Evaluating the 4R Nutrient Stewardship Concept and Certification Program in the Western Lake Erie Basin

Since the mid-1990s, the frequency and extent of algal blooms and loadings of dissolved phosphorus (P) in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB) have been on increasing trends. Agricultural crop management has been identified as a primary source of P to the Lake. Over the past 2-3 years, educational programs directed at growers and nutrient service providers (e.g., agricultural retailers, crop advisers) have emphasized principles of 4R Nutrient Stewardship, and a 4R certification program for nutrient service providers in the WLEB has been developed and planned for roll-out in March 2014. The overall goal of the proposed project is to evaluate the specific impacts of the adoption of practices associated with 4R Nutrient Stewardship, and the impact of the WLEB 4R Certification Program itself, on crop productivity and profitability, water quality, and perceptions of growers, nutrient service providers, and residents in the WLEB. A multidisciplinary approach is proposed involving monitoring, modeling, and measurement of the impacts at the field, watershed, and lake scales.

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