USDA-ARS Southeast Watershed
Research Laboratory

Enhancing natural resources and the environment
for a viable, sustainable, and productive
agricultural economy

Research is focused on the Coastal Plain region of the southeastern U.S., a region with low-gradient drainage systems, generally sandy soils, periodically intense rainfall, and extensive near-stream riparian areas.

Specific objectives are to develop:

     An understanding of physical, chemical, and biological processes that interact within agricultural and natural resource systems;

     Methods to improve the use of soil and water resources in the production of quality food and fiber while maintaining short- and long-term productivity requirements, ecosystem stability, and environmental quality;

     Practices to control soil erosion, sustain soil productive capacity, and prevent adverse downstream impacts from sedimentation in streams, ponds, buffers and wetlands within agricultural systems.

     Real-time agricultural advisory products utilizing satellite and aircraft remote sensing systems;

     Region-specific measures of the fate and transport of agrochemicals, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other environmentally significant water and sediment transported substances that are used in or have their mass and distribution affected by agriculture; and

     Models, information systems, and field validation data to guide responsible management decisions for action and regulatory agencies at field, farm, and watershed scales to facilitate research and transfer of technology to customers.