Looking beyond fertilizer: assessing the contribution of nitrogen from hydrologic inputs and organic matter to plant growth in the cranberry agroecosystem

Stackpoole, S. M.; Kosola, Kevin R.; Workmaster, Beth Ann; Guldan, Nathan M.; Browne, Bryant A.; Jackson, Randall D.

doi:10.1007/s10705-011-9442-4

Cited by 6 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…Total organic N was also a major fraction (52%) of soil porewater TN. Ammonium was the dominant form of DIN in soil porewater (Table 1), consistent with an earlier study in Wisconsin (Stackpoole et al, 2011) and with the low soil pH typical of commercial cranberry farms in Massachusetts (measured soil pH of 4.8 [Kennedy et al, 2015] was within the 4 to 5 range typical of most farms [DeMoranville, 2008b]). Ditch water had an isotope value that was lower than that of irrigation water and precipitation and a Cl − concentration that was less than Cl − in irrigation water and soil porewater but slightly higher than Cl − in groundwater (Table 1).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…The cranberry bed may exhibit as a net sink of N the properties of natural wetlands that promote retention of DIN (Johnston, 1991; Reddy et al, 1984) or, when modified by irrigation water additions, may act as a source of DIN to groundwater, although recent work suggests minimal subsurface transport of N from the cranberry bed to shallow groundwater in response to flooding (Kennedy, 2015). Specifically, NO 3 − retention may result from denitrification within the cranberry bed, as suggested by high dissolved organic carbon concentrations (0.6–99 mg L −1 ) and low oxygen levels (4–5% of air saturation) found in porewater of a Wisconsin cranberry field (Stackpoole et al, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3A, B). The exact timing of increases in floodwater TN, which occurred roughly when stage was 50 cm below the surface of the bed, together with the relatively low DIN:TON ratio, suggested the transport of either dissolved organic N from soil porewater (Stackpoole et al, 2011) or particulate organic N from ditches (Kennedy et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical and Isotopic Tracers Illustrate Pathways of Nitrogen Loss in Cranberry Floodwaters

et al. 2015

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Limited research exists on the sources of nitrogen (N) in cranberry floodwaters, which have been identified as a prominent cause of concern to watershed N loading in the cranberry-producing region of southeastern Massachusetts. In this study, we used naturally occurring chemical and isotopic tracers to infer the sources of N transported by harvest floodwaters. In 2012, the cranberry bed was a net source of total N (TN), exporting 0.8 kg N ha (primarily as organic N) to a nearby lake. Systematic increases in TN concentration were associated with increasing fractions of pre-event soil water and groundwater ("porewater") in discharge. Results showed that N concentrations in porewater generally derive from the natural mixing of soil water and perched groundwater within the cranberry bed but locally display a connection to deep groundwater where the underlying peat is absent. These findings illustrate the environmental significance of stored pools of porewater in cranberry beds and the ability to focus on moments of disproportionate N transfer to most efficiently curtail floodwater N losses (i.e., 58% of N export occurred in only 22% of floodwater discharge).

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chemical and Isotopic Tracers Illustrate Pathways of Nitrogen Loss in Cranberry Floodwaters

et al. 2015

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“…Dissimilatory reduction of ammonium may be an important process in peatlands, consuming 25% of nitrate inputs (Hemond, ), but still would represent a minor N output in the absence of nitrate. The acid soil conditions of peatlands may limit nitrification (Hayden & Ross, ; Hemond, ; Hill et al, ; Rosswall & Granhaullu, ; Urban & Eisenreich, ), which is consistent with minor amounts of nitrate observed in shallow soils of cranberry peatlands (Ballentine et al, ; Stackpoole et al, ). Given the low soil pH of 4.9 in Atwood Bog, it seems reasonable to infer that nitrate production via nitrification was also low, although other mechanisms that utilize organic forms of N may provide a source of nitrate (Spott, Russow, & Strange, ).…”

Section: Nutrient Budgetsmentioning

confidence: 74%

“…Floodwater and irrigation combined for 6.1 to 7.0 kg N·ha −1 ·year −1 , or 57% to 62% of hydrological N inputs. Floodwater and irrigation inputs of N were relatively low compared to a Wisconsin bog, which received ~11 kg N·ha −1 ·year −1 from floodwater and irrigation (Stackpoole et al, ). Source waters used to irrigate and flood the Wisconsin cranberry fields were about twofold higher in TN concentration (Stackpoole et al, ), which mostly explained differences in hydrologic N inputs between the Massachusetts and Wisconsin sites.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal dynamics of water and nutrient fluxes in an agricultural peatland

Kennedy¹,

Alverson

Jeranyama

et al. 2018

Hydrological Processes

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The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is an important part of the cultural heritage and economy of Southeastern Massachusetts, yet water quality concerns and wetland protection laws challenge its commercial production. Here, we report inputs and outputs of water, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) for a 2.12‐ha cranberry bed over a 2‐year period from 2013 to 2015. Water‐budget analysis indicated that precipitation contributed 40%, floodwater 37%, irrigation 15%, and groundwater 8% of water inputs to the cranberry bed. Minor annual variation in surface water discharge (~90 mm·year−1 or 3%) contrasted with large decreases in net (= outputs − inputs) nutrient export, from 16.2 to 9.1 kg N·ha−1·year−1 for total (dissolved + suspended particulate) nitrogen (TN) and from 3.34 to 1.47 kg P·ha−1·year−1 for total phosphorus (TP) between Years 1 and 2. Annual variation in net TN and TP export was tied to decreases in spring and summer nutrient export and controlled by the combined effects of fertilizer management, soil biogeochemistry, and hydrology. The relatively high spring TN export in Year 1 was associated with coincident increases in soil temperature and rainfall. A second factor was the timing of fertilizer application, which occurred 1 day prior to a major summer storm (i.e., third largest daily rainfall since 1926) and was responsible for up to 15% and 9% of the Year 1 TN and TP export, respectively. Nutrient budgets, which balanced water and fertilizer inputs with water, fruit, and vegetative outputs, were consistent with the burial of 21.6 kg N·ha−1·year−1 and 7.27 kg P·ha−1·year−1. Field measurements indicated that burial would increase TN and TP in the shallow (0–5 cm) rooting zone by 14% and 6%, respectively, which seemed plausible based on the relatively young age of the bed (4–5 years) and new root growth patterns in Vaccinium plants.

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Amounts, forms, and management of nitrogen and phosphorus export from agricultural peatlands

Kennedy

Buda

Bryant

2020

Hydrological Processes

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Peatlands provide a setting that is well suited for cranberry agriculture in the Northeastern United States. However, misconceptions exist about the amounts and forms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export from cranberry farms. In this study, we report inorganic and organic forms of N and P export from five peatlands cultivated for cranberry production in southeastern, Massachusetts, United States. We then compare N loading rates among cranberry farms in southeastern Massachusetts, row crop farms in the Midwestern United States, and uncultivated peatlands in the United States and United Kingdom. Based on a fluvial mass balance analysis, we find that nonriparian cranberry farms export 2.56 kg of P ha −1 year −1 of total P and 12.1 kg of N ha −1 year −1 of total N. Total N export from riparian or "flow through" farms is two times higher than nonriparian farms due to less retention of N fertilizer in the vadose zone of riparian farms. Gross total N export from riparian and nonriparian cranberry farms consists of 35% particulate organic N, 26% dissolved organic N, 31% ammonium (NH 4 + ), and 8% nitrate (NO 3 − ). The low proportions of NO 3 − export (13% of total dissolved N [TDN]) for cranberry farms differ from NO 3 − export for row crop farms (75% of TDN; p < .001) but not for uncultivated peatlands (17% of TDN; p = .61). Despite being highly modified by fertilizers and artificial drainage, low NO 3 − export (2.2 kg of N ha −1 year −1 ) from cranberry farms is consistent with field measurements of rapid N turnover in uncultivated peatlands. This finding suggests that statefunded wetland restoration efforts to restore denitrification in retired cranberry farms may be limited by NO 3 − rather than soil moisture or organic matter. K E Y W O R D Sagriculture, cranberry, nitrogen, peatland, phosphorus, water quality

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Looking beyond fertilizer: assessing the contribution of nitrogen from hydrologic inputs and organic matter to plant growth in the cranberry agroecosystem

Cited by 6 publications

References 60 publications

Chemical and Isotopic Tracers Illustrate Pathways of Nitrogen Loss in Cranberry Floodwaters

Chemical and Isotopic Tracers Illustrate Pathways of Nitrogen Loss in Cranberry Floodwaters

Seasonal dynamics of water and nutrient fluxes in an agricultural peatland

Amounts, forms, and management of nitrogen and phosphorus export from agricultural peatlands

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