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Soluble and Sediment Nitrogen Losses as Related to Land Use and Type of Soil in Eastern Canada
Author(s) -
Neilsen G. H.,
MacKenzie A. F.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1977.00472425000600030018x
Subject(s) - watershed , surface runoff , sediment , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental science , soil water , nitrogen , kjeldahl method , drainage , land use , agronomy , streams , geology , soil science , ecology , chemistry , biology , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , machine learning , computer science , computer network
Abstract In order to assess the amounts and types of nitrogen lost in agricultural drainage, seven agricultural watersheds, with a range of land use patterns and types of soil in southwestern Quebec and southeastern Ontario, were selected, and measurements of discharge rates, soluble inorganic nitrogen, and sediment Kjeldahl nitrogen were made during 1974–75. Correlations of these losses with land use and kind of soil were used to identify critical watershed factors affecting nitrogen loss. Soluble inorganic N concentrations in streams did not exceed 3.5 µ g/ml. No watershed lost > 5 kg/ha soluble N, except for the watershed with the maximum corn ( Zea mays L.) acreage (33%), which lost 22.8 kg N/ha per year. The pronounced significance of spring melt runoff was demonstrated by the movement of from 56 to 100% of annual soluble N from the monitored watersheds during March, April, and May. Sediment was a major transporter of N in this area, moving from 22 to 67% of total watershed N. Watersheds with greater corn acreage and relatively impermeable soils lost more soluble N, while watersheds with more organic soils and greater cultivated area lost more sediment N.