HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in JEQ Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (56) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clément, J.-C. Articles by Marmonier, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Clément, J.-C. Articles by Marmonier, P. Agricola Articles by Clément, J.-C. Articles by Marmonier, P. Related Collections Ecosystem Management Soil Microbiology Nutrient Cycling Water Pollution Wetland Soils

TECHNICAL REPORTS
Wetlands and Aquatic Processes

Seasonal Dynamics of Denitrification along Topohydrosequences in Three Different Riparian Wetlands

U.M.R. 6553-ECOBIO, Université de Rennes I, Avenue du Général Leclerc, F-35042 Rennes cedex, France

* Corresponding author (clement{at}aesop.rutgers.edu)

Received for publication April 23, 2001. We investigated the seasonal patterns of denitrification rates and potentials in soil profiles along the topohydrosequence formed at the upland–wetland interface in three riparian wetlands with different vegetation cover (i.e., forest, understory vegetation, and grass). Denitrification was measured using the acetylene inhibition method on soil cores and slurries, which provided a means of comparing the relative activity of this process in different locations. We evaluated, on a seasonal basis, the respective importance of the vegetative cover and the hydromorphic gradient as factors limiting denitrification. Regardless of the season, vegetation type, or lateral position along each topohydrosequence in the riparian wetlands, strong significant gradients of both in situ and potential denitrification rates were measured within a soil profile. Results confirm that the upper organic soil horizon is the most active, when in contact with the ground water. In deeper soil horizons, denitrification activity was low (from 0.004 to 0.5 mg N kg^-1 dry soil d^-1), but contributed significantly to the reduction of ground water NO^-₃ load along the riparian ground water flowpath (from 9.32 to 0.98 mg NO₃–N L^-1). Along the soil topohydrosequence, the denitrifying community of the upper soil horizons did not vary significantly on a seasonal basis despite the large seasonal ground water fluctuations. Along each topohydrosequence, the denitrification-limiting factor gradually shifted from anaerobiosis to NO^-₃ supply. In situ denitrification rates in the forested, understory vegetation and grass sites were not significantly different. This result emphasizes the importance of the topography of the valley rather than the vegetation cover in controlling denitrification activity in riparian wetlands.

Abbreviations: ANA, denitrification activity of soil samples incubated with acetylene under N₂ atmosphere alone • ANAC, denitrification activity of soil samples amended with carbon (4 g glucose kg^-1 fresh soil) and incubated with acetylene under N₂ atmosphere • ANACN, denitrification activity of soil samples amended with both nitrate and carbon (10 mg NO₃–N kg^-1 fresh soil + 4 g glucose kg^-1 fresh soil) and incubated with acetylene under N₂ atmosphere • ANAN, denitrification activity of soil samples amended with nitrate (10 mg NO₃–N kg^-1 fresh soil) and incubated with acetylene under N₂ atmosphere • DNT, in situ denitrification activity incubated with acetylene alone • NITR, net nitrification • NMIN, net mineralization

Related articles in JEQ:

This Issue in Journal of Environmental Quality

JEQ 2002 31: 705-710. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Eguchi, Y. Nakajima, S. Yabusaki, M. Kasuya, H. Shibayama, A. Tsunekawa, and K. Imai Denitrification during Vertical Upwelling at an Alluvium-Diluvium Interface below the Upland Perimeter of a Riparian Paddy J. Environ. Qual., October 29, 2009; 38(6): 2198 - 2209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Cao, P. G. Green, and P. A. Holden Microbial Community Composition and Denitrifying Enzyme Activities in Salt Marsh Sediments Appl. Envir. Microbiol., December 15, 2008; 74(24): 7585 - 7595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. H. Davis, S. M. Griffith, W. R. Horwath, J. J. Steiner, and D. D. Myrold Denitrification and Nitrate Consumption in an Herbaceous Riparian Area and Perennial Ryegrass Seed Cropping System Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., September 1, 2008; 72(5): 1299 - 1310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. O. Young and R. D. Briggs Nitrogen Dynamics among Cropland and Riparian Buffers: Soil-Landscape Influences J. Environ. Qual., May 7, 2007; 36(3): 801 - 814. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Hernandez and W. J. Mitsch Denitrification Potential and Organic Matter as Affected by Vegetation Community, Wetland Age, and Plant Introduction in Created Wetlands J. Environ. Qual., January 9, 2007; 36(1): 333 - 342. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				O. Montreuil and P. Merot Nitrogen Removal in Valley Bottom Wetlands: Assessment in Headwater Catchments Distributed throughout a Large Basin J. Environ. Qual., October 27, 2006; 35(6): 2113 - 2122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. A. Kleinman, M. S. Srinivasan, C. J. Dell, J. P. Schmidt, A. N. Sharpley, and R. B. Bryant Role of Rainfall Intensity and Hydrology in Nutrient Transport via Surface Runoff. J. Environ. Qual., July 1, 2006; 35(4): 1248 - 1259. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. P. Burt and G. Pinay Linking hydrology and biogeochemistry in complex landscapes Progress in Physical Geography, September 1, 2005; 29(3): 297 - 316. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. Q. Kellogg, A. J. Gold, P. M. Groffman, K. Addy, M. H. Stolt, and G. Blazejewski In Situ Ground Water Denitrification in Stratified, Permeable Soils Underlying Riparian Wetlands J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2005; 34(2): 524 - 533. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Hill, P. G. F. Vidon, and J. Langat Denitrification Potential in Relation to Lithology in Five Headwater Riparian Zones J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2004; 33(3): 911 - 919. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. M. Groffman and M. K. Crawford Denitrification Potential in Urban Riparian Zones J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2003; 32(3): 1144 - 1149. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]