Nutrient management planning in the Nanticoke River watershed

Nutrient budgets for nitrogen and phosphorus were developed for six subwatersheds in the Nanticoke watershed. The total area of the Nanticoke watershed is 128,400 ha. Approximately 50% of the land use is in cropland while 44% is classified as forest land. Broad Creek and Nanticoke Creek subwatershed have the largest concentration of poultry production and a surplus of poultry manure. For all six subwatersheds the major source of nitrogen and phosphorus is from cropland. Nitrogen loads from cropland subwatersheds ranged from 45% for Nanticoke Creek to 79% for Marshyhope Creek. Phosphorus loads from cropland varied from 50% in the Nanticoke Creek subwatershed to 78% in the Marshyhope Creek subwatershed.