Nutrient concentration-stream discharge relationships during storm events in a first-order stream

Abstract

The relationship between nutrient element concentration and stream discharge during storm events was studied in a nutrient-rich first order stream. Stream concentrations of NO 3 -N, phosphate-P, Ca, and Mg were determined during the course of and following thunderstorms. Nutrient element trajectories were constructed for the elements monitored and some recognizable and reproducible patterns in nutrient concentrations emerged. NO3-N and phosphate-P generally increased in concentration during the early stages of increasing stream discharge resulting in a general clockwise trajectory. Ca and Mg consistently showed decreases in concentration during rising water, but the pattern of the trajectories was less constant. The patterns seen for NO3-N and phosphate-P suggest surface run-off as their origin while the patterns for Ca and Mg reflect their primary origin in groundwater. The ability to detect these differences from the analysis of nutrient trajectories suggests the use of this technique for determining the source of other elements in streams.

EFFECTS OF LAND COVER AND GEOLOGY ON STREAM CHEMISTRY IN WATERSHEDS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY1

“…On the other hand, some other constituents, such as nitrate, move primarily as dissolved forms. Although their fluxes could increase dramatically during high flow, studies have shown that the concentrations of nitrate and other dissolved inorganic forms of nutrients often remain low and do not change very much during storm events (Burt and Arkell, 1987;McDiffett et al, 1989;Correll et al, 1999b). Synoptic sampling of these constituents under base flow conditions is a very efficient and cost-effective method for quantifying their concentrations in streams and testing relationships with geographic controls.…”

Effects of Precipitation and Air Temperature on Phosphorus Fluxes from Rhode River Watersheds

“…The usual foci have either been comparative effects of land use in a small region (e.g., Cooper and Thomsen, 1988;Correll et al, 1977;Hill, 1981;Hirose and Kuramoto, 1981;Maimer and Grip, 1994), differences in discharges among widely separated regions (e.g., Beaulac and Reckhow, 1982;Dillon and Kirchner, 1975;Frink, 1991), or patterns of change in P concentrations from a single watershed due to a storm event (e.g., Johnson et al, 1976;McDiffett et al, 1989;Prairie and Kalff, 1988). These studies have clearly established that land use, particularly intensive agriculture, has a strong influence on P flux.…”

Physico-chemical characteristics of the Agüera River (Spain) during an unusual hydrologically period

“…Biological trans formations of nitrogen include the uptake by algae and microbia, fixation and denitrification (Richey et al 1985, Hill 1988, but estimates of the relative importance of these processes in different rivers do not coincide. In our case, nitrate concentration increased with high discharges, mostly in the head waters, probably due to the greater leakage of soils (Me Diffet et al 1989). Several authors (e.g.…”