Human agriculture significantly increases pollution levels in waterways, but the efforts of a University researcher will help reduce these levels.LSU AgCenter professor Donald Boquet received the Cotton Researcher of the Year award at the 12th annual National Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference in Marksville, La., in January for his years of research in agricultural management techniques. Chairman John LaRose said the conference honored Boquet not just for cotton research, but “in recognition of his work that he has contributed over the years to conservation systems and agriculture.” Boquet, a researcher at the Macon Ridge Research Station in northeast Louisiana, has worked for the last 10 years to develop ways to reduce the amount and the effects of sediment run-off that pollutes Louisiana’s waterways. “Agriculture contributes a lot to the pollution of the Mississippi River and the Atchafalaya Basin,” he said. “We’ve been doing our part here to keep the sediment and nutrients on the fields.” The pollution comes from across the central United States in the form of agricultural nutrients like nitrogen, but especially from the agricultural Midwest, Boquet said. The pollution ends up in Louisiana waterways and the Gulf of Mexico.  The Mississippi River watershed is the second largest in the world, draining 1.83 million square miles of land in 31 states and two Canadian provinces.  Boquet said sediment run-off is an ancient and necessary process that brings nutrients to Louisiana’s marshy ecosystems. Pollution resulting from human agricultural practices is seven times higher, however, than natural levels. “This has been going on for millions of years,” he said. “What we want to do is not have an excessive amount. We need to go back to what nature intended.” Macon Ridge Research Station director Montgomery Alison Jr. said the award was an honor to the AgCenter and the University. “It’s a tribute to the AgCenter to have a scientist recognized in his field by the producers in his area,” he said. Boquet said a reduction in the amount of tillage, or the preparation of the soil for planting, will help keep any pollution on the surface and reduce the amount of soil lost to erosion. “In the past, farmers did a lot of tillage of the land,” Boquet said. “But over the years, we’ve learned that we can reduce the amount of tillage that is done.” He said a two-crop rotation can help reduce soil run-off. Planting a winter crop such as wheat, rye or winter peas rather than leaving the field fallow prevents soil erosion during the winter.  Boquet estimated famers lose 10 percent of the summer crop when they use a two-crop rotation system, but added that the profits from the winter crop and savings, reduced tillage labor and the long-term benefits of better soil quality should make up for those loses in revenue. Boquet said another way to reduce pollution levels in sediment run-off is to identify the correct levels for fertilizer application. This method is also cost-effective for the farmer.—Contact Matthew Barndige at [email protected]