Wetland capacity for nitrate transformation and uptake an irrigated agricultural landscape

Erick A Carlson and David J Cooper

Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State
University

A WORK IN PROGRESS intermediate results

Problem

Plant Processes
Plant uptake into aboveground biomass could provide a method to
remove NO3- from the system

The potential for agricultural activities to produce non-point source pollution has been recognized for decades. The addition
of organic and chemical fertilizers has the potential to produce excess levels of several compounds harmful to human and
environmental health. Weld County, Colorado groundwater has shown elevated levels of nitrate (NO 3-) for several decades.
The nitrate ion is highly soluble and moves quickly through surface and groundwater systems. Irrigated cropland and
animal production facilities are likely nitrate sources and thus are prime locations for mitigation. Reducing nitrate levels in
shallow (0-2m) groundwater could reduce additional loading to the regional aquifer and protect surface water quality.

Collect above ground biomass and litter (late July)

Measure dried biomass, C and N content* (not
reported)
Make comparisons between communities, location
in the wetland and individual species.

What environmental conditions influence transformation of NO 3- to N2 through denitrification in wetlands

adjacent to crops.
How do nitrate uptake into wetland plants vary by nitrate levels, soil conditions, hydrology and species?

T. angustifolia
Site
(g/100cm2)
EPA drinking
water

Soil Processes
Selected Results

Organic matter content - % of oven dried soil weight that

burns off in a 5500C muffle furnace.
Bulk Density - soils collected with 5cm x 2.5cm brass ring
Texture - % silt, sand, clay (volumetric)
Soil temperature - inferred from groundwater temp.
Saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) - shallow
groundwater movement (not reported)
Microbial activity respiration (in situ incubation) &
biomass (chloroform fumigation not reported)
Denitrification of soils use acetylene block technique to
measure conversion of NO3- to N2 by microbes

B1 & B2

Research Approach
Depth
(cm)
0 - 20
20 - 55
55+

0.414
0.035
0.0036

10.02
7.29
3.94

B1
B2
S1
S2
F
E

126.4
68.8
66.3
--64.7
---

S. pungens
(g/100cm2)

Biomass
(g/100cm2)

Litter
(g/100cm2)

Juncus

32.9

4.9

Phalaris

12.7

7.9

Typha

82.9

11.4

Scheonoplectus

23.1

5.4

Community

Total
(g/100cm2)

----32.6
39.3
--14.0

126.4
42.3
44.5
39.1
42.1
15.2

Taxa

1m

Phalaris arundinacea
Typha angustifolia
Scheonoplectus pungens

11m

21m

14.2 11.2
150.9 73.1
26.4
9

31m

68.7
7.1

87.8

*C and N levels of biomass and litter are still being analyzed

Groundwater Hydrology
Groundwater flow transports nitrate, influences water table & anaerobic conditions in the denitrification zone.
Seasonal water table dynamics influence vegetation communities.

Research Approach

Bulk Density % Coarse % Fine % Total

(g/cm3)
Organic Organic Organic
116.5
125.5
139.6

Selected Results

Research Approach

Questions

Denitrifying microbes (e.g. Thiobacillus denitrificans) use NO3- in a respiratory process producing
N2 gas. Physical characteristics of soil control the timing & magnitude of this reaction.

Warner College of Natural Resources

10.43
7.32
3.95

%
%
%
Sand Silt Clay
55.0 13.6 31.4
46.8 13.7 39.4
61.9 13.8 24.3

Water table - water levels in shallow (< 1.5m) wells hand

measured ~biweekly and auto measured every 30 minutes from
April - Sept.
Precipitation collection containers were placed at sites to
correlated with regional weather stations and account for
sprinkler irrigation
Denitrification zone saturation - % of zone and % of time
saturated (April 2 Sept 15)

Ground level

Depth
(cm)
0+ 4
4 20

Conclusions
Not surprisingly , the nitrate loading, uptake and transformation in wetlands is complex and site specific but some general trends are highlighted with the current research.
1. Less organic matter is available for microbes at lower horizons. Organic matter and labile carbon sources can be highly localized which can dramatically affect denitrification potential.
2. Nitrate loading varied considerably even when crop, soil and irrigation type were controlled. Levels exceeded the EPA drinking water standard (10ppm) most often in July.
3. Microbial activity was highly variable between similar sites. Some sites showed consistent values, others showed dramatic changes with increasing distance from the field.
4. Biomass varies widely by species with Typha having nearly 8x the biomass of Phalaris. If future analysis of C & N levels show differences, certain species could be identified as more effective for N uptake.
5. As the finally analyses are conducted a physical & biological profile for effective nitrate mitigating wetlands adjacent to irrigated crops will be created.

20 40

% of
DeN
zone
At least
95
At least
75
At least
50

B1 1
meter

B1 11
meters

B2 1
meter

B2 11
B2 21
B2 31
meters meters meters

0.4%

45.0%

8.8%

11.8%

36.4%

69.9%

71.9%

55.0%

46.9%

15.5%

30.6%

14.9%

27.7%

100.0%

44.0%

35.9%

25.9%

15.2%

Funding and Research Partners

-Colorado Corn Growers Association

-Reagan Waskom, Colorado Water Institute
-Troy Bauder, Colorado State Agricultural Extension.
-Steve Merritt Colorado Department of Agriculture
-Yingji Pan for tireless efforts in the field.

-Farmers for permission to instrument, dig holes and bother them.

-Paul Brewer, Sam Dunn, Laurel Lynch for chemical analyses consulting