Upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystem watersheds

William I. Ford; Kevin King; Mark R. Williams

doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.009

Upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystem watersheds

William I. Ford, Kevin King, Mark R. Williams

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

In landscapes with low residence times (e.g., rivers and reservoirs), baseflow nutrient concentration dynamics during sensitive timeframes can contribute to deleterious environmental conditions downstream. This study assessed upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient concentrations in a low-gradient, tile-drained agroecosystem watershed. We conducted time-series analysis using Empirical mode decomposition of seven decade-long nutrient concentration time-series in the agricultural Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed (Ohio, USA). Four tributaries of varying drainage areas and three main-stem sites were monitored, and nutrient grab samples were collected weekly from 2006 to 2016 and analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Statistically significant seasonal fluctuations were compared with seasonality of baseflow, watershed characteristics (e.g., tile-drain density), and in-stream water quality parameters (pH, DO, temperature). Findings point to statistically significant seasonality of all parameters with peak P concentrations in summer and peak N in late winter-early spring. Results suggest that upland processes exert strong control on DRP concentrations in the winter and spring months, while coupled upland and in-stream conditions control watershed baseflow DRP concentrations during summer and early fall. Conversely, upland flow sources driving streamflow exert strong control on baseflow NO₃-N, and in-stream attenuation through transient and permanent pathways impacts the magnitude of removal. Regarding TN and TP, we found that TN was governed by NO₃-N, while TP was governed by DRP in summer and fluvial erosion of P-rich benthic sediments during higher baseflow conditions. Findings of the study highlight the importance of coupled in-stream and upland management for mitigating eutrophic conditions during environmentally sensitive timeframes.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	800-812
Number of pages	13
Journal	Journal of Hydrology
Volume	556
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.009
State	Published - Jan 2018

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Eric Fischer for analytical expertise; and Jedediah Stinner, Katie Rumora, and especially Marie Pollock, for help in data collection and analysis. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved the quality of the manuscript. This is publication No. 17-05-039 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture , U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Agriculture
CEAP
Drainage
Nutrients
Time-series
Water quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Water Science and Technology

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10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.009

Cite this

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title = "Upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystem watersheds",

abstract = "In landscapes with low residence times (e.g., rivers and reservoirs), baseflow nutrient concentration dynamics during sensitive timeframes can contribute to deleterious environmental conditions downstream. This study assessed upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient concentrations in a low-gradient, tile-drained agroecosystem watershed. We conducted time-series analysis using Empirical mode decomposition of seven decade-long nutrient concentration time-series in the agricultural Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed (Ohio, USA). Four tributaries of varying drainage areas and three main-stem sites were monitored, and nutrient grab samples were collected weekly from 2006 to 2016 and analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Statistically significant seasonal fluctuations were compared with seasonality of baseflow, watershed characteristics (e.g., tile-drain density), and in-stream water quality parameters (pH, DO, temperature). Findings point to statistically significant seasonality of all parameters with peak P concentrations in summer and peak N in late winter-early spring. Results suggest that upland processes exert strong control on DRP concentrations in the winter and spring months, while coupled upland and in-stream conditions control watershed baseflow DRP concentrations during summer and early fall. Conversely, upland flow sources driving streamflow exert strong control on baseflow NO3-N, and in-stream attenuation through transient and permanent pathways impacts the magnitude of removal. Regarding TN and TP, we found that TN was governed by NO3-N, while TP was governed by DRP in summer and fluvial erosion of P-rich benthic sediments during higher baseflow conditions. Findings of the study highlight the importance of coupled in-stream and upland management for mitigating eutrophic conditions during environmentally sensitive timeframes.",

keywords = "Agriculture, CEAP, Drainage, Nutrients, Time-series, Water quality",

author = "Ford, {William I.} and Kevin King and Williams, {Mark R.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Eric Fischer for analytical expertise; and Jedediah Stinner, Katie Rumora, and especially Marie Pollock, for help in data collection and analysis. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved the quality of the manuscript. This is publication No. 17-05-039 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture , U.S. Department of Agriculture. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2018",

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doi = "10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.009",

language = "English",

volume = "556",

pages = "800--812",

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T1 - Upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystem watersheds

AU - Ford, William I.

AU - King, Kevin

AU - Williams, Mark R.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Eric Fischer for analytical expertise; and Jedediah Stinner, Katie Rumora, and especially Marie Pollock, for help in data collection and analysis. We also thank the two anonymous reviewers whose comments significantly improved the quality of the manuscript. This is publication No. 17-05-039 of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and is published with the approval of the Director. This work is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture , U.S. Department of Agriculture. Publisher Copyright: © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - In landscapes with low residence times (e.g., rivers and reservoirs), baseflow nutrient concentration dynamics during sensitive timeframes can contribute to deleterious environmental conditions downstream. This study assessed upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient concentrations in a low-gradient, tile-drained agroecosystem watershed. We conducted time-series analysis using Empirical mode decomposition of seven decade-long nutrient concentration time-series in the agricultural Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed (Ohio, USA). Four tributaries of varying drainage areas and three main-stem sites were monitored, and nutrient grab samples were collected weekly from 2006 to 2016 and analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Statistically significant seasonal fluctuations were compared with seasonality of baseflow, watershed characteristics (e.g., tile-drain density), and in-stream water quality parameters (pH, DO, temperature). Findings point to statistically significant seasonality of all parameters with peak P concentrations in summer and peak N in late winter-early spring. Results suggest that upland processes exert strong control on DRP concentrations in the winter and spring months, while coupled upland and in-stream conditions control watershed baseflow DRP concentrations during summer and early fall. Conversely, upland flow sources driving streamflow exert strong control on baseflow NO3-N, and in-stream attenuation through transient and permanent pathways impacts the magnitude of removal. Regarding TN and TP, we found that TN was governed by NO3-N, while TP was governed by DRP in summer and fluvial erosion of P-rich benthic sediments during higher baseflow conditions. Findings of the study highlight the importance of coupled in-stream and upland management for mitigating eutrophic conditions during environmentally sensitive timeframes.

AB - In landscapes with low residence times (e.g., rivers and reservoirs), baseflow nutrient concentration dynamics during sensitive timeframes can contribute to deleterious environmental conditions downstream. This study assessed upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient concentrations in a low-gradient, tile-drained agroecosystem watershed. We conducted time-series analysis using Empirical mode decomposition of seven decade-long nutrient concentration time-series in the agricultural Upper Big Walnut Creek watershed (Ohio, USA). Four tributaries of varying drainage areas and three main-stem sites were monitored, and nutrient grab samples were collected weekly from 2006 to 2016 and analyzed for dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP), nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Statistically significant seasonal fluctuations were compared with seasonality of baseflow, watershed characteristics (e.g., tile-drain density), and in-stream water quality parameters (pH, DO, temperature). Findings point to statistically significant seasonality of all parameters with peak P concentrations in summer and peak N in late winter-early spring. Results suggest that upland processes exert strong control on DRP concentrations in the winter and spring months, while coupled upland and in-stream conditions control watershed baseflow DRP concentrations during summer and early fall. Conversely, upland flow sources driving streamflow exert strong control on baseflow NO3-N, and in-stream attenuation through transient and permanent pathways impacts the magnitude of removal. Regarding TN and TP, we found that TN was governed by NO3-N, while TP was governed by DRP in summer and fluvial erosion of P-rich benthic sediments during higher baseflow conditions. Findings of the study highlight the importance of coupled in-stream and upland management for mitigating eutrophic conditions during environmentally sensitive timeframes.

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KW - CEAP

KW - Drainage

KW - Nutrients

KW - Time-series

KW - Water quality

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DO - 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2017.12.009

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EP - 812

ER -

Upland and in-stream controls on baseflow nutrient dynamics in tile-drained agroecosystem watersheds

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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