Storm size and hydrologic modification influence nitrate mobilization and transport in agricultural watersheds

Speir, Shannon L.; Tank, Jennifer L.; Bieroza, Magdalena; Mahl, Ursula H.; Royer, Todd V.

doi:10.1007/s10533-021-00847-y

Cited by 25 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…For example, streamflow was composed of 14% direct groundwater upwelling and 70% shallow groundwater infiltration into tile drains in November, while in September, streamflow was 70% direct groundwater upwelling and 23% shallow groundwater tile drain infiltration (Figure 5c). Importantly, our sampling was limited to baseflow conditions, and we suggest that further exploration is needed to identify the contribution of groundwater relative to other water sources during stormflows, as these events play an important role in water and nutrient export at SDW (Speir et al, 2021) and in agricultural watersheds more generally (Royer et al, 2006; Vidon & Cuadra, 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Importantly, our sampling was limited to baseflow conditions, and we suggest that further exploration is needed to identify the contribution of groundwater relative to other water sources during stormflows, as these events play an important role in water and nutrient export at SDW (Speir et al, 2021) and in agricultural watersheds more generally (Royer et al, 2006;Vidon & Cuadra, 2011).…”

Section: Stream Composition Is Primarily Groundwater At Sdwmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Grose

Speir

Thellman

et al. 2022

Hydrological Processes

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Diffuse nutrient runoff from agricultural fields can result in the eutrophication of downstream water bodies, highlighting a need for conservation efforts to reduce dissolved nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loading to adjacent waterways. However, few studies explore how the impacts of field‐scale conservation manifest at the watershed scale. We explored how sources of streamflow and nutrients may influence the magnitude of the impact of conservation practices at a field versus watershed scale at the Shatto ditch watershed (SDW), where the planting of winter cover crops reduced field‐scale nitrate‐N (NO3−‐N) losses from subsurface tile drains by 69%–90%; yet watershed NO3−‐N export only decreased by 13%. To resolve this discrepancy, we used a water budget approach paired with water stable isotope (18O and 2H) analysis to determine the composition of streamflow across seasons, sampling five times from November 2018 to September 2019. While we hypothesized that watershed‐scale patterns in nutrient export were driven by direct groundwater upwelling, we found that this pathway only accounted for 43% of streamflow on average. We also developed a NO3−‐N mass balance for the watershed during our November 2018 sampling; results indicated groundwater upwelling contributed only ~1% of NO3−‐N export at the watershed outlet, while subsurface tile drains contributed the remaining 99%. Specifically, three large county tile drains (with an unknown drainage area and extent of conservation practice implementation) contributed ~69% of the watershed NO3−‐N export, obscuring the impacts of field‐scale conservation in SDW. Our study highlights the importance of cross‐scale analyses to accurately evaluate the effect of conservation given the interactions between sources of streamflow and nutrient loss at the watershed scale.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Stream Composition Is Primarily Groundwater At Sdwmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Grose

Speir

Thellman

et al. 2022

Hydrological Processes

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“…Though the effects of direct global change are well documented for human-impacted systems in the temperate and boreal climatic zones, less attention has been focused on regions experiencing accelerated environmental change, such as the polar and cold regions, , as well as regions where long-term monitoring is not currently feasible (e.g., regions experiencing civil unrest). High-frequency water quality measurements could help to improve spatial coverage of water quality data sets in these regions and advance the mechanistic understanding of global long-term change patterns. ,, …”

Section: Exploring the Full Potential Of High-frequency Water Quality...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“… 114 A common way to summarize storm event c - q patterns is to calculate hysteresis and flushing indices that quantify the magnitude and direction of the c - q hysteresis 115 and concentration/dilution behavior 77 , 114 respectively. Often these metrics are used in combination (see, e.g., refs ( 31 , 77 , 116 )) to detect c - q patterns across temporal scales, e.g., from individual storm events and seasons to hydrological years and decades 14 , 117 and across different catchments. 118 Most studies of c - q patterns from high-frequency measurements have primarily focused on event-driven hydrological flushing patterns (concentration or dilution) with fewer studies investigating c - q relationships for low and stable flow conditions.…”

Section: Exploring the Full Potential Of High-frequency Water Quality...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Catchment Science, Hydrochemistry, and Aquatic Ecology Enabled by High-Frequency Water Quality Measurements

Bieroza

Acharya

Benisch

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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High-frequency water quality measurements in streams and rivers have expanded in scope and sophistication during the last two decades. Existing technology allows in situ automated measurements of water quality constituents, including both solutes and particulates, at unprecedented frequencies from seconds to subdaily sampling intervals. This detailed chemical information can be combined with measurements of hydrological and biogeochemical processes, bringing new insights into the sources, transport pathways, and transformation processes of solutes and particulates in complex catchments and along the aquatic continuum. Here, we summarize established and emerging high-frequency water quality technologies, outline key high-frequency hydrochemical data sets, and review scientific advances in key focus areas enabled by the rapid development of high-frequency water quality measurements in streams and rivers. Finally, we discuss future directions and challenges for using high-frequency water quality measurements to bridge scientific and management gaps by promoting a holistic understanding of freshwater systems and catchment status, health, and function.

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Influence of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and coastal nitrate export for Prince Edward Island, Canada

Pavlovskii

Jiang

Danielescu

et al. 2023

Hydrological Processes

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The export of anthropogenic nitrate to coastal waters, which depends on the interplay between many factors such as land use and meteorological forcing, is a rising concern in many regions of the world. The present study investigates the effect of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and associated groundwaterdriven nitrate export in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Twenty-year time-series of precipitation, stream flow, and groundwater levels across the island were analysed to establish a three-way relationship between precipitation, groundwater level rise, and baseflow increase along a hydrological response pathway in this island setting. The analysis was performed by extracting hydrological responses for groundwater level and baseflow for a selected subset of relatively isolated precipitation events. The results reveal a non-linear relationship between precipitation event magnitude and baseflow change that is also observed for precipitation events associated with hurricanes and post tropical storms. A time-series of streamflow nitrate concentrations during Hurricane Dorian's passage (September 2019) was used to evaluate the relevance of these findings for nitrate export. The data show that baseflow increases after a heavy precipitation event have limited impact on streamflow concentrations, but result in substantial and sustained increase of nitrate export (calculated by multiplying concentration by flow). These observations are consistent with a recharge-induced water table rise leading to increased hydraulic gradients that drive discharge of shallow nitrate-containing groundwater. Due to the similarity of the processes governing groundwater flow to the sea and to streams, the results can be used to gain insights into the impacts of precipitation event magnitude on direct groundwater discharge to coastal waters. On Prince Edward Island, this applies to at least the 13% of the island's surface area that is closer to the ocean than to any stream and likely feeds submarine groundwater discharge pathways.

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Storm size and hydrologic modification influence nitrate mobilization and transport in agricultural watersheds

Cited by 25 publications

References 55 publications

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Advances in Catchment Science, Hydrochemistry, and Aquatic Ecology Enabled by High-Frequency Water Quality Measurements

Influence of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and coastal nitrate export for Prince Edward Island, Canada

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Storm size and hydrologic modification influence nitrate mobilization and transport in agricultural watersheds

Cited by 25 publications

References 55 publications

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO3−‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO3−‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Advances in Catchment Science, Hydrochemistry, and Aquatic Ecology Enabled by High-Frequency Water Quality Measurements

Influence of precipitation event magnitude on baseflow and coastal nitrate export for Prince Edward Island, Canada

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Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale

Water transport pathways influence the propagation of field‐scale NO₃⁻‐N reductions to the watershed scale