Scheda di dettaglio – i prodotti della ricerca
| Dato | Valore |
|---|---|
| Title | Nitrogen removal in subsurface water by narrow buffer strips in the intensive farming landscape of hte Po River watershed, Italy |
| Abstract | In many countries buffer strips have become an important management tool widely accepted for controlling the diffuse pollution and supporting the development of more sustainable agriculture. However, there is the need to investigate their role in intensive farming systems where a realistic and shareable proposal to realize buffer strips can only foresee the use of a limited space. We evaluated the nitrogen buffering capacities of two narrow riparian strips (5-8m) along irrigation ditches located in a typical flat agricultural watershed of the alluvial plain of the River Po (Northern Italy). Subsurface water level and nutrient concentrations were monitored along transects of piezometers installed from crop fields to ditches in two different areas. Spatial and temporal variation in water chemistry and hydrology were investigated to individuate the main processes (biological or physical) leading to groundwater nitrate depletion related to fertilization, pluviometric regime and seasonal variation. The results obtained indicate an elevated nitrate removal efficiency in both riparian areas. Compared to the high mean concentrations measured at the exit of the crop fields (10-90mgl-1 N-NO3 -), nitrate levels within riparian sites can be very low, completely disappearing below the ditches. The patterns of some chemical species (O2, SO4 2- and HCO3-) and the potential denitrification rates suggest that denitrification plays a predominant role in the N-NO3- depletion observed in the first few meters of the herbaceous strip. The key factors in the system are the elevated groundwater residence time and the effect of the evapotranspiration. The water uptake by woody vegetation affects the subsurface water to flow through the riparian zone and, at the same time, it contributes to completely remove the nitrate from the groundwater. Our findings also suggest the double role of riparian vegetation both in ecohydrological and biological terms. In fact the water uptake by trees affects the subsurface flow pattern and contributes to completely remove the nitrate in the riparian zone. |
| Source | Ecological engineering 37, pp. 148–157 |
| Keywords | GroundwaterSoil DenitrificationOrganic carbonOxygenPlant uptake |
| Journal | Ecological engineering |
| Editor | Elsevier, New York ;, Paesi Bassi |
| Year | 2011 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.08.003 |
| Authors | Balestrini R., Arese C., Delconte C.A., Lotti A., Salerno F. |
| Text | 42440 2011 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2010.08.003 Groundwater Soil Denitrification Organic carbon Oxygen Plant uptake Nitrogen removal in subsurface water by narrow buffer strips in the intensive farming landscape of hte Po River watershed, Italy Balestrini R., Arese C., Delconte C.A., Lotti A., Salerno F. IRSA U.O.S. di Brugherio In many countries buffer strips have become an important management tool widely accepted for controlling the diffuse pollution and supporting the development of more sustainable agriculture. However, there is the need to investigate their role in intensive farming systems where a realistic and shareable proposal to realize buffer strips can only foresee the use of a limited space. We evaluated the nitrogen buffering capacities of two narrow riparian strips 5 8m along irrigation ditches located in a typical flat agricultural watershed of the alluvial plain of the River Po Northern Italy . Subsurface water level and nutrient concentrations were monitored along transects of piezometers installed from crop fields to ditches in two different areas. Spatial and temporal variation in water chemistry and hydrology were investigated to individuate the main processes biological or physical leading to groundwater nitrate depletion related to fertilization, pluviometric regime and seasonal variation. The results obtained indicate an elevated nitrate removal efficiency in both riparian areas. Compared to the high mean concentrations measured at the exit of the crop fields 10 90mgl 1 N NO3 , nitrate levels within riparian sites can be very low, completely disappearing below the ditches. The patterns of some chemical species O2, SO4 2 and HCO3 and the potential denitrification rates suggest that denitrification plays a predominant role in the N NO3 depletion observed in the first few meters of the herbaceous strip. The key factors in the system are the elevated groundwater residence time and the effect of the evapotranspiration. The water uptake by woody vegetation affects the subsurface water to flow through the riparian zone and, at the same time, it contributes to completely remove the nitrate from the groundwater. Our findings also suggest the double role of riparian vegetation both in ecohydrological and biological terms. In fact the water uptake by trees affects the subsurface flow pattern and contributes to completely remove the nitrate in the riparian zone. 37 Nitrogen removal in subsurface water by narrow buffer strips in the intensive farming landscape of the Po River watershed, Italy Ecol_Eng2011.pdf Articolo in rivista Elsevier 0925 8574 Ecological engineering Ecological engineering Ecol. eng. Ecological engineering. ARESE CRISTINA carloandrea.delconte DELCONTE CARLO ANDREA raffaella.balestrini BALESTRINI RAFFAELLA franco.salerno SALERNO FRANCO TA.P04.032.001 Funzionalita degli ecosistemi acquatici dinamica dei nutrienti, idromorfologia e habitat fluviali TA.P02.031.002 Impatti dei cambiamenti climatici sugli ecosistemi remoti |