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Nitrogen source tracing in the Choptank River Watershed

Nitrogen source tracing in the Choptank River Watershed. Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Forms of Nitrogen. N 2. N stable isotopes: how it works. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +. +.

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Nitrogen source tracing in the Choptank River Watershed

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  1. Nitrogen source tracing in the Choptank River Watershed Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

  2. Forms of Nitrogen N2

  3. N stable isotopes: how it works + + + + + + + + + + + + + + - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  4. The 15N:14N ratio can vary depending on how nitrogen is used 14N 15N Ratio referred to as d15N

  5. Amount of nitrogen (%N) does not equal d15N %N < %N d15N > d15N

  6. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation

  7. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation

  8. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation Biological fixation

  9. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation Industrial fixation Biological fixation

  10. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation Volatilization Industrial fixation Biological fixation

  11. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation Volatilization Industrial fixation Denitrification Biological fixation Ammonium Nitrite Nitrate

  12. Nitrogen Cycle Atmospheric nitrogen Atmospheric fixation Volatilization Industrial fixation Denitrification Biological fixation Ammonium Nitrite Nitrate

  13. 30 Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Denitrification 25 20 15 d15N 10 Low nitrogen and activity Fertilizer source 5 0 -5 0 1 2 3 4 5 % Nitrogen

  14. Objectives • Delineate the nitrogen contribution of different activities in the Choptank River Watershed (e.g. poultry, dairy, sewage, cropping, sod, slaughterhouse) • Adopt combination of water quality and nitrogen stable isotope composition in aquatic plants and water samples. • Relate findings to land-use practices • Identify focus areas for further work / targeting of management activities

  15. Sampling Sites Colliers Farm Oakland Farm Denton STP Cordova Easton STP Cambridge STP

  16. What we collected • Phragmites along Choptank River • d15N • %N • Grasses in Choptank watershed • d15N • %N • Water quality • MRC • This project

  17. Sample analysis

  18. Results Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Denitrification Low nitrogen and activity Fertilizer source

  19. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Watershed River Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  20. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Opposite Cambridge STP Choptank Above Tuckahoe Easton STP Denton Gaineys Wharf Huntington Ck. Tuckahoe R. Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  21. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Opposite Cambridge STP Choptank Above Tuckahoe Easton STP Denton Gaineys Wharf Huntington Ck. Tuckahoe R. Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  22. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Oakland (corn – unirrigated /manure) Oakland Spray irrigated dairy Oakland (corn - irrigated) Oakland (pond grass) Oakland (manure) Cordova CkTrib (poultry, manure, slaughterhouse) Cordova CkTrib (Downstream Poultry) Masons Branch Trib. Downstream poultry Masons Branch Trib. Upstream poultry Cordova Ck (downstream slaughterhouse) Colliers (corn – chicken manure) Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  23. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Oakland (corn – unirrigated /manure) Oakland Spray irrigated dairy Oakland (corn - irrigated) Oakland (pond grass) Oakland (manure) Cordova CkTrib (poultry, manure, slaughterhouse) Cordova CkTrib (Downstream Poultry) Masons Branch Trib. Downstream poultry Masons Branch Trib. Upstream poultry Cordova Ck (downstream slaughterhouse) Colliers (corn – chicken manure) Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  24. Results Tuckahoe

  25. Results Tuckahoe

  26. Results Denitrification Animal Waste Volatilization enrichment Low nutrients and activity Fertilizer source

  27. Results

  28. Results Cordova Ck Down. Poultry Cordova CkTrib (poultry, manure, slaughterhouse) Oakland Pond Cordova Ck Down. Slaughterhouse Masons Branch Trib. Downstream poultry Masons Branch Trib. Upstream poultry

  29. Results Watershed River Watershed is distinct whereas river is a mixing bowl

  30. Summary • Demonstrated the river is sink of varied catchment activities • Management needs to target N and P separately. Make sure any nutrient removal process targets the relevant nutrient. • Emphasis on poultry appears to be P and not N • Unclear why %N is inverse of TN in the river • Shift over the past 10 years in N influence in the Choptank from animal waste to mixed animal waste/fertilizer source.

  31. Next steps… • Follow up on the turf farm • Investigate above Denton and below Cambridge • Consult with other scientists about the inverse relationship with TN and %N (water problem is deposited downstream in the mud???)

  32. Results fix

  33. Results fix

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