Rachel Suhs

Ms. Rachel Suhs


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

2Years (2025-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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13 February 2025 in Land
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
WEW. Lee Ellenburg
W. Lee Ellenburg
JCJames Cruise
James Cruise
BOBrenda V. Ortiz
Brenda V. Ortiz
RSRachel Suhs
Rachel Suhs
Agricultural runoff ranks second only to atmospheric deposition as a source of nitrogen pollution to streams in the southeastern United States. Climate-smart practices such as irrigation have the potential to reduce these impacts and provide resilience in the face of climate change. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of irrigation amounts and fertilizer application strategies on surface nitrate export to surrounding steams. Data from an existing experiment on corn nitrogen fertilization in the Southeastern US was utilized and a crop simulation model was employed to simulate the water and nitrogen dynamics within the soil with particular emphases on nutrient uptake and residual nutrients. left in the soil after harvest under varying fertilization scenarios. A hydrologic and nutrient export model was developed to run in conjunction with the crop model to simulate lateral export from the fields. The results of this study indicate that climate and nutrient management are the dominant factors in determining surface nutrient transport under both rain fed and irrigated conditions, confirming previous studies. The overall results show that irrigation, on average, reduced nutrient export from the surface, especially in dry years. The effect is even greater if the nutrients are applied later in the year while irrigation is on-going. While this present study provides an initial look at the potential impacts of irrigation on nutrient export in humid areas, the available on-farm observational data is limited in its content. However, the results obtained support existing literature and provide further evidence on the impact of irrigation as a climate resilient practice and will help direct future studies in the region.