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Riparian Forest Cover Modulates Phosphorus Storage and Nitrogen Cycling in Agricultural Stream Sediments

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Abstract

Watershed land cover affects in-stream water quality and sediment nutrient dynamics. The presence of natural land cover in the riparian zone can reduce the negative effects of agricultural land use on water quality; however, literature evaluating the effects of natural riparian land cover on stream sediment nutrient dynamics is scarce. The objective of this study was to assess if stream sediment phosphorus retention and nitrogen removal varies with riparian forest cover in agricultural watersheds. Stream sediment nutrient dynamics from 28 sites with mixed land cover were sampled three times during the growing season. Phosphorus dynamics and nitrification rates did not change considerably throughout the study period. Sediment total phosphorus concentrations and nitrification rates decreased as riparian forest cover increased likely due to a decline in fine, organic material. Denitrification rates were strongly correlated to surface water nitrate concentrations. Denitrification rate and denitrification enzyme activity decreased with an increase in forest cover during the first sampling period only. The first sampling period coincided with the greatest connectivity between the watershed and in-stream processing, indicating that riparian forest cover indirectly decreased denitrification rates by reducing the concentrations of dissolved nutrients entering the stream. This reduction in load may allow the sediment to maintain greater nitrogen removal efficiency, because bacteria are not saturated with nitrogen. Riparian forest cover also appeared to lessen the effect of agriculture in the watershed by decreasing the amount of fine material in the stream, resulting in reduced phosphorus storage in the stream sediment.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Alexandra Guenther, Cassandra Baranczyk, Paxton Smith, Steve Houdek, Devyn Edge, and Kenna Breckner for help with sample collection and analysis. We thank Shirley Yuan, John Manier, and Derek Craig for analyzing the water column nutrient samples and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center GIS laboratory for GIS support. An earlier version of this manuscript was greatly improved by the reviews of Dr. Tanja Williamson, Dr. Jason Taylor, and three anonymous reviewers. This research was funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the USGS Fisheries and Environments Programs. Raw data are available in USGS ScienceBase (10.5066/P9PAS8DP). Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

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  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA

    R. M. Kreiling, L. A. Bartsch, P. M. Perner & E. J. Hlavacek

  2. U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Moundsview, MN, USA

    V. G. Christensen

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Kreiling, R.M., Bartsch, L.A., Perner, P.M. et al. Riparian Forest Cover Modulates Phosphorus Storage and Nitrogen Cycling in Agricultural Stream Sediments. Environmental Management 68, 279–293 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01484-9

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