Redesigned Field Buffers Boost Water Quality and Cut Pollution, Purdue-Led Study Finds

Smarter buffer zones, cleaner water, and more productive land - all in one solution.

Affiliate Aaron Thompson (HLA) led a team of researchers from Purdue, Iowa State University, and the USDA recently published work on edge-of-field buffers. The study, published in March in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, explores how redesigning edge-of-field conservation buffers using nonlinear shapes can significantly improve sediment trapping and reduce agricultural runoff pollution. Traditional linear buffer designs are less effective, especially as climate change increases the intensity of rainfall and runoff. Using the AgBufferBuilder (ABB) tool, the team tested nonlinear buffer layouts across 45 sites in Michigan’s Saginaw Bay watershed, finding that these designs can enhance water quality while minimizing land taken out of production. The team also evaluated how spatial reconfiguration of buffers can optimize sediment capture with less land use, offering a promising strategy for sustainable agriculture