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IMPACT OF RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS ON AGRICULTURAL NONPOINT SOURCE POLLUTION 1
Author(s) -
Snyder N. J.,
Mostaghimi S.,
Berry D. F.,
Reneau R. B.,
Hong S.,
McClellan P W.,
Smith E. P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
jawra journal of the american water resources association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.957
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1752-1688
pISSN - 1093-474X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-1688.1998.tb04143.x
Subject(s) - environmental science , nonpoint source pollution , riparian buffer , riparian zone , nitrate , hydrology (agriculture) , wetland , sampling (signal processing) , pollution , buffer strip , groundwater , watershed , nutrient , riparian forest , water quality , ecology , habitat , geotechnical engineering , filter (signal processing) , computer science , engineering , computer vision , biology , machine learning
A field monitoring study of a riparian forest buffer zone was conducted to determine the impact of the riparian ecosystem on reducing the concentration of agricultural nonpoint source pollutants. Groundwater samples were collected from 20 sampling locations between May 1993 and December 1994, and analyzed for NO 3 ‐N, PO 4 , and NH 4 ‐N. Statistical analyses such as Friedman's test, cluster analysis, cross correlation analysis and Duncan's test were performed for the nutrient data. The study showed that the ripanan buffer zone was effective in reducing nitrate concentrations originating from upland agricultural fields. Instream nitrate concentrations were 48 percent less than those measured in the agricultural field. Reductions in concentrations in sampling locations at the wetland edge ranged from 16 to 70 percent. The mean nitrate concentrations in forested hill slope were 45 percent less than concentrations in a well located in an upland agricultural field. Meanwhile, the concentrations of phosphate and ammonia did not follow any specific spatial trend and were generally higher during the summer season for most sampling locations.