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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Houma, Louisiana » Sugarcane Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #237752
Title: Nitrogen Bsalance for a Plantation Forest Drainage Canal on the North Carolina Coastal Plain

Author
item Appelboom, Timothy
item CHESCHEIR,, GEORGE - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item SKAGGS, WAYNE - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item GILLIAM, WENDEL - NC STATE UNIVERSITY
item AMATYA, DAVENDRA - NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Transactions of the ASABE
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/1/2008
Publication Date: 8/8/2008
Citation: Appelboom, T.W., Chescheir,, G.M., Skaggs, W.R., Gilliam, W.J., Amatya, D. 2008. Nitrogen Bsalance for a Plantation Forest Drainage Canal on the North Carolina Coastal Plain. Transactions of the ASABE. Vol 51(4): 1215-1233

Interpretive Summary: Human activities, such as farming, have led to increases in nitrogen loads in streams, rivers, and lakes. This has resulted in decreased water quality in these surface waters as well as estuaries and near coastal oceans. Nitrogen though is being lost as it moves from the field edge through the river/stream networks. A two year study was conducted to identify and quantify the different nitrogen species (ammonium, nitrate, and organic-N) inputs, outputs, and the in-stream processes responsible for nitrogen transformations and removal in a 1900 meter section of a drainage canal. The canal section is located in a managed pine plantation on the lower coastal plain of North Carolina. Total nitrogen inputs to the canal section were 527.8 kg in 2001 and 1422.7 kg in 2002. Total nitrogen discharge at the outlet was 502 kg in 2001 and 1458 kg in 2002. The mass balance of nitrogen inputs and outflow at the outlet indicate that 25.8 kg (5.1%) of total nitrogen was lost to the system in 2001, and 35.3 kg (2.4%) of total nitrogen was lost to the system in 2002. Variability in the input and output estimates was high, especially for groundwater exchange. Different hydrologic and nitrogen inputs and outputs were identified and quantified, but measurement variability obscured any potential nitrogen removal from the system.

Technical Abstract: Human alteration of the nitrogen cycle has led to increased riverine nitrogen loads, contributing to the eutrophication of lakes, streams, estuaries, and near-coastal oceans. These riverine nitrogen loads are usually less than the total nitrogen inputs to the system, indicating nitrogen removal during transport through the drainage network. A two-year monitoring study quantified the ammonium, nitrate, and organic-N inputs, outputs, and inferred in-stream processes responsible for nitrogen transformations and removal in a 1900 m reach of a drainage canal located in a managed pine plantation. Total nitrogen inputs to the canal section were 527.8 kg in 2001 and 1422.7 kg in 2002. Total nitrogen discharge at the outlet was 502 kg in 2001 and 1458 kg in 2002. The mass balance of nitrogen inputs and outputs indicated a loss of 25.8 kg (5.1%) of total nitrogen from the system in 2001, and a gain of 35.3 kg (2.4%) of total nitrogen to the system in 2002. Variability in the input and output estimates was high, especially for groundwater exchange. Different hydrologic and nitrogen inputs and outputs were identified and quantified, but measurement variability obscured any potential nitrogen removal from the system.