and modelers frequently use SOD values from the literature, without consideration of the differences in methods. Here, we review existing literature on SOD chambers (32 papers, 1974–2016), compare the differences between in situ and laboratory methods, evaluate the effects of in situ chamber mixing, and discuss common challenges associated with deployment. A cohesive in situ sealed chamber design for use with a multiparameter water‐quality instrument is presented as an effort toward standardizing SOD methodology, an important consideration that may facilitate integration of SOD data sets among multiple research efforts. Core Ideas: Standardizing sediment oxygen demand (SOD) methodology will improve comparability of datasets.High chamber velocities lead to resuspension of sediment; low velocities undervalue SOD.Anomalies in dissolved oxygen can be identified by recording turbidity within the SOD chamber.Natural mixing creates a representative regime; artificial pumping creates the most consistent.If chambers are not mixed, stratification can occur, causing an underestimate of SOD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of freshwater resources and loss of freshwater biodiversity by anthropogenic activities, including agriculture, are of major global concern. Together with diffuse pollutants, point sources, such as where cattle have direct access to riparian margins and watercourses, can potentially present significant environmental challenges. These can include impacts on stream morphology, increased sedimentation, nutrient additions, microbial contamination, and impacts on aquatic biota. Mitigation measures aimed at reducing these frequently include reducing the amount of time cattle spend in riparian margins and watercourses. This is often accomplished through the provision of an alternative water supply and grazing management, or even cattle exclusion measures. Although a number of studies refer to potential negative impacts, there has been little attempt to review previous research on this topic. The key aim of this paper is to collate and review these disparate studies, as well as those relating to the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Although it is difficult to draw generalizations from studies due to the inherent variability between and within catchments, evidence pertaining to impacts in relation to sedimentation, pathogens, and riparian margin vegetation were strong. Conclusions in relation to impacts on stream morphology and nutrient parameters were less clear, whereas studies on responses of macroinvertebrate communities were particularly variable, with differences due to cattle access difficult to separate from catchment scale effects. A greater understanding of the impact of cattle access on watercourses under varying conditions will help inform policymakers on the cost effectiveness of existing management criteria and will help in revising existing measures. Core Ideas: It has been hypothesized that direct cattle access to waterways can result in impacts to streams.Little effort has been made to collate information on the efficacy of mitigation measures.Divergent results on the effect of cattle access on various parameters highlight the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar application is considered to be an emerging strategy to improve soil ecosystem services. However, implications of such application on water quality parameters have not been widely discussed. This paper synthesizes the state‐of‐the‐art research on biochar effects on water erosion, nitrate leaching, and other sources of water pollution. Literature indicates that in general, biochar application reduces runoff by 5 to 50% and soil loss by 11 to 78%, suggesting that it can be effective at reducing water erosion, but the magnitude of erosion reduction is highly variable. Co‐application of biochar with other organic amendments (i.e., animal manure, compost) appears to be more effective at reducing water erosion than biochar alone. A main mechanism by which biochar can reduce water erosion is by improving soil properties (i.e., organic C, hydraulic conductivity, aggregate stability), which affect soil erodibility. This review also indicates that biochar reduces nitrate leaching, in most cases by 2 to 88%, but has mixed effect on phosphate and dissolved C leaching. Additionally, biochar effectively filters urban runoff, adsorbs pollutants, and reduces pesticides losses. Biochar feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, application amount, time after application, and co‐application with other amendments affect biochar impacts on water quality. Biochar erosion and potential reduction in nutrient and pesticide use efficiency due to the strong adsorption are concerns that deserve consideration. Overall, biochar application has the potential to reduce water erosion, nitrate leaching, pesticide losses, and other pollutant losses, but more field‐scale data are needed to better discern the extent to which biochar can improve water quality. Core Ideas: Biochar can reduce water erosion, but the magnitude of reduction is variable.Biochar combined with other organic amendments can reduce water erosion more than biochar alone.Biochar can reduce nitrate leaching but has mixed effects on phosphate and dissolved C leaching.Biochar filters urban runoff, adsorbs organic pollutants, and reduces pesticide losses.More field data on the effectiveness of biochar for improving water quality are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]