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

Kennedy, CD; Buda, AR; Bryant, RayB

HERO ID

8044035

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2020

HERO ID 8044035
In Press No
Year 2020
Title Amounts, forms, and management of nitrogen and phosphorus export from agricultural peatlands
Authors Kennedy, CD; Buda, AR; Bryant, RayB
Journal Hydrological Processes
Volume 34
Issue 8
Page Numbers 1768-1781
Abstract 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 (NH4+), and 8% nitrate (NO3-). The low proportions of NO3- export (13% of total dissolved N [TDN]) for cranberry farms differ from NO3- 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 NO3- 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 state-funded wetland restoration efforts to restore denitrification in retired cranberry farms may be limited by NO3- rather than soil moisture or organic matter.
Doi 10.1002/hyp.13671
Wosid WOS:000525581900007
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Is Public Yes
Keyword agriculture; cranberry; nitrogen; peatland; phosphorus; water quality