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Factors Affecting Dissolved Phosphorus and Nitrate Concentrations in Ground and Surface Water for a Valley Dairy Farm in the Northeastern United States
Author(s) -
FloresLópez Francisco,
Easton Zachary M.,
Geohring Larry D.,
Steenhuis Tammo S.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143010x12681059116770
Subject(s) - groundwater , environmental science , water table , nitrate , hydrology (agriculture) , surface water , dissolved organic carbon , manure , phosphorus , piezometer , eutrophication , nutrient , groundwater pollution , environmental chemistry , environmental engineering , aquifer , agronomy , chemistry , geology , geotechnical engineering , organic chemistry , biology
Agriculture often is considered to be a contributor of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and nitrate‐N (NO 3 − ‐N) to surface waters. This research analyzed SRP and NO 3 − ‐N concentrations in groundwater and in a creek fed by groundwater on a valley dairy farm in the Cannonsville basin of the New York City (NYC) watershed. A total of 37 groundwater piezometers were installed to depths of 0.3 to 1.5 m. Water‐table depth and concentrations of SRP, NO 3 − ‐N, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved oxygen were measured at regular intervals over a three‐year period. A multivariate mixed model analysis of variance indicated that the SRP and NO 3 − ‐N concentrations were controlled primarily by three classes of variables: environmental variables, including precipitation and water table depth; source variables, including manure applied and crop type; and chemical variables, including DOC and dissolved oxygen concentrations in groundwater. The highest groundwater concentrations of NO 3 − ‐N and SRP were found at the shallowest water‐table depths, which has implications for agricultural nutrient management in areas with shallow groundwater.