Data from: Nutrient leaching potential along a time series of forest water reclamation facilities in Northern Idaho
Data files
Aug 19, 2024 version files 33.67 KB
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NutrientLeaching_2024.zip
31.54 KB
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README.md
2.13 KB
Abstract
Forest water reclamation is a decades-old practice of repurposing municipal reclaimed water using land application on forests to filter nutrients and increase wood production. However, long-term application may lead to nutrient saturation, leaching, and potential impairment of ground and surface water quality. We studied long-term effects of reclaimed water application on nutrient leaching potential in a four-decade time series of forest water reclamation facilities in northern Idaho. Our approach compared reclaimed water treated plots with untreated control plots at each of the forest water reclamation facilities. We measured soil nitrifier abundance and net nitrification rates and used tension lysimeters to sample soil matrix water and drain gauges to sample from a combination of matrix and preferential flow paths. We determined nutrient leaching as the product of soil water nutrient concentrations and model-estimated drainage flux. There was more than 450-fold increase in nitrifier abundance and a 1000-fold increase in net nitrification rates in effluent plots compared with control plots at long-established facilities, indicating greater nitrate production with increased cumulative inputs. Modeled drainage increased 12-120% in treated plots but only during the wet season in effluent plots at the long-established facilities. There were no differences in soil water ammonium, phosphate, and dissolved organic nitrogen concentrations between control and effluent treatments in tension lysimeter samples. However, concurrent with increased nitrifier abundance and net nitrification, nitrate concentration below the rooting zone was 2 to 4-fold higher and nitrate leaching was 4 to 10-fold higher in effluent treated plots, particularly at facilities that have been in operation for over three decades. Thus, net nitrification and nitrifier abundance assays are likely indicators of nitrate leaching potential. Inorganic nutrient concentrations in drain gauge samples were 2 to 11-fold higher than lysimeter samples, suggesting nutrient losses occurred predominantly through preferential flow paths. Nitrate was vulnerable to leaching during the wet season under saturated flow conditions. Although nitrogen saturation is a concern that should be mitigated at the long-established facilities, these forest water reclamation facilities are able to decrease average soil water nitrate concentrations to less than 2 mg L-1, so that nitrogen and phosphorous are effectively filtered to below safe water standards.
README: Data from: Nutrient Leaching Potential Along a Time Series of Forest Water Reclamation Facilities in Northern Idaho
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tht76hf6z
This zip directory "NutrientLeaching_2024.zip" contains the data spreadsheets and metadata files required to reproduce analyses reported in the associated study.
Authors: Eureka Joshi, Madeline R. Schwarzbach, Bailey Briggs, Erik R. Coats, and Mark D. Coleman
All comments and requests should be addressed to: Mark D.Coleman (mcoleman@uidaho.edu)
File list (files within NutrientLeaching_2024.zip)
The folder includes four data spreadsheets with corresponding metadata files.
- AOA_AOB_NitrifierAbundance.csv
- AOA_AOB_NitrifierAbundance_Metadata.csv
- DrainGauge_Concentration&Leaching.csv
- DrainGauge_Concentration&Leaching_Metadata.csv
- Lysimeter_Concentration&Leaching.csv
- Lysimeter_Concentration&Leaching_Metadata.csv
- Net_Ammonification_Nitrification.csv
- Net_Ammonification_Nitrification_Metadata.csv
File descriptions
Data presented are for soil and soil pore water samples collected at forest water reclamation facilities in northern Idaho at reclaimed water treated plots and unamended control plots.
AOA_AOB_NitrifierAbundance.csv
- Data on soil nitrifier abundance (ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB)).
AOA_AOB_NitrifierAbundance_Metadata.csv- Metadata for data in AOA_AOB.csv file.
DrainGauge_Concentration&Leaching.csv
- Data on drain gauge soil pore water nutrient concentrations and leaching.
DrainGauge_Concentration&Leaching_Metadata.csv- Metadata for data in DrainGauge_Conc&Leaching.csv file.
Lysimeter_Concentration&Leaching.csv
- Data on tension lysimeter soil pore water nutrient concentrations and leaching.
Lysimeter_Concentration&Leaching_Metadata.csv- Metadata for data in Lysimeter_Conc&Leaching.csv file.
Net_Ammonification_Nitrification.csv
- Data on net ammonification and nitrification rates.
Net_Ammonification_Nitrification_Metadata.csv- Metadata for data in Net Ammonification_Nitrification.csv file.