Modelling real vegetative filter strip (VFS) experiments

S. Reichenberger¹, R. Sur², C. Kley², S. Sittig¹, S. Multsch^1
1knoell Germany GmbH, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
²Bayer AG, 40789 Monheim, Germany

Event: SETAC Europe 2019, Helsinki, Finland

• Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are the most widely implemented mitigation measure to reduce transfer of pesticides and other pollutants to surface waters via surface runoff and erosion.
• To reliably model VFS effectiveness in a risk assessment context, an event-based model is needed. The most commonly used dynamic, event-based model for this purpose is VFSMOD (Muñoz-Carpena and Parsons, 2014; Muñoz-Carpena et al., 1999).
• While VFSMOD simulates reduction of total inflow (ΔQ) and reduction of incoming eroded sediment load (ΔE) mechanistically, the reduction of pesticide load by the VFS (ΔP) is calculated with alternative process-based equations, including empirical regressions and a mechanistic mass balance approach.