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Nutrient Conversions by Photosynthetic Bacteria in a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Lagoon System
Author(s) -
Sund J.L.,
Evenson C.J.,
Strevett K.A.,
Nairn R.W.,
Athay D.,
Trawinski E.
Publication year - 2001
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/jeq2001.302648x
Subject(s) - nutrient , photosynthesis , environmental science , bacteria , environmental chemistry , biology , ecology , chemistry , environmental engineering , botany , genetics
ABSTRACT A diurnal examination was conducted to determine the effect of photosynthetic bacteria on nutrient conversions in a two‐stage concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) lagoon system in west‐central Oklahoma. Changes in nutrients, microbial populations, and physical parameters were examined at three depths (0, 1.5, and 3.0 m) every 3 h over a 36‐h period. The south lagoon (SL) was anaerobic (dissolved oxygen [DO] = 0.09 ± 0.12 mg/L) while the north lagoon (NL) was facultative (DO ranged from 4.0–0.1 mg/L over 36‐h period). Negative sulfide–sulfate (−0.85) and bacteriochlorophyll a (bchl a )–sulfate (−0.83) correlations, as well as positive bchl a –sulfide (0.87) and light intensity ( I )–bchl a (0.89) correlations revealed that the SL was dominated by sulfur conversions driven by the photosynthetic purple sulfur bacteria (PSB). The correlation data was supported by diurnal trends for sulfate, sulfide, and bchl a Both nitrogen and sulfur conversions played a role in the NL; however, nitrogen conversions appeared to dominate this system because of the activity of cyanobacteria. This was shown by positive chlorophyll a (chl a )– I (0.91) and chl a –nitrate (0.98) correlations and the negative correlation between ammonium and nitrite (−0.88). Correlation data was further supported by diurnal trends observed for chl a , DO, and ammonium. For both lagoons, the dominant photosynthetic microbial species determined which nutrient conversion processes were most important.