Accuracy and Precision of Nitrate Load Estimation with Different Sampling Frequencies for Illinois Agricultural Watersheds

The total mass of nitrate passing a gauging station during a period of study may be estimated based on infrequently monitored nitrate concentration data. To examine the accuracy and precision of these nitrate load estimates, a Monte Carlo sub-sampling study was conducted using six years of daily nitrate concentration and daily average discharge data at one gauging station on a medium, size river in central Illinois draining predominantly …