Nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas fluxes from integrated buffer zones treating agricultural drainage water

Carstensen, Mette Vodder; Zak, Dominik; Veen, Sofie Gyritia Madsen van't; Wisniewska, Kamila; Ovesen, Niels Bering; Kronvang, Brian; Audet, Joachim

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145070

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…A low embankment can be constructed between the pond and the waterway to ensure sufficient residence time to provide nitrate removal through denitrification and plant uptake. IBZs have removed 10%-71% of total nitrogen from the water entering the pond (Zak et al, 2018;Carstensen et al, 2021). Zak et al (2019) noted that in addition to water quality benefits, IBZs provide additional water storage, retention of sediment and particle-bound phosphorus from surface runoff, additional terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, and biomass production from tree growth.…”

Section: Future Research: Opportunities To Scale Knowledge Performanc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

Johnson,

Christianson,

Christianson

et al. 2023

Journal of Natural Resources and Agricultural Ecosystems

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Highlights Saturated buffers redistribute tile drainage water below riparian buffers to reduce nitrate-nitrogen loading. NRCS Conservation Practice Standard 604 guides saturated buffer design in the USA. Annual edge-of-field nitrate-nitrogen loss reductions averaged 46 ± 24% and 9.4 ± 5.9 kg N/ha/y. Further research on design, siting, and mechanisms will enhance performance. Abstract. It is a pivotal time in the development of saturated buffers as a conservation drainage practice. Field data have demonstrated that this practice can effectively reduce nitrate loads in subsurface drainage. The compilation and assessment of current knowledge for this relatively new practice is timely to help identify future opportunities. This review summarizes the state of the science for saturated buffers in the US within the context of this special collection’s emphasis on performance and cost. Suggested research areas are identified to improve understanding of saturated buffer function and performance and to refine design processes and criteria to accelerate adoption. As currently designed, saturated buffers removed an average of 46 ± 24% (mean ± sd) of the N load that would have otherwise entered receiving waters (9.4 ± 5.9 kg N removed/ha-y; n = 30 site-years). Cost efficiencies, which generally trended around $3 to $5/kg N removed per year, were considered relatively efficient compared to similar nitrate removal practices (range: $1.20 to $9.20/kg N/y), with planning level costs between $25 and $66/ha treated/y. As adoption is scaled, engineering design costs need to be considered unless the design model can be simplified. Future research should refine design processes, management, and siting criteria to facilitate scaled adoption for water quality goals. Additional studies on nutrient cycling within saturated buffers are needed to fill gaps about nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and the role of buffer vegetation. Saturated buffers have significant nitrate reduction potential for tile-drained landscapes, but design adaptations may be needed to facilitate adoption in varied landscapes. Keywords: Denitrification, Edge-of-Field, Nitrate, Nonpoint-source pollution, Saturated riparian buffer, Subsurface drainage, Tile drainage, Water quality.

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Section: Future Research: Opportunities To Scale Knowledge Performanc...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

Johnson,

Christianson,

Christianson

et al. 2023

Journal of Natural Resources and Agricultural Ecosystems

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“…In addition, the efficiency of buffers is strongly related to the type of soil, topography, vegetation composition and structure (Stutter et al, 2021a), which were not specifically linked to buffer effectiveness in this model. Hence, future model developments should represent more targeted siting of different types of buffers (Stutter et al, 2021a) according to the nature of the riparian zone, including the effect of "integrated buffer zones" capable of intercepting pollution from field drains (Carstensen et al, 2021), to test the effectiveness of buffer mitigation measures in greater detail. This may require a more complex model of riparian buffers to be implemented as further work outside the scope of this manuscript.…”

Section: Effectiveness and Uncertainty Of Mitigation Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using a spatial Bayesian Belief Network helps targeting effective mitigation measures

Glendell

Gagkas

Stutter

et al. 2022

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Water quality remains a main reason for the failure of waterbodies to reach Good Ecological Status (GES) under the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD), with phosphorus (P) pollution being a major cause of water quality failures. Reducing P pollution risk in agricultural catchments is challenging due to the complexity of biophysical drivers along the source-mobilisation-delivery-impact continuum. While there is a need for place-specific interventions, the evidence supporting the likely effectiveness of mitigation measures and their spatial targeting is uncertain. We developed a decision-support tool using a Bayesian Belief Network that facilitates system-level thinking about P pollution and brings together academic and stakeholder communities to co-construct a model appropriate to the region of interest. The expert-based causal model simulates the probability of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration falling into the WFD high/good or moderate/poor status classifications along with the effectiveness of three mitigation measures including buffer strips, fertiliser input reduction and septic tank management. In addition, critical source areas of pollution are simulated on 100 × 100 m raster grids for seven catchments (12–134 km2) representative of the hydroclimatic and land use intensity gradients in Scotland. Sensitivity analysis revealed the importance of fertiliser inputs, soil Morgan P, eroded SRP delivery rate, presence/absence of artificial drainage and soil erosion for SRP losses from diffuse sources, while the presence/absence of septic tanks, farmyards and the design size of sewage treatment works were influential variables related to point sources. Model validation confirmed plausible model performance as a “fit for purpose” decision support tool. When compared to observed water quality data, the expert-based causal model simulated a plausible probability of GES, with some differences between study catchments. Reducing fertiliser inputs below optimal agronomic levels increased the probability of GES by 5%, while management of septic tanks increased the probability of GES by 8%. Conversely, implementation of riparian buffers did not have an observable effect on the probability of GES at the catchment outlet. The main benefit of the approach was the ability to integrate diverse, and often sparse, information; account for uncertainty and easily integrate new data and knowledge.

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“…Among the available non‐linear models for flux calculations, a regression‐based extension of a method proposed by Hutchinson and Mosier (1981), referred to as HMR, is among the most widely used. An advantage of this flux calculation method, developed by Pedersen et al (2010), is that it is available as part of an R package called “HMR” which has been used for flux estimations from widely different environments: freshwater marsh (Villa et al, 2021), a soil covered landfill (Gonzalez‐Valencia et al, 2021), buffer zones treating agricultural drainage water (Carstensen et al, 2021), bryophyte communities on the soil surface (Grau‐Andrés et al, 2021), forest soil (Martinez & Ardón, 2021) and, predominantly, agricultural soils (e.g. Glenn et al, 2021; Ruser et al, 2017; Tariq et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying criteria for greenhouse gas flux estimation with automatic and manual chambers: A case study for N₂O

Pullens

Ábalos

Petersen

et al. 2023

European J Soil Science

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Fluxes of the powerful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) are mainly quantified using manually operated or automatic non‐steady‐state chambers. With both systems, fluxes are calculated as the change in N2O concentration over time using linear or non‐linear regression, but the type of regression selected can have a strong influence on the N2O flux magnitude. The HMR package, a regression‐based implementation of the Hutchinson & Mosier Regression, is a widely used software for trace gas flux calculation that provides a recommendation on the most appropriate regression method based on several criteria. New parameters were recently introduced which allow for pre‐filtering based on sample variance (pfvar and pfalpha), and for constraining the curvilinearity of concentration‐time series(SatPct and SatTimeMin). Currently, there are no guidelines on how to choose the best parameters for specific user conditions. Here we address this knowledge gap using datasets from manual and automatic chambers, and sensitivity analyses. We found that the effect of parameter settings on the cumulative fluxes was greater for manual chamber data compared to the automatic chamber data, with ranges of up to 67.3% and 1.5%, respectively. The parameter pfvar was identified as highly sensitive for both manual and automatic chambers; it is, therefore, critical to select a threshold for when to allow for non‐linear flux calculation that accurately represents the given measurement precision. This can be estimated from the variance of N2O measurements at ambient concentration levels. The parameter SatTimeMin was critical for manual chamber data where the curvature is much less constrained due to the lower number of observations. The parameter pfalpha was the least sensitive and can be set at a p‐value equal to 0.05 following common statistical practice. Parameter values depend on the expected flux characteristics with a given chamber design and are currently best selected based on visual inspection of the data. This study identifies where and how specific care should be taken for the selection of parameters in the HMR package, which may contribute to standardizing the methodologies used worldwide for N2O flux calculations, supporting initiatives in which data from many studies need to be combined. Highlights The HMR package, an implementation of the Hutchinson & Mosier Regression, is a widely used software for trace gas flux calculation that provides a recommendation on the most appropriate regression method based on several criteria. New parameters in the updated HMR package constrains the use of nonlinear flux calculation and inclusion of outliers. The new parameters affect the cumulative emissions of N2O obtained with manual and automated chambers differently. We found that the choice of parameter values led to differences in cumulative N2O emissions of up to 67.3% This study identifies where and how specific care should be taken for the selection of parameters.

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Nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas fluxes from integrated buffer zones treating agricultural drainage water

Cited by 9 publications

References 60 publications

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using a spatial Bayesian Belief Network helps targeting effective mitigation measures

Identifying criteria for greenhouse gas flux estimation with automatic and manual chambers: A case study for N₂O

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Nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas fluxes from integrated buffer zones treating agricultural drainage water

Cited by 9 publications

References 60 publications

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

Effectiveness of Saturated Buffers on Water Pollutant Reduction from Agricultural Drainage

A systems approach to modelling phosphorus pollution risk in Scottish rivers using a spatial Bayesian Belief Network helps targeting effective mitigation measures

Identifying criteria for greenhouse gas flux estimation with automatic and manual chambers: A case study for N2O

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Product

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Identifying criteria for greenhouse gas flux estimation with automatic and manual chambers: A case study for N₂O