Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river
S. Ullah, H. Zhang, A.L. Heathwaite, C. Heppell, K. Lansdown, A. Binley, M. Trimmer
Emergent vegetation in river beds can play a significant role in nutrient cycling in riverine sediments. We analysed and compared pore water NO3 − concentration gradients in the sediments of the River Leith, Cumbria, UK, in the presence and absence of emergent vegetation (dominated by Sparganium spp.). High resolution (1 cm interval), in situ, vertical profiles of NO3 − to 30 cm depth were measured using deployment of diffusive equilibrium in thin films probes on four occasions from July to September 2010. We found significantly (p < 0.05) lower NO3 − concentration under vegetated sediments (VS) compared to those under adjacent un-vegetated sediments (UVS). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, measured in pore water collected from multi-level piezometers at 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm depths at the VS and UVS sties, were generally lower under VS (median concentration = 28 μM) than under UVS (median = 132 μM) and correlated significantly with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = 0.74, p < 0.05). Similarly, pore water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 2.8 times higher under VS compared to UVS, and correlated negatively with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = −0.39, p < 0.05). Specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm (SUVA) and per cent aromaticity values of DOC were significantly higher under VS (p < 0.05), suggesting that the DOC contained more complex (aromatic) compounds than DOC recorded under UVS. We suggest that, the higher quantity of DOC and its distinct SUVA and percentage aromaticity under VS may have supported faster dissolved oxygen consumption, with the creation of anoxic zones conducive for NO3 − reduction mainly through denitrification. Metabolic uptake and immobilization of NO3 − by plants and microbes may have further contributed to lower NO3 − concentrations under VS. As Sparganium spp. is a common plant growing in river beds in the UK, its role in NO3 − cycling should be considered in attempts to accurately budget N cycling in river beds.
Nitrate cycling
Riverbed sediments
Emergent vegetation
Groundwater-fed rivers
10.1007/s10533-013-9909-2Licence: None: All rights reserved
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9909-2Licence: None: All rights reserved
Dive into the research topics of 'Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Nitrate Chemistry 100%
nitrate Earth & Environmental Sciences 96%
groundwater Earth & Environmental Sciences 80%
vegetation Earth & Environmental Sciences 80%
river Earth & Environmental Sciences 65%
sediment Earth & Environmental Sciences 63%
Pore Chemistry 52%
dissolved organic carbon Earth & Environmental Sciences 45%
Ullah, S., Zhang, H., Heathwaite, A. L., Heppell, C., Lansdown, K., Binley, A., & Trimmer, M. (2014). Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river. Biogeochemistry, 118, 121-134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9909-2
Ullah, S. ; Zhang, H. ; Heathwaite, A.L. ; Heppell, C. ; Lansdown, K. ; Binley, A. ; Trimmer, M. / Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river. In: Biogeochemistry. 2014 ; Vol. 118. pp. 121-134.
@article{9f335eea07334ed6abd98080f49a9de9,
title = "Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river",
abstract = "Emergent vegetation in river beds can play a significant role in nutrient cycling in riverine sediments. We analysed and compared pore water NO3 − concentration gradients in the sediments of the River Leith, Cumbria, UK, in the presence and absence of emergent vegetation (dominated by Sparganium spp.). High resolution (1 cm interval), in situ, vertical profiles of NO3 − to 30 cm depth were measured using deployment of diffusive equilibrium in thin films probes on four occasions from July to September 2010. We found significantly (p < 0.05) lower NO3 − concentration under vegetated sediments (VS) compared to those under adjacent un-vegetated sediments (UVS). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, measured in pore water collected from multi-level piezometers at 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm depths at the VS and UVS sties, were generally lower under VS (median concentration = 28 μM) than under UVS (median = 132 μM) and correlated significantly with NO3 − concentration (Spearman{\textquoteright}s r = 0.74, p < 0.05). Similarly, pore water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 2.8 times higher under VS compared to UVS, and correlated negatively with NO3 − concentration (Spearman{\textquoteright}s r = −0.39, p < 0.05). Specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm (SUVA) and per cent aromaticity values of DOC were significantly higher under VS (p < 0.05), suggesting that the DOC contained more complex (aromatic) compounds than DOC recorded under UVS. We suggest that, the higher quantity of DOC and its distinct SUVA and percentage aromaticity under VS may have supported faster dissolved oxygen consumption, with the creation of anoxic zones conducive for NO3 − reduction mainly through denitrification. Metabolic uptake and immobilization of NO3 − by plants and microbes may have further contributed to lower NO3 − concentrations under VS. As Sparganium spp. is a common plant growing in river beds in the UK, its role in NO3 − cycling should be considered in attempts to accurately budget N cycling in river beds.",
keywords = "Nitrate cycling, Riverbed sediments, Water quality, Emergent vegetation, Groundwater-fed rivers",
author = "S. Ullah and H. Zhang and A.L. Heathwaite and C. Heppell and K. Lansdown and A. Binley and M. Trimmer",
journal = "Biogeochemistry",
Ullah, S, Zhang, H, Heathwaite, AL, Heppell, C, Lansdown, K, Binley, A & Trimmer, M 2014, 'Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river', Biogeochemistry, vol. 118, pp. 121-134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9909-2
Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river. / Ullah, S.; Zhang, H.; Heathwaite, A.L.; Heppell, C.; Lansdown, K.; Binley, A.; Trimmer, M.
In: Biogeochemistry, Vol. 118, 04.2014, p. 121-134.
T1 - Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river
AU - Ullah, S.
AU - Zhang, H.
AU - Heathwaite, A.L.
AU - Heppell, C.
AU - Lansdown, K.
AU - Binley, A.
AU - Trimmer, M.
N2 - Emergent vegetation in river beds can play a significant role in nutrient cycling in riverine sediments. We analysed and compared pore water NO3 − concentration gradients in the sediments of the River Leith, Cumbria, UK, in the presence and absence of emergent vegetation (dominated by Sparganium spp.). High resolution (1 cm interval), in situ, vertical profiles of NO3 − to 30 cm depth were measured using deployment of diffusive equilibrium in thin films probes on four occasions from July to September 2010. We found significantly (p < 0.05) lower NO3 − concentration under vegetated sediments (VS) compared to those under adjacent un-vegetated sediments (UVS). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, measured in pore water collected from multi-level piezometers at 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm depths at the VS and UVS sties, were generally lower under VS (median concentration = 28 μM) than under UVS (median = 132 μM) and correlated significantly with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = 0.74, p < 0.05). Similarly, pore water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 2.8 times higher under VS compared to UVS, and correlated negatively with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = −0.39, p < 0.05). Specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm (SUVA) and per cent aromaticity values of DOC were significantly higher under VS (p < 0.05), suggesting that the DOC contained more complex (aromatic) compounds than DOC recorded under UVS. We suggest that, the higher quantity of DOC and its distinct SUVA and percentage aromaticity under VS may have supported faster dissolved oxygen consumption, with the creation of anoxic zones conducive for NO3 − reduction mainly through denitrification. Metabolic uptake and immobilization of NO3 − by plants and microbes may have further contributed to lower NO3 − concentrations under VS. As Sparganium spp. is a common plant growing in river beds in the UK, its role in NO3 − cycling should be considered in attempts to accurately budget N cycling in river beds.
AB - Emergent vegetation in river beds can play a significant role in nutrient cycling in riverine sediments. We analysed and compared pore water NO3 − concentration gradients in the sediments of the River Leith, Cumbria, UK, in the presence and absence of emergent vegetation (dominated by Sparganium spp.). High resolution (1 cm interval), in situ, vertical profiles of NO3 − to 30 cm depth were measured using deployment of diffusive equilibrium in thin films probes on four occasions from July to September 2010. We found significantly (p < 0.05) lower NO3 − concentration under vegetated sediments (VS) compared to those under adjacent un-vegetated sediments (UVS). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, measured in pore water collected from multi-level piezometers at 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm depths at the VS and UVS sties, were generally lower under VS (median concentration = 28 μM) than under UVS (median = 132 μM) and correlated significantly with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = 0.74, p < 0.05). Similarly, pore water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 2.8 times higher under VS compared to UVS, and correlated negatively with NO3 − concentration (Spearman's r = −0.39, p < 0.05). Specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm (SUVA) and per cent aromaticity values of DOC were significantly higher under VS (p < 0.05), suggesting that the DOC contained more complex (aromatic) compounds than DOC recorded under UVS. We suggest that, the higher quantity of DOC and its distinct SUVA and percentage aromaticity under VS may have supported faster dissolved oxygen consumption, with the creation of anoxic zones conducive for NO3 − reduction mainly through denitrification. Metabolic uptake and immobilization of NO3 − by plants and microbes may have further contributed to lower NO3 − concentrations under VS. As Sparganium spp. is a common plant growing in river beds in the UK, its role in NO3 − cycling should be considered in attempts to accurately budget N cycling in river beds.
KW - Nitrate cycling
KW - Riverbed sediments
KW - Emergent vegetation
KW - Groundwater-fed rivers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84896351767&partnerID=MN8TOARS
JO - Biogeochemistry
JF - Biogeochemistry
Ullah S, Zhang H, Heathwaite AL, Heppell C, Lansdown K, Binley A et al. Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river. Biogeochemistry. 2014 Apr;118:121-134. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10533-013-9909-2