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ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #211211
Title: Soil nutrient transport and transformation during extreme water table fluctuations in an agro-ecosystem

Author
item CASTELLANO, MICHAEL - PENN STATE UNIV
item WALKER, CHARLES - PENN STATE UNIV
item Schmidt, John
item Dell, Curtis
item KAYE, JASON - PENN STATE UNIV
item LIN, HENRY - PENN STATE UNIV

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2007
Publication Date: 11/4/2007
Citation: Castellano, M., Walker, C., Schmidt, J.P., Dell, C.J., Kaye, J., Lin, H. 2007. Soil nutrient transport and transformation during extreme water table fluctuations in an agro-ecosystem. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Paper No. 231-15.

Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required.

Technical Abstract: Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) transport to open water is a serious concern because these two elements are the primary drivers of eutrophication. Eutrophication describes a set of open water conditions where concomitant increases in algae and decreases in dissolved oxygen limit water uses for drinking, recreation and industry. Concern over eutrophication is particularly serious on the Delmarva Peninsula where high levels of agriculture promote nutrient transport to the eutrophication-prone Chesapeake Bay. In this system, infrequent but rapid water table fluctuations into and out of the uppermost soil horizon potentially represent “hot moments” of nutrient transport into the groundwater and subsequently into the Bay. To determine the effect of these water table fluctuations on nutrient transport and transformations, we sampled 12 large (30 x 33 cm), relatively undisturbed soil columns from three locations in a ditch-drained agro-ecosystem: 1) field 2) near-ditch and 3) in-ditch. Within each column we manipulated water table movement while monitoring a suite of hydrological and biogeochemical variables including per cent volumetric soil moisture, matric potential, trace gas fluxes and nutrient concentrations in leachate. Knowledge of each field location’s ability to retain and transform nutrients during extreme water table fluctuations will have important management implications for fertilizer application levels and timing.