Technical note: nitrogen and phosphorus in runoff from 2 montane riparian communities

It was hypothesized that the type and height of riparian vegetation would affect its ability to filter and retain inorganic nitrogen (nitrate-nitrogen (NO3(-)-N), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N), and inorganic phosphorus (phosphate-phosphorus (PO4(-3)-P)). A rotating boom rainfall simulator was used to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of range management 1999-11, Vol.52 (6), p.600-605
Main Authors: Corley, C.J, Frasier, G.W, Trlica, M.J, Smith, F.M, Taylor, E.M. Jr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ammonium nitrogen
canopy
Carex rostrata
Deschampsia cespitosa
Forest soils
ground cover
height
Hydrology
nitrate nitrogen
Nitrates
Overland flow
phosphates
plant characteristics
plant litter
Poa pratensis
Rain
rainfall simulators
riparian grasslands
Riparian soils
runoff
Sedges
Sedimentary soils
Sediments
soil density
soil water
Stormwater
Vegetation
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Summary:It was hypothesized that the type and height of riparian vegetation would affect its ability to filter and retain inorganic nitrogen (nitrate-nitrogen (NO3(-)-N), ammonium-nitrogen (NH4(+)-N), and inorganic phosphorus (phosphate-phosphorus (PO4(-3)-P)). A rotating boom rainfall simulator was used to evaluate 2 montane riparian communities as filters for removing NO3(-)-N, NH4(+)-N, and PO4(-3)-P nutrients from sediment laden overland flow water. One riparian community was characterized by Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv.), while the second community was dominated by beaked sedge (Carex rostrata Stokes) and water sedge (Carex aquatilus Wahl.). Three vegetation height treatments were evaluated: control (natural condition), moderate treatment (clipped to 10-cm height and clipped material removed), and heavy treatment (clipped to ground level, clipped material removed, and litter vacuumed up). A 10-m wide riparian buffer zone was an efficient filter as about 84% NO3(-)-N and 79% PO4(-3)-P was removed from the applied water and sediment. However, there were no consistent differences among specific vegetation height treatments or communities in the removal of N and P nutrients.
ISSN:0022-409X
2162-2728
DOI:10.2307/4003629