Field Borders and Filter Strips
Field borders and filter strips are two best management practices (BMPs) that can be used to reduce sediment, organic material, nutrients, and chemicals carried in runoff from agricultural fields.
Filter strips are strips of grasses or other close-growing vegetation planted around fields and along drainageways, streams, and other bodies of water. They are designed to slow the runoff velocity and allow contaminants to settle from the water.
The benefits of using field borders and filter strips include:
- Reduced sediment and nutrient loading in waterways
- Improved water quality
- Increased wildlife habitat
- Reduced erosion
The factors that affect the effectiveness of field borders and filter strips include:
- The amount of sediment reaching the filter strip
- The amount of time that water is retained in the filter strip
- The type of vegetation and quality of stand
- The infiltration rate of the soil
- The uniformity of water flow through the filter strip
For more information on field borders and filter strips, please visit the following websites: