| Intensive agricultural practices can result in contaminated groundwater via leaching, and groundwater quality has become a major issue for rural communities in Alberta. This research project examined the long and short-term spatial and temporal variability of leaching processes within two hummocky agricultural landscapes in Central Alberta, Canada. Analysing the distribution of soil profiles within a landscape, we created a leaching potential index based on a soil profile index and plan curvature measurements. We assessed the accuracy of the index using the redistribution of bromide after a snowmelt event, and a growing season. The index accurately differentiated locations of high leaching potential from low and very low leaching potential. This index will become a useful tool to determine the variability of leaching within agricultural landscapes to identify areas of high leaching potential, to determine agricultural best management practices, and to reduce or to maintain contamination of groundwater at an acceptable level. |
