Abstract
A growing concern for environmental conservation is the detrimental effects of nonpoint-source pollution in aquatic ecosystems caused by agricultural activities. Nonpoint-source pollution is a direct cause of eutrophication, a condition responsible for issues such as oxygen dead zones and harmful algal blooms in aquatic ecosystems. Knox County, Ohio, is a predominantly rural area that also supports various natural ecosystems. This includes the Kokosing River, which spans the entirety of the county, measuring 57 miles, and the Kokosing Watershed, which covers 482 square miles. The Kokosing is home to over 200 different plant and animal species. The county has a dominant agricultural presence, with 121,291 acres of cropland measured in 2022. This study examines the relationship between the county's agricultural acreage and the nutrient content of the Kokosing River. Data was obtained from the Ohio EPA, which collected monthly samples from the Kokosing River from 1999 to 2019. Samples were analyzed for nutrient content, but for this study, nitrogen and phosphorus were extracted and averaged annually. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the relationships among soybean and corn acreage and nitrogen and phosphorus levels. The analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between corn acreage and nutrient concentrations, whereas soybean acreage was not significantly related to nitrogen or phosphorus concentrations. The study aimed to understand the relationship between nutrient loading and agricultural land use and to identify sources of nonpoint pollution at the local level. The results showed that as corn acreage increased, nutrient concentrations of both nitrogen and phosphorus decreased significantly, contrary to the study’s hypothesis. Based on these findings, the focus shifted toward understanding the complexity of how agricultural systems influence water chemistry and how local changes may have an understated effect on aquatic ecosystem health.
Advisor
Moreno, Carlo
Department
Environmental Studies
Recommended Citation
Laymon, William, "Take Me To The River: How do agricultural processes affect nutrient concentration in the Kokosing River?" (2026). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 13454.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/13454
Disciplines
Agriculture | Life Sciences | Systems Biology
Keywords
agriculture, nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, corn, coybeans, river, water chemistry, ecology, agriculture, pollution
Publication Date
2026
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2026 William Laymon