C. Baffaut - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by C. Baffaut

Research paper thumbnail of Watershed-Scale Evaluation of Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices in the Goodwater Creek Watershed

… Soil and Water …, 2006

... Objective 2: Determine by statistical analyses whether the soil conservation practices implem... more ... Objective 2: Determine by statistical analyses whether the soil conservation practices implemented in the watershed explain these trends. Dr. Claire Baffaut FAPRI 101 Park Deville Drive Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 882-1251 ... Amanda Bockhold 254 Ag. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Incorporating Pesticide Transport into the WEPP Model for Mulch Tillage and No Tillage Plots with an Underlying Claypan Soil

Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2013

ABSTRACT Best management practice (BMP) tools that provide site-specific water quality assessment... more ABSTRACT Best management practice (BMP) tools that provide site-specific water quality assessment with limited input data are needed to assist soil and water managers as they work to target BMP placement and reduce dissolved and sediment bound pesticide loss from agricultural landscapes. BMP effectiveness largely depends on accurate characterization of dominant regional hydrologic processes. However, most BMP tools are region specific in their characterization of hydrology (e.g., most models capture either infiltration excess runoff or saturation excess runoff but cannot predict a combination of the two). In this study, we develop and couple a pesticide transport module with the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model (v2012.8). The WEPP model realistically simulates infiltration excess and saturation excess runoff as well as dissolved pesticide loss from hillslopes in the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW) in northeastern Missouri. Simulated runoff and dissolved atrazine concentrations were compared to observed data from mulch till (MT) and no till (NT) plots in the GCEW. The timing of runoff predicted by WEPP coincided well with observed events and simulated flow magnitudes were between minimum and maximum observations for replicate plots. Event-based Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiencies (NSE) are 0.84 and 0.79 for MT and NT runoff simulations, respectively. Both simulations and observations showed little difference in total growing season (planting to harvest) runoff between MT and NT. Event-based dissolved atrazine loads are well predicted for MT and NT with NSEs of 0.59 and 0.71, respectively. Consistent with observations, seasonal NT atrazine losses were greater than losses from MT plots. While this study only focuses on dissolved pesticide transport from the base of hillslopes using MT and NT conservation practices, the WEPP pesticide transport module is capable of predicting both dissolved and sediment bound pesticide loss from each section of the hillslope (i.e., top-slope, mid-slope, and toe-slope) for a wide range of BMPs. However, further field data are needed to evaluate these aspects of the model.

Research paper thumbnail of A decade of conservation effects assessment research by the USDA Agricultural Research Service: Progress overview and future outlook

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Conservation effects on soil quality indicators in the Missouri Salt River Basin

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2015

The Salt River Basin in the Central Claypan Region of Missouri was selected as a benchmark waters... more The Salt River Basin in the Central Claypan Region of Missouri was selected as a benchmark watershed to assess long-term effects of conservation practices on soil quality as part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project and the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network. Fifteen management systems, including annual crop rotations with varying nutrient management, cover crop, and tillage (i.e., no-till, mulch-till, and intensive tillage) practices as well as perennial systems with legumes and/or cool-and warm-season grasses managed within Conservation Reserve Program, prairie restoration, or working grassland (i.e., pasture, forage, and hay production) systems were evaluated. Soil samples were collected in 2008 from surface (0-5 cm) and subsurface (5-15 cm) layers and analyzed for 11 biological, physical, chemical, and nutrient soil quality indicators (SQI). An overall soil quality index was quantified using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Soil quality index (SQI) values varied with soil functional group and depth. Management systems with permanent, vegetative cover and living roots in the surface layer had the highest SMAF scores, ranging from 88 to 98 of the soils inherent potential. Annual cropping systems scored from 76 to 87% with: no-till plus cover crops (87.4%) = mulch-till with cover crops (87.4%) > no-till without cover crops (84.5 84.9%) > mulch-till or intensive tillage without cover crops (76.0 83.9%). Biological and physical indicators were the most influential factors affecting all SQI values. Biological soil quality under the diversified no-till system with cover crops was 11% greater than under notill alone, and 20% greater than mulch-till without cover crops. In the subsurface layer, no-till cropping

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling Flow and Pollutant Transport in a Karst Watershed with SWAT

Transactions of the ASABE, 2009

Karst hydrology is characterized by multiple springs, sinkholes, and losing streams resulting fro... more Karst hydrology is characterized by multiple springs, sinkholes, and losing streams resulting from acidic water percolating through limestone. These features provide direct connections between surface water and groundwater and increase the risk of groundwater, spring, and stream contamination. Anthropogenic activities (agriculture, tourism, urban and residential areas) accentuate the contamination potentials. The objectives of this article are to present a modification of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (version 2005) that allows faster percolation through the soil substrate and recharge of the aquifer. This addition was necessary to simulate quick movement of water through vertical conduits that characterize karst topography. The model was calibrated for the James River basin, a large watershed (3,600 km 2 ) in southwest Missouri. Losing streams were simulated by specifying high soil conductivities in the channels, and sinkholes were simulated as ponds with a high hydraulic conductivity at the bottom. Results indicated that the changes improved the partition of stream flow between surface and return flow. Water quality results indicated that the SWAT model can be used to simulate the frequency of occurrence of pollutant concentrations and daily loads. This case study highlights the possibilities and limitations in modeling flow and water pollutant movement in a karst watershed.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Cligen Parameters on Wepp-predicted Average Annual Soil Loss

Transactions of the ASAE, 1996

Research paper thumbnail of EPIC and APEX: Model Use, Calibration, and Validation

Transactions of the ASABE, 2012

The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) and Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender... more The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) and Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) models have been developed to assess a wide variety of agricultural water resource, water quality, and other environmental problems. The EPIC model is designed to be applied at the field scale. APEX is a direct extension of EPIC that can also be applied to fields as well as to more complex multi-subarea landscapes, whole farms, and watersheds. This article describes key model components of EPIC and APEX, including different options for simulating surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil erosion, and other processes. Field-scale calibration and validation procedures are then described for both models, with an emphasis on important calibration parameters and guidance regarding logical sequences of calibration steps. Additional calibration and validation guidance is further provided for applications of APEX at the landscape and watershed scales. Two calibration and validation case studies are presented: one for an EPIC plot study and one for an APEX study of a 35 ha field in north-central Missouri. Research and development needs for both models are also discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Wepp Watershed Model: III. Comparisons to Measured Data from Small Watersheds

Transactions of the ASAE, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of SWATing your APEX model: a how-to from the trenches

Research paper thumbnail of The Weppwatershed Model: I. Hydrology and Erosion

Transactions of the ASAE, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Production and conservation results from a decade-long field-scale precision agriculture system

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of WEPP and USLE soil loss estimates

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Implications of Increased Bioenergy Production on Midwest Soil Landscapes

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Production and Ecosystem Function for Grain and Bioenergy Feedstock Crops Across Variable Soil Landscapes

Research paper thumbnail of Production and Conservation Outcomes of a Decade-Long Field-Scale Precision Agriculture System

Research paper thumbnail of Watershed Model Channel Hydrology and Erosion Processes, Chapter 13

Research paper thumbnail of The Wepp Watershed Model: Ii. Sensitivity Analysis to Watershed Discretization and Channel Input Parameters

Research paper thumbnail of Wepp Watershed Model Technology

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an Expert System for the Analysis of Urban Drainage Using SWMM (Storm Water Management Model)

Research paper thumbnail of Simulating Hydrology and Water Quality of a Claypan Soil Watershed

2005 Tampa, FL July 17-20, 2005, 2005

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was the primary model selected for use in the Con... more The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was the primary model selected for use in the Conservation Effects Assessment Project-Watershed Assessment Study (CEAP-WAS). In this paper, the performance of SWAT in simulating streamflow, sediment yield, and atrazine loss from Goodwater Creek, a 72 km 2 watershed located in the claypan soil region of north-central Missouri, was evaluated. When the model was run using default parameters, it overestimated average annual streamflow by 32%, underestimated average annual sediment yield by 23%, and overestimated average annual atrazine loss by 8%. The Nash-Sutctliff coefficient (E NS ) values were < 0.35 when annual estimated and measured values were compared. The model was calibrated for streamflow using data collected from 1992 through 1996. After calibration, the difference between measured and estimated average annual flow was < 5%, and the E NS values for annual and monthly simulation results were 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. After calibration, the model did not perform well 269-429-0300 (2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 USA).

Research paper thumbnail of Watershed-Scale Evaluation of Selected Soil and Water Conservation Practices in the Goodwater Creek Watershed

… Soil and Water …, 2006

... Objective 2: Determine by statistical analyses whether the soil conservation practices implem... more ... Objective 2: Determine by statistical analyses whether the soil conservation practices implemented in the watershed explain these trends. Dr. Claire Baffaut FAPRI 101 Park Deville Drive Columbia, MO 65203 (573) 882-1251 ... Amanda Bockhold 254 Ag. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Incorporating Pesticide Transport into the WEPP Model for Mulch Tillage and No Tillage Plots with an Underlying Claypan Soil

Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2013

ABSTRACT Best management practice (BMP) tools that provide site-specific water quality assessment... more ABSTRACT Best management practice (BMP) tools that provide site-specific water quality assessment with limited input data are needed to assist soil and water managers as they work to target BMP placement and reduce dissolved and sediment bound pesticide loss from agricultural landscapes. BMP effectiveness largely depends on accurate characterization of dominant regional hydrologic processes. However, most BMP tools are region specific in their characterization of hydrology (e.g., most models capture either infiltration excess runoff or saturation excess runoff but cannot predict a combination of the two). In this study, we develop and couple a pesticide transport module with the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model (v2012.8). The WEPP model realistically simulates infiltration excess and saturation excess runoff as well as dissolved pesticide loss from hillslopes in the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW) in northeastern Missouri. Simulated runoff and dissolved atrazine concentrations were compared to observed data from mulch till (MT) and no till (NT) plots in the GCEW. The timing of runoff predicted by WEPP coincided well with observed events and simulated flow magnitudes were between minimum and maximum observations for replicate plots. Event-based Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiencies (NSE) are 0.84 and 0.79 for MT and NT runoff simulations, respectively. Both simulations and observations showed little difference in total growing season (planting to harvest) runoff between MT and NT. Event-based dissolved atrazine loads are well predicted for MT and NT with NSEs of 0.59 and 0.71, respectively. Consistent with observations, seasonal NT atrazine losses were greater than losses from MT plots. While this study only focuses on dissolved pesticide transport from the base of hillslopes using MT and NT conservation practices, the WEPP pesticide transport module is capable of predicting both dissolved and sediment bound pesticide loss from each section of the hillslope (i.e., top-slope, mid-slope, and toe-slope) for a wide range of BMPs. However, further field data are needed to evaluate these aspects of the model.

Research paper thumbnail of A decade of conservation effects assessment research by the USDA Agricultural Research Service: Progress overview and future outlook

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Conservation effects on soil quality indicators in the Missouri Salt River Basin

Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 2015

The Salt River Basin in the Central Claypan Region of Missouri was selected as a benchmark waters... more The Salt River Basin in the Central Claypan Region of Missouri was selected as a benchmark watershed to assess long-term effects of conservation practices on soil quality as part of the Conservation Effects Assessment Project and the Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network. Fifteen management systems, including annual crop rotations with varying nutrient management, cover crop, and tillage (i.e., no-till, mulch-till, and intensive tillage) practices as well as perennial systems with legumes and/or cool-and warm-season grasses managed within Conservation Reserve Program, prairie restoration, or working grassland (i.e., pasture, forage, and hay production) systems were evaluated. Soil samples were collected in 2008 from surface (0-5 cm) and subsurface (5-15 cm) layers and analyzed for 11 biological, physical, chemical, and nutrient soil quality indicators (SQI). An overall soil quality index was quantified using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF). Soil quality index (SQI) values varied with soil functional group and depth. Management systems with permanent, vegetative cover and living roots in the surface layer had the highest SMAF scores, ranging from 88 to 98 of the soils inherent potential. Annual cropping systems scored from 76 to 87% with: no-till plus cover crops (87.4%) = mulch-till with cover crops (87.4%) > no-till without cover crops (84.5 84.9%) > mulch-till or intensive tillage without cover crops (76.0 83.9%). Biological and physical indicators were the most influential factors affecting all SQI values. Biological soil quality under the diversified no-till system with cover crops was 11% greater than under notill alone, and 20% greater than mulch-till without cover crops. In the subsurface layer, no-till cropping

Research paper thumbnail of Modeling Flow and Pollutant Transport in a Karst Watershed with SWAT

Transactions of the ASABE, 2009

Karst hydrology is characterized by multiple springs, sinkholes, and losing streams resulting fro... more Karst hydrology is characterized by multiple springs, sinkholes, and losing streams resulting from acidic water percolating through limestone. These features provide direct connections between surface water and groundwater and increase the risk of groundwater, spring, and stream contamination. Anthropogenic activities (agriculture, tourism, urban and residential areas) accentuate the contamination potentials. The objectives of this article are to present a modification of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (version 2005) that allows faster percolation through the soil substrate and recharge of the aquifer. This addition was necessary to simulate quick movement of water through vertical conduits that characterize karst topography. The model was calibrated for the James River basin, a large watershed (3,600 km 2 ) in southwest Missouri. Losing streams were simulated by specifying high soil conductivities in the channels, and sinkholes were simulated as ponds with a high hydraulic conductivity at the bottom. Results indicated that the changes improved the partition of stream flow between surface and return flow. Water quality results indicated that the SWAT model can be used to simulate the frequency of occurrence of pollutant concentrations and daily loads. This case study highlights the possibilities and limitations in modeling flow and water pollutant movement in a karst watershed.

Research paper thumbnail of Impact of Cligen Parameters on Wepp-predicted Average Annual Soil Loss

Transactions of the ASAE, 1996

Research paper thumbnail of EPIC and APEX: Model Use, Calibration, and Validation

Transactions of the ASABE, 2012

The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) and Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender... more The Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) and Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) models have been developed to assess a wide variety of agricultural water resource, water quality, and other environmental problems. The EPIC model is designed to be applied at the field scale. APEX is a direct extension of EPIC that can also be applied to fields as well as to more complex multi-subarea landscapes, whole farms, and watersheds. This article describes key model components of EPIC and APEX, including different options for simulating surface runoff, evapotranspiration, soil erosion, and other processes. Field-scale calibration and validation procedures are then described for both models, with an emphasis on important calibration parameters and guidance regarding logical sequences of calibration steps. Additional calibration and validation guidance is further provided for applications of APEX at the landscape and watershed scales. Two calibration and validation case studies are presented: one for an EPIC plot study and one for an APEX study of a 35 ha field in north-central Missouri. Research and development needs for both models are also discussed.

Research paper thumbnail of The Wepp Watershed Model: III. Comparisons to Measured Data from Small Watersheds

Transactions of the ASAE, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of SWATing your APEX model: a how-to from the trenches

Research paper thumbnail of The Weppwatershed Model: I. Hydrology and Erosion

Transactions of the ASAE, 1997

Research paper thumbnail of Production and conservation results from a decade-long field-scale precision agriculture system

Research paper thumbnail of Comparison of WEPP and USLE soil loss estimates

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental Implications of Increased Bioenergy Production on Midwest Soil Landscapes

Research paper thumbnail of Assessing Production and Ecosystem Function for Grain and Bioenergy Feedstock Crops Across Variable Soil Landscapes

Research paper thumbnail of Production and Conservation Outcomes of a Decade-Long Field-Scale Precision Agriculture System

Research paper thumbnail of Watershed Model Channel Hydrology and Erosion Processes, Chapter 13

Research paper thumbnail of The Wepp Watershed Model: Ii. Sensitivity Analysis to Watershed Discretization and Channel Input Parameters

Research paper thumbnail of Wepp Watershed Model Technology

Research paper thumbnail of Development of an Expert System for the Analysis of Urban Drainage Using SWMM (Storm Water Management Model)

Research paper thumbnail of Simulating Hydrology and Water Quality of a Claypan Soil Watershed

2005 Tampa, FL July 17-20, 2005, 2005

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was the primary model selected for use in the Con... more The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was the primary model selected for use in the Conservation Effects Assessment Project-Watershed Assessment Study (CEAP-WAS). In this paper, the performance of SWAT in simulating streamflow, sediment yield, and atrazine loss from Goodwater Creek, a 72 km 2 watershed located in the claypan soil region of north-central Missouri, was evaluated. When the model was run using default parameters, it overestimated average annual streamflow by 32%, underestimated average annual sediment yield by 23%, and overestimated average annual atrazine loss by 8%. The Nash-Sutctliff coefficient (E NS ) values were < 0.35 when annual estimated and measured values were compared. The model was calibrated for streamflow using data collected from 1992 through 1996. After calibration, the difference between measured and estimated average annual flow was < 5%, and the E NS values for annual and monthly simulation results were 0.90 and 0.85, respectively. After calibration, the model did not perform well 269-429-0300 (2950 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085-9659 USA).