Water Quality Effects of Switchgrass Intercropping on Pine Forest in Coastal North Carolina

2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1607-1620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Augustine Muwamba ◽  
Devendra M. Amatya ◽  
George M. Chescheir ◽  
Jami E. Nettles ◽  
Timothy Appelboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Treatment Effects ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Concentration Effects ◽  
Total Load ◽  
Load Effects ◽  
Paired Watershed

Abstract. Interplanting a cellulosic bioenergy crop (switchgrass, L.) between loblolly pine ( L.) rows could potentially provide a sustainable source of bio-feedstock without competing for land currently in food production. The objectives of this study were to: (1) quantify the concentrations and loads of drainage water nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (phosphate) associated with establishment and growth of switchgrass treatments and compare them with those for a mid-rotation pine forest (control), and (2) quantify the treatment effects on drainage water N and phosphate (IC) and switchgrass only (SG). Thinned mid-rotation loblolly pine with natural understory (MP) was used as the control. Pretreatment calibration equations for nutrients were obtained using a paired watershed approach and bootstrap geometric regression with 2007-2008 data, when pine on all sites had reached canopy closure. Treatment effects were calculated as the difference between expected values from the pretreatment relationship and measured data for the treatment period. Precipitation, outflow, and N and phosphate concentrations in the outflow were measured during calibration (Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2008), site preparation for switchgrass establishment (Nov. 2009 to Mar. 2012), and switchgrass growth (Apr. 2012 to Apr. 2014). Mean NO3-N concentrations and loads were significantly (a = 0.05) greater for SG than for IC during the switchgrass growth period. Average treatment concentrations with standard errors and total load effects during switchgrass growth for NO3-N followed the trends SG (-0.002 ±0.01 mg L-1) > IC (-0.12 ±0.04 mg L-1) and SG (0.75kg ha-1) > IC (0.23kg ha-1), respectively. For phosphate average concentrations and loads, the treatment effects during switchgrass growth followed the trends SG (-0.004 ± mg L-1) >IC ( -0.02 ± mg L-1) and IC (-0.43 kg ha-1) > SG (-0.70 kg ha-1), respectively. Average concentration effects for NO3-N and phosphate and total load effects for phosphate significantly (a = 0.05) decreased for IC compared to the MP control. These results suggest that the intercropping treatment (IC) with loblolly pine and switchgrass improved water quality by reducing NO3-N and phosphate concentrations and phosphate loads. Keywords: Bioenergy crop, Bootstrap geometric regression, Loblolly pine, Nutrients, Paired watershed.

scholarly journals Response of Drainage Water Quality to Fertilizer Applications on a Switchgrass Intercropped Coastal Pine Forest

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1265
Author(s):  
Augustine Muwamba ◽  
Devendra M. Amatya ◽  
George M. Chescheir ◽  
Jamie E. Nettles ◽  
Timothy Appelboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Plant Uptake ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Site Preparation ◽  
Pine Forest ◽  
Nutrient Fluxes ◽  
Acidic Site ◽  
N Concentration ◽  
The Mean ◽  
P Fluxes

The objectives of this study were (1) to test the hypothesis that fertilizer applications do not increase nutrient fluxes on a switchgrass/pine forest (IC) when compared to a mature pine forest (MP) and (2) to evaluate post-fertilization (post-fert, 2014–2016) fluxes of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) on IC and compare them to those observed during switchgrass growth prior to fertilization (pre-fert, 2012–2014) and site preparation for switchgrass establishment (site prep, 2009–2012). Nitrogen and P were applied to IC, a paired pure switchgrass site (SG), and MP, each about 25 ha in size, in June 2014, and again in June 2015 for the IC and SG sites only. Nitrogen and P concentrations were measured biweekly and rainfall and drainage outflow were measured continuously. During post-fert, the mean N concentrations and total loads were lower (p < 0.05) in IC than in SG and MP. The mean NO3-N concentration and loads in IC were lower during post-fert than during site prep. The post-fert phosphate concentrations in IC were lower than they were during pre-fert and site prep. Frequent N and P applications in IC did not significantly (α = 0.05) increase N and P fluxes, likely due to plant uptake and sorption on the acidic site.

Impact of Fertigation versus Controlled-release Fertilizer Formulations on Nitrate Concentrations in Nursery Drainage Water

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Chris Wilson ◽  
Joseph P. Albano
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Controlled Release ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Fertilization Program ◽  
Median Concentration ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Production Area ◽  
Foliage Plant ◽  
Production Areas

Nitrate-nitrogen (N) losses in surface drainage and runoff water from ornamental plant production areas can be considerable. In N-limited watersheds, discharge of N from production areas can have negative impacts on nontarget aquatic systems. This study monitored nitrate-N concentrations in production area drainage water originating from a foliage plant production area. Concentrations in drainage water were monitored during the transition from 100% reliance on fertigation using urea and nitrate-based soluble formulations (SF) to a nitrate-based controlled-release formulation (CRF). During the SF use period, nitrate-N concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 322.0 mg·L−1 with a median concentration of 31.2 mg·L−1. Conversely, nitrate-N concentrations during the controlled-release fertilization program ranged from 0 to 147.9 mg·L−1 with a median concentration of 0.9 mg·L−1. This project demonstrates that nitrate-N concentrations in drainage water during the CRF program were reduced by 94% to 97% at the 10th through 95th percentiles relative to the SF fertilization program. Nitrate-N concentrations in drainage water from foliage plant production areas can be reduced by using CRF fertilizer formulations relative to SF formulations/fertigation. Similar results should be expected for other similar containerized crops. Managers located within N-limited watersheds facing N water quality regulations should consider the use of CRF fertilizer formulations as a potential tool (in addition to appropriate application rates and irrigation management) for reducing production impacts on water quality.

Water Quality Effects of Clearcutting Upper Coastal Plain Loblolly Pine Plantations

1985 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Mc Clurkin ◽  
P. D. Duffy ◽  
S. J. Ursic ◽  
N. S. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Loblolly Pine ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Pine Plantations

scholarly journals Impact of Controlled Drainage and Subirrigation on Water Quality in the Red River Valley

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
Kristen Almen ◽  
Xinhua Jia ◽  
Thomas DeSutter ◽  
Thomas Scherer ◽  
Minglian Lin
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Surface Water Quality ◽  
Drainage Water ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Red River ◽  
Nutrient Loss ◽  
Controlled Drainage ◽  
Red River Valley ◽  
The Impact

The potential impact of controlled drainage (CD), which limits drainage outflow, and subirrigation (SI), which provides supplemental water through drain tile, on surface water quality are not well known in the Red River Valley (RRV). In this study, water samples were collected and analyzed for chemical concentrations from a tile-drained field that also has controlled drainage and subirrigation modes in the RRV of southeastern North Dakota from 2012–2018. A decreasing trend in overall nutrient load loss was observed because of reduced drainage outflow, though some chemical concentrations were found to be above the recommended surface water quality standards in this region. For example, sulfate was recommended to be below 750 mg/L but was reported at a mean value of 1971 mg/L during spring free drainage. The chemical composition of the subirrigation water was shown to have an impact on drainage water and the soil, specifically on salinity-related parameters, and the impact varied between years. This variation largely depended on the amount of subirrigation applied, soil moisture, and soil properties. Overall, the results of this study show the benefits of controlled drainage on nutrient loss reduction from agricultural fields.

A WETLAND TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE WATER QUALITY

2002 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Miller ◽  
J. K. Mitchell ◽  
R. A. Cooke ◽  
B. A. Engel
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Subsurface Drainage ◽  
Drainage Water

Modeling Miscanthus in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to Simulate Its Water Quality Effects As a Bioenergy Crop

2010 ◽  
Vol 44 (18) ◽  
pp. 7138-7144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tze Ling Ng ◽  
J. Wayland Eheart ◽  
Ximing Cai ◽  
Fernando Miguez
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Bioenergy Crop ◽  
Water Assessment ◽  
Soil And Water
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