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A Simulation Experiment on the Effectiveness of Tree and Pasture Filter Strips to Remove NO 3 –N in Lateral Soil Water Flow
Author(s) -
Wang L.,
Duggin J. A.
Publication year - 2008
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/jeq2007.0084
Subject(s) - pasture , strips , environmental science , tree (set theory) , flow (mathematics) , stream flow , hydrology (agriculture) , soil water , filter (signal processing) , water flow , soil science , geology , geotechnical engineering , mathematics , forestry , geography , engineering , geometry , drainage basin , mathematical analysis , cartography , algorithm , electrical engineering
The impact of vegetative filter strips to reduce the delivery of nonpoint source pollutants from agricultural land to inland water systems is now recognized as an important element in overall agro‐ecosystem management. A glasshouse experiment was undertaken to measure the effectiveness of tree ( Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Casuarina cunninghamiana Mq.) and pasture filter strips to intercept lateral movement of NO 3 –N in soil water. Tree treatments retained significantly more NO 3 –N associated with shallow soil water movement (between the A and B soil horizons) than bare ground. Nitrate‐N removal was not significantly different between trees and pasture, and among the tree treatments. However, uptake and accumulation of NO 3 –N by pastures was significantly ( P < 0.001) greater than the trees. The average rates of N accumulation were 0.82 g m − 2 and 1.52 g m −2 wk −1 for the tree plots and the pasture plots, respectively. The experiment also showed that the efficiency of NO 3 –N removal from soil solutions by trees was greater when NO 3 –N concentrations were relatively higher in the soil (81.4% removal at 20 mg L −1 compared to 68.1% at 10 mg L −1 ).