Influence of Canebrakes on Water Quality

Giant cane riparian buffer zones have been shown to be effective at attenuating nutrients and sediment from agricultural surface and subsurface runoff.  A field-scale study in a southern Illinois non-tile drained agricultural watershed investigated cane’s ability to reduce sediment and nutrients from overland flow, soil water, and groundwater.  Cane generally outperformed native forest vegetation as a riparian zone species in terms of nutrient and sediment water quality protection (Table: Influence of canebrakes on water quality).  Thus, cane offers promise as a species that could be included in multi-species riparian buffer designs.