Abatement of Ground Water Phosphate in Giant Cane and Forest Riparian Buffers

Abstract

Forest and grass riparian buffers have been shown to be effective best management practices for controlling nonpoint source pollution. However, little research has been conducted on giant cane [Arundinaria gigantea (Walt. Muhl.)], a formerly common bamboo species, native to the lower midwestern and southeastern United States, and its ability to reduce nutrient loads to streams. From May 2002 through May 2003, orthophosphate or dissolved reactive phosphate (DRP) concentrations in ground water were measured at successive distances from the field edge through 12 m of riparian buffers of both giant cane and mixed hardwood forest along three streams draining agricultural land in the Cache River watershed in southern Illinois. Giant cane and mixed hardwood forest did not differ in their DRP sequestration abilities. Ground water DRP concentrations were significantly reduced (14 percent) in the first 1.5 m of the buffers, and there was an overall 28 percent reduction in DRP concentration by 12 m from the field edge. The relatively low DRP reductions compared to other studies could be attributed to high DRP input levels, narrow (12 m) buffer lengths, and/or mature (28 to 48 year old) riparian vegetation.

The utility of giant cane as a riparian buffer species in southern Illinois agricultural landscapes

“…Most riparian buffer research has been conducted at the plot scale and has focused on N (Lowrance et al 1984;Lowrance 1992;Jordan et al 1993;Hill 1996;Gold et al 1998;Schoonover et al 2005), P (Peterjohn and Correll 1984;Daniels and Gilliam 1996;Corley et al 1999;Blattel et al 2005), sediment (Lee et al 2003;Schoonover et al 2006), and pesticide (Patterson and Schnoor 1992;Lowrance et al 1997) removal from surface and groundwater. More recently, riparian studies have also investigated sediment-bound pollutant attenuation, specifically bacteriological contaminants such as fecal coliform (Brenner et al 1991;Entry et al 2000a, b).…”