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Searching for the missing nitrogen: biogenic nitrogen gases in groundwater and streams

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 March 2014

R. J. FOX ,
T. R. FISHER ,
A. B. GUSTAFSON ,
T. E. JORDAN ,
T. M. KANA  and
M. W. LANG
R. J. FOX*
Affiliation:
Horn Point Laboratory, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
T. R. FISHER
Affiliation:
Horn Point Laboratory, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
A. B. GUSTAFSON
Affiliation:
Horn Point Laboratory, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
T. E. JORDAN
Affiliation:
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, PO Box 28, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA
T. M. KANA
Affiliation:
Horn Point Laboratory, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
M. W. LANG
Affiliation:
USDA-Forest Service Northern Research Station, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA
*
*To whom all correspondence should be addressed. Email: [email protected]
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Summary

Biogenic nitrogen (N2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) accumulations were measured in groundwater, streams and the vadose zone of small agricultural watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic USA. In general, N2 and N2O in excess of atmospheric equilibrium were found in groundwater virtually everywhere that was sampled. Excess N2 in groundwater ranged from undetectable to 616 μmol N2-N/l, the latter representing c. 50% of background N2. The N2O-N concentrations varied from undetectable to 75 μm, and usually greatly exceeded values at atmospheric equilibrium (25–30 nM); however, N2O was generally 1–10% of excess N2. Intermediate levels of deficit and excess N2 in flowing streams (−65 to +250 μmol N2-N/L) resulting from both abiotic and biotic processes were also measured. In vadose zone gases, multiple N2/Ar gas profiles were measured which exhibited seasonal variations with below atmospheric values when the soil was warming in spring/summer and above atmospheric values when groundwater was cooling in fall/winter. Both abiotic and biotic processes contributed to the excess N2 and N2O that was observed. The current data indicate that large concentrations of excess N gases can accumulate within soil, groundwater, and streams of agriculturally dominated watersheds. When excess N gases are exchanged with the atmosphere, the net fluxes to the atmosphere may represent an important loss term for watershed N budgets.

Type
Nitrogen Workshop Special Issue Papers
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 152 , Supplement S1: Special Issue from the 17th International Nitrogen Workshop , December 2014 , pp. 96 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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