Abstract
Constructed wetlands are recognized as a means to improve water quality through nitrogen (N) removal. Water-quality concerns in the N-sensitive Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina, USA, have necessitated enactment of a 30% reduction, in nitrogen (N) loading accompanied by an N loading cap. Open Grounds Farm (OGF) is an 18,220-ha row-crop farm located in the lower Neuse River Estuary. In 1999, a wetland was constructed to remove nutrients (N and Phosphorus), sediment, and pathogens in surface water draining from a 971-ha area of OGF. The wetland site is 5.1 ha of alternating segments of emergent marsh and open water. Nitrogen removal from the wetland via denitrification was measured monthly by analysis of dissolved nitrogen, oxygen, and argon in laboratory incubated sediment chambers using a Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometer (MIMS). Nitrate concentration appeared to be the primary variable controlling denitrification rates. Spatial and temporal variability in rates of denitrification were investigated, including pre- and post- N loading events. Following rainfall, there was a 400% increase in denitrification rates in response to increased inorganic N loading. Nutrient loads entering and leaving the wetland were determined from nutrient analysis (twice monthly), intensive precipitation event sampling, and continuous flow measurements at the entrance and exit of the, wetland. Results indicated that the wetland received variable N loading (1-1,720 kg N per month) and had variable N removal via denitrification (8-81 kg N per month). Denitrification was an important mechanism for N removal.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Bachand, P. A. M. and A. J. Horne. 2000. Denitrification in constructed free-water surface wetlands: II Effects of vegetation and temperature. Ecological Engineering 14:17–32.
Caffery, J. M. and W. M. Kemp. 1990. Nitrogen cycling in sediments with estuarine populations ofPotamogeton perfoliatus andZostera marina. Marine Ecology Progress Series. 66:147–160.
Casey, R. E., M. D. Taylor, and S. J. Klaine. 2001. Mechanisms of nutrient attenuation in a subsurface flow riparian wetland. Journal of Environmental Quality 30:1732–1737.
Coffey, S. 1997. Selected, agricultural best management practices to control nitrogen in the Neuse River basin. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. Technical Bulletin 1-50.
Copeland, B. J. and J. Gray. 1991. Status and trends report of the Albermarle-Pamlico Estuary. p. 17–56.In J. Stell (ed.) Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine study report 90-01. North Carolina Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, NC.
Cornwell, J. C., W. M. Kemp, and T. M. Kana. 1999. Denitrification in coastal ecosystems, environmental controls, and ecosystem level controls, a review. Aquatic Ecology 33:41–54.
Crumpton, W. G., T. M. Isenhart, and S. W. Fisher. 1993. Fate of non-point source nitrate loads in freshwater wetlands: results from experimental wetlandmesocosms. p. 283–292.In G. A. Moshiri (ed.) Constructed Wetlands for WaterQuality Improvement. Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Franklin, E. C., J. D. Gregory, D. W. Hazel, and J. E. Parsons. 2000. Management of filter zones for dispersion and treatment of agricultural runoff. Water Resources Research Institute, Raleigh, NC, USA. 312/202.
Groffman, P. 1994. Denitrification in freshwater wetlands. Current Topics in Wetland Biogeochemistry 1:5–35.
Gustafson, A., S. Fleischer, and A. Joelsson 2000. A catchmentoriented and cost-effective policy for water protection. Ecological Engineering 14:419–427.
Joye, S. B. and H. W. Paerl. 1993. Contemporaneous nitrogen fixation and denitrification in intertidal microbial mats: rapid response to runoff events. Marine Ecology Progress Series 94:267–274.
Kadlec, R. H. and R. L. Knight. 1996. Treatment Wetlands. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Kana, T. M., C. Darkangelo, M. D. Hunt, J. B. Oldham, G. E. Bennett, and J. C. Cornwell. 1994. Membrane inlet mass spectrometer for rapid high-precision determination of N2, O2, and Ar in environmental water samples. Analytical Chemistry 66:4166–4170.
Kana, T. M. 1998. Denitrification in estuarine sediments determined by membrane inlet mass spectrometry. Limnology and Oceanography 43:334–339.
Knowles, R. 1990. Acetylene inhibition technique: development, advantages, and potential problems. p. 151–165.In N. P. Revsbech and J. Sorensen (eds.) Denitrification in Soil and Sediment. Plenum Press, New York, NY, USA.
Murray, R. E., L. L. Parsons, and M. S. Smith. 1989. Kinetics of nitrate utilization by mixed populations of denitrifying bacteria. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 55:717–721.
Neff, J. C., E. A. Holland, F. J. Dentener, W. H. McDowell, and K. M. Russell. 2002. Atmospheric organic nitrogen; implications for the global N cycle. Biogeochemistry 57/58:99–136.
Olson, R. K. 1992. Evaluating the role of created and natural wetlands in controlling nonpoint source pollution. Ecological Engineering 1:xi-xv.
Paerl, H. W., M. A. Mallin, J. Rudek, and P. W. Bates. 1990. The potential for eutrophication and nuisance algal blooms in the lower Neuse River Estuary. North Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Albermarle- Pamlico Estuarine Study Report 90-15.
Paerl, H. W. 1997. Coastal eutrophication and harmful algal blooms: Importance of atmospheric deposition and groundwater as “new” nitrogen and other nutrient sources. Limnology and Oceanography 42:1154–1165.
Phipps, R. G. and W. G. Crumpton. 1994. Factors affecting nitrogen loss in experimental wetlands with different hydrologic loads. Ecological Engineering 3:399–408.
Rudek, J., H. W. Paerl, M. A. Mallin, and P. W. Bates. 1991. Seasonal and hydrological control of phytoplankton nutrient limitation in the lower Neuse River Estuary, North Carolina. Marine Ecology Progress Series 75:133–142.
Sartoris, J. J., J. S. Thullen, L. B. Barber, and D. E. Salas. 2000. Investigation of nitrogen transformations in a southern California constructed wastewater treatment wetland. Ecological Engineering 14:49–65.
Saunders, D. L. and J. Kalff. 2001. Nitrogen retention in wetlands, lakes and rivers. Hydrobiologia 443:205–212.
Seitzinger, S. P. 1993. Denitrification measurements in aquatic sediments: A comparison of three methods. Biogeochemistry 23:147–167.
Smith, L. K., J. J. Sartoris, J. S. Thullen, and D. C. Anderson. 2000. Investigation of denitrification rates in an ammonia-dominated constructed wastewater-treatment. Wetlands 20:684–696.
Spieles, D. J. and W. J. Mitsch. 2000. The effects of season and hydrologic and chemical loading on nitrate retention in constructed wetlands: a comparison of low and high- nutrient riverine systems. Ecological Engineering 14:77–91.
Thompson, S. P., H. W. Paerl, and M. C. Go. 1998. Denitrification dynamics of an estuarine headwater creek receiving agricultural runoff. Water Resources Research Institute. Raleigh, NC, USA. 317/60.
Whitall, D. R. and H. W. Paerl. 2001. Spatiotemporal variability of wet atmospheric nitrogen deposition to the Neuse River Estuary, NC. Journal of Environmental Quality 30:1508–1515.
Xue, Y., D. A. Kovacic, M. B. David, L. E. Gentry, R. L. Mulvaney, and C. W. Lindau. 1999. In situ measurements of denitrification in constructed wetlands. Journal of Environmental Quality 28: 263–269.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Poe, A.C., Piehler, M.F., Thompson, S.P. et al. Denitrification in a constructed wetland receiving agricultural runoff. Wetlands 23, 817–826 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2003)023[0817:DIACWR]2.0.CO;2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2003)023[0817:DIACWR]2.0.CO;2