Nitrogen Saturation in Experimental Forested Watersheds

2000 ◽  
pp. 333-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan J. Fernandez ◽  
Mary Beth Adams
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Forested Watersheds

Nitrous oxide production in two forested watersheds exhibiting symptoms of nitrogen saturation

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (11) ◽  
pp. 1723-1732 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T Peterjohn ◽  
Richard J McGervey ◽  
Alan J Sexstone ◽  
Martin J Christ ◽  
Cassie J Foster ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
N Cycling ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
N Saturation ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Forested Watersheds ◽  
Total N ◽  
Nitrous Oxide Production ◽  
Poorly Drained Soils

A major concern about N saturation is that it may increase the production of a strong greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O). We measured N2O production in two forested watersheds, a young, fertilized forest (WS 3) and an older, unfertilized forest (WS 4), to (i) assess the importance of N2O production in forests showing symptoms of N saturation; (ii) estimate the contribution of chemoautrophic nitrification to total N2O production; and (iii) examine the relative importance of factors that may control N2O production. During the study period, mean monthly rates of N2O production (3.41-11.42 µ N ·m-2·h-1) were consistent with measurements from other well-drained forest soils but were much lower than measurements from N-rich sites with poorly drained soils. Chemoautotrophic nitrification was important in both watersheds, accounting for 60% (WS 3) and 40% (WS 4) of total N2O production. In WS 3, N2O production was enhanced by additions of CaCO3 and may be constrained by low soil pH. In WS 4, N2O production on south-facing slopes was exceptionally low, constrained by low NO3 availability, and associated with a distinct assemblage of woody vegetation. From this observation, we hypothesize that differences in vegetation can influence N cycling rates and susceptibility to N saturation.

NITROGEN SATURATION AND RETENTION IN FORESTED WATERSHEDS OF THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS, NEW YORK

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary M. Lovett ◽  
Kathleen C. Weathers ◽  
William V. Sobczak
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Catskill Mountains ◽  
Forested Watersheds

NITROGEN SATURATION IN JAPANESE FORESTED WATERSHEDS

1997 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 391-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiyokazu Ohrui ◽  
Myron J. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Forested Watersheds

Declines in soil-water nitrate in nitrogen-saturated watersheds

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1931-1942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela J Edwards ◽  
Karl WJ Williard
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Water ◽  
Nitrogen Saturation ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Soil Leachate ◽  
Forested Watersheds ◽  
Central Appalachians ◽  
Soil Ecosystems ◽  
Nitrogen Inputs ◽  
Nitrate Concentrations

Two forested watersheds (WS3 and WS9) in the central Appalachians were artificially acidified with ammonium sulfate fertilizer. WS9 was treated for 8 years, whereas WS3 has been treated for approximately 15 years. Soil leachate was collected from a depth of 46 cm (B horizon) in WS9 and below the A, B, and C horizons in WS3. Nitrate concentrations from WS3 increased for approximately 10–12 years (depending upon horizon) and then did not increase from 2000 through 2003 despite continued fertilizer treatments. Nitrate concentrations in WS9 soil water increased for the first 3 years of fertilization, and then declined for another 2 years. After that time, the concentrations remained relatively constant at approximately 15 µequiv.·L–1; this period of low nitrate concentrations included 2.3 years of fertilization followed by 8.2 years of no fertilization. Stream-water nitrate concentrations from both watersheds indicate they were in stage 2 of nitrogen saturation; however, the soil-water nitrate behavior observed within the setting of continued elevated nitrogen inputs is at odds with responses predicted in current nitrogen saturation theory. We believe that the cessation of nitrate increases in at least the B and C horizons were due primarily to abiotic retention, with recalcitrant forms of dissolved organic carbon providing the carbon needed to induce retention. These results show that nitrogen cycling in forest soil ecosystems is more complex than current nitrogen saturation theory suggests.

Influence of strip thinning on nutrient outflow concentrations from plantation forested watersheds

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (24) ◽  
pp. 5109-5119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takehiko Fukushima ◽  
Rai Tei ◽  
Hiroyuki Arai ◽  
Yuichi Onda ◽  
Hiroaki Kato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forested Watersheds

Predicting Source Water Quality Following Wildfires Using Hydrologic Modeling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Wampler ◽  
Kevin D. Bladon ◽  
Monireh Faramarzi
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
The United States ◽  
First Year ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Forested Watersheds ◽  
Field Samples ◽  
The World

<p>Forested watersheds are critical sources of the majority of the world’s drinking water. Almost one-third of the world’s largest cities and two-thirds of cities in the United States (US) rely on forested watersheds for their water supply. These forested regions are vulnerable to the increasing incidence of large and severe wildfires due to increases in regional temperatures and greater accumulation of fuels. When wildfires occur, increases in suspended sediment and organic carbon can negatively affect aquatic ecosystem health and create many costly challenges to the drinking water treatment process. These effects are often largest in the first year following a wildfire. While past research has shown the likelihood of source water impacts from wildfire, the magnitude of effects remains uncertain in most regions. In our study, we will quantify the projected short-term effects of three large (>70,000 ha) wildfires on key water quality parameters (sediment and organic carbon) in two important forested source watersheds in the Cascade Range of Oregon, US. We calibrated and validated a modified Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to simulate streamflow, sediment loads and transport, as well as in-stream organic carbon processes for a historical period prior to wildfire. The calibrated model parameters were then modified based on literature values and burn severity maps to represent post-fire conditions of the three large wildfires. The parameter adjustments for simulating wildfire will be validated with post-fire water quality field samples from the wildfires. We will present estimations of future water quality impacts in the burned watersheds under different precipitation conditions at a daily scale for the first year following the wildfires, which will provide testable hypotheses. Additionally, we will determine catchment characteristics most critical in determining the post-fire water quality response. This work will help predict the magnitude of effects from these historic wildfires, which can inform forest and drinking water management decision making.</p>

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