Recycling of Nitrate and Organic Matter by Plants in the Vadose Zone of a Saturated Riparian Buffer

Bosompemaa, Patience; Peterson, Eric W.; Perry, William L.; Seyoum, Wondwosen M.

doi:10.1007/s11270-021-05202-3

Cited by 7 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Field experiments of Bosompemaa et al. (2021) show plant uptake to be a short‐term sink of nitrate; nitrate concentrations were smaller under a plot with plants than a barren plot, but after the growing season, the nitrate was returned to the soil as plant matter decayed. Although Bosompemaa et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although Bosompemaa et al. (2021) suggested that overall removal of nitrate by plants would be small, plant processes could change the timing of nutrient export. Models to investigate the effects of plant uptake, such as those included in the review of Xin et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As discussed in the introduction, Groh et al (2019) determined denitrification to be the primary removal mechanism in SRBs. Field experiments of Bosompemaa et al (2021) show plant uptake to be a short-term sink of nitrate; nitrate concentrations were smaller under a plot with plants than a barren plot, but after the growing season, the nitrate was returned to the soil as plant matter decayed. Although Bosompemaa et al (2021) suggested that overall removal of nitrate by plants would be small, plant processes could change the timing of nutrient export.…”

Section: Implications Of the Model's Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Field experiments of Bosompemaa et al (2021) show plant uptake to be a short-term sink of nitrate; nitrate concentrations were smaller under a plot with plants than a barren plot, but after the growing season, the nitrate was returned to the soil as plant matter decayed. Although Bosompemaa et al (2021) suggested that overall removal of nitrate by plants would be small, plant processes could change the timing of nutrient export. Models to investigate the effects of plant uptake, such as those included in the review of Xin et al (2019), would help to clarify the effects of plants on the timing.…”

Section: Implications Of the Model's Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater flow in saturated riparian buffers and implications for nitrate removal

et al. 2022

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A saturated riparian buffer (SRB) is an edge‐of‐field conservation practice that intercepts tile drainage and reduces nitrate flux to nearby streams by redistributing the flow as shallow groundwater. In this study, a three‐dimensional, finite‐difference groundwater model representative of SRBs in central Iowa was developed to assess the flow of groundwater and implications for nitrate removal during spring conditions, when flow to the SRB is highest. The model reproduces field observations of water level with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.68, which is deemed acceptable for hydrologic models. The modeling shows that groundwater flow is three‐dimensional near the distribution pipe and the stream and primarily one‐dimensional in the rest of the buffer. The path the water takes in flowing toward the stream depends on where it exits the distribution pipe. When nitrate is not limiting, the potential for nitrate removal depends on the length of the path—and thus travel time—and depth because denitrification potential varies with depth. Travel time Tt can be estimated well with slight modifications to a one‐dimensional approximation: Tt = 1.11Lx/vx, where Lx is the buffer width and vx is a one‐dimensional approximation of the average linear velocity of groundwater. Refining knowledge of SRB function is an important step toward enhancing design for improving water quality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications Of the Model's Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications Of the Model's Assumptionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Groundwater flow in saturated riparian buffers and implications for nitrate removal

et al. 2022

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“…The importance of plants and photosynthesis to nutrient reduction have been well documented in wetlands [68,69], in the hyporheic zone [70][71][72][73], in riparian forests [74][75][76][77], and in saturated buffer zones [61,78]. AFWs have been introduced into lake and stream systems to provide aquatic habitat, to enhance the aesthetics of aquatic systems, and to improve water quality [42][43][44][45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effectiveness of an Artificial Floating Wetland to Remove Nutrients in an Urban Stream: A Pilot-Study in the Chicago River, Chicago, IL USA

Peterson

Nicodemus²,

Spooner

et al. 2021

Hydrology

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Ever expanding urbanized landscapes are increasingly impacting streams that run through them. Among other stressors, urban streams often are host to elevated concentrations of nutrients, salts, and heavy metals. The pollutants, coupled with high temperatures, are drivers of ecosystem degradation in urban streams. The installation of artificial floating wetlands (AFWs) has been successful in mitigating the effects of urbanization in lakes and wastewater treatment ponds, but rarely have they been tested in streams. This pilot-study examined the ability of an AFW to improve water quality in an urban stream. The small, 90 m2 AFW was installed to improve the aquatic habitat and aesthetics of a small section of the Chicago River, Chicago, IL USA. Water samples and in-situ measurements were collected from the surface and at 0.3 m depth of upstream and downstream of the AFW. Samples were analyzed for nitrate-as-nitrogen, phosphate, chloride, and heavy metals. Comparison of upstream and downstream waters showed that the AFW lowered the concentrations of nitrate-as-nitrogen and phosphate during the growing season by 6.9% and 6.0%, respectively. Nitrate was also removed during the dormant season; however, phosphate was not removed during that time. Plant or microbial uptake of the nutrients are believed to be the dominant mechanisms in the growing season with denitrification serving as the primary pathway in the dormant season. Despite not having a measurable effect on the water temperature, the AFW was an effective means to reduce concentrations of nitrate and phosphorus, decreasing the potential for eutrophication.

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Agroforestry buffers on nitrogen reduction in groundwater on a grazed hillslope

Salceda

Udawatta

Anderson

et al. 2023

Agrosystems Geosci & Env

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Agricultural practices often contribute to the transport of solutes into groundwater; thus, low‐cost strategies that extract nutrients from groundwater are essential to address water pollution. This study evaluated the effects of agroforestry (tree + grass; AB [cottonwood {Populus deltoides Bortr. ex Marsh.}]) and grass buffers (GB; [tall fescue Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub, Red clover {Trifolium pretense L.}, and Lespedeza {Lespedeza Michx}]) on groundwater nitrogen (N) concentrations. The experiment consisted of two grazing watersheds, one with an AB and another with a GB treatment. Buffers were not grazed since 2001. Three wells representing summit, backslope, and foot‐slope positions were installed at each watershed. Water samples were collected biweekly from November 2019 to January 2022 and analyzed for total nitrogen (TN) and dissolved N (DN). Dissolved nitrogen (DN) and TN concentrations after the AB in the foot‐slope well were 99% (5.36–0.06 mg L−1) and 85% (9.04–1.37 mg L−1) lower than the mean concentration of the summit and backslope wells. Similarly, DN and TN concentrations after the GB in the foot‐slope well were 94% (1.95–0.11 mg L−1) and 62% (2.86–1.07 mg L−1), lower than the mean concentration of the summit and backslope wells. Dissolved N concentrations were lower during warm periods probably due to plant uptake and denitrification in the buffer zone. Results showed that buffers, especially with deep‐rooted trees in the proximity of the water table, decreased TN and DN concentrations in groundwater and can be used as a conservation practice to address water pollution.

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Recycling of Nitrate and Organic Matter by Plants in the Vadose Zone of a Saturated Riparian Buffer

Cited by 7 publications

References 52 publications

Groundwater flow in saturated riparian buffers and implications for nitrate removal

Groundwater flow in saturated riparian buffers and implications for nitrate removal

The Effectiveness of an Artificial Floating Wetland to Remove Nutrients in an Urban Stream: A Pilot-Study in the Chicago River, Chicago, IL USA

Agroforestry buffers on nitrogen reduction in groundwater on a grazed hillslope

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