Tyler Coulson– Undergraduate – General Studies
Biodrainage versus Traditional Drainage Infrastructure as a Remedy for Salinity and Waterlogging in India
In some semi-arid regions, agricultural areas are plagued by water-logging, often the result of rising water tables due to seepage of unlined waterways or irrigation of agriculture. Additionally, rising water tables may have increased soluble salts towards the surface of the soil causing less than ideal growing conditions. India is home to one of the fastest growing populations in the world, with an ever-growing need for food and agriculture. India also has a lack of traditional drainage infrastructure. Worsening the problem, farmers often do not have the capital or support in order to create such systems. In order to combat this problem, biodrainage has been promoted as being effective and cost-efficient. Biodrainage is a technique that utilizes planting trees and grasses near waterways and agricultural fields to absorb water and lower groundwater levels by way of evapotranspiration. However, a problem associated with biodrainage is its lack of versatility because specific environmental conditions are needed in order to implement a biodrainage system, such as appropriate groundwater levels and salt content. Additionally, it causes a loss in agricultural land as a result of planting vegetation strips. Another possibility available is to implement subsurface drainage as it is a much more efficient and universal approach to drainage. Although it is not considered as environmentally beneficial, traditional drainage has been shown to decrease water tables and efficiently dispose of salts.
Bethany Devault– Undergraduate – Forest Management & Ecology
Deforestation Effects on Stream Water Quality in Borneo, Malaysia
Deforestation continues to be an issue in Borneo, Malaysia even though it is deteriorating the streams and affecting freshwater which is an important aspect of an ecosystem. This project examines how deforestation and subsequent land use influence stream condition and water quality in Borneo, Malaysia. Poor water quality can be a problem not just because it affects aquatic habitat, but also because it can influence drinking water and water for agriculture and other industries. Researchers have found that in the northern part of Borneo, Sabah has already lost 31% of the forest in the region. Bordering Sabah is Sarawak, which is in the northwest part of Borneo, and has lost 50% of the forest, mostly due to logging for oil palm fields that has resulted in degradation of the nearby streams. The project examines water quality characteristics and decomposition differences in the streams of areas that were logged, farmed for oil palm agriculture with and without buffers, and a control group of pristine old growth forest. The results indicate areas without buffers to the streams and areas with mechanized deforestation have affected the stream's water quality the most due to increased sedimentation, increased stream temperature, and changes in decomposition near the streams
Eileen Lavelle – Undergraduate - Geography
Desalination of Sea Water for Agricultural Needs in Saudi Arabia
In the past forty years, water scarcity has been a concern for most of the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has long depended on groundwater for its agriculture. Due to a limited supply, the nation has eliminated the cultivation of wheat, focusing only on fruits and vegetables, allowing for some of the water reserves to be spared. These efforts, however, may not be enough. The Saudi Arabian government has used desalination of sea water to bolster its freshwater reserves. The challenge for engineers now is to determine the most effective distribution of desalination plants to meet the freshwater needs for agriculture throughout Saudi Arabia, and to explore cost-effective solutions to ensure that the implementation of these systems succeed.