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 Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI 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 ISI Web of Science (23) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rosenblatt, A. E. Articles by Kellogg, D. Q. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rosenblatt, A. E. Articles by Kellogg, D. Q. GeoRef GeoRef Citation Agricola Articles by Rosenblatt, A. E. Articles by Kellogg, D. Q. Related Collections Water Quality Ecosystem Management Nutrient Management Water Pollution Soil Classification and Mapping Wetland Soils

TECHNICAL REPORT
Landscape and Watershed Processes

Identifying Riparian Sinks for Watershed Nitrate using Soil Surveys

^a Dep. of Natural Resources Science, 210B Woodward Hall, Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
^b Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Box AB, Millbrook, NY 12545

* Corresponding author (agold{at}uri.edu)

Received for publication December 18, 2000. The capacity of riparian zones to serve as critical control locations for watershed nitrogen flux varies with site characteristics. Without a means to stratify riparian zones into different levels of ground water nitrate removal capacity, this variability will confound spatially explicit source–sink models of watershed nitrate flux and limit efforts to target riparian restoration and management. We examined the capability of SSURGO (1:15840 Soil Survey Geographic database) map classifications (slope class, geomorphology, and/or hydric soil designation) to identify riparian sites with high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. The study focused on 100 randomly selected riparian locations in a variety of forested and glaciated settings within Rhode Island. Geomorphic settings included till, outwash, and organic/alluvial deposits. We defined riparian zones with "high ground water nitrate removal capacity" as field sites possessing both >10 m of hydric soil width and an absence of ground water surface seeps. SSURGO classification based on a combination of geomorphology and hydric soil status created two functionally distinct sets of riparian sites. More than 75% of riparian sites classified by SSURGO as organic/alluvium–hydric or as outwash–hydric had field attributes that suggest a high capacity for ground water nitrate removal. In contrast, >85% of all till sites and nonhydric outwash sites had field characteristics that minimize the capacity for ground water nitrate removal. Comparing the STATSGO and SSURGO databases for a 64000-ha watershed, STATSGO grossly under-represented critical riparian features. We conclude that the SSURGO database can provide modelers and managers with important insights into riparian zone nitrogen removal potential.

Abbreviations: PD, poorly drained soil • SSURGO, Soil Survey Geographic database • STATSGO, State Soil Geographic database • USGS, U.S. Geological Survey • VPD, very poorly drained soil

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. A. Blazejewski, M. H. Stolt, A. J. Gold, and P. M. Groffman Macro- and Micromorphology of Subsurface Carbon in Riparian Zone Soils Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., June 28, 2005; 69(4): 1320 - 1329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [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]

				V. Maitre, A.-C. Cosandey, A. Parriaux, and C. Guenat A Methodology to Estimate the Denitrifying Capacity of a Riparian Wetland J. Environ. Qual., March 1, 2005; 34(2): 707 - 716. [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]

				J. C. Rutherford and M. L. Nguyen Nitrate Removal in Riparian Wetlands: Interactions between Surface Flow and Soils J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2004; 33(3): 1133 - 1143. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wigand, R. A. McKinney, M. M. Chintala, M. A. Charpentier, and P. M. Groffman Denitrification Enzyme Activity of Fringe Salt Marshes in New England (USA) J. Environ. Qual., May 1, 2004; 33(3): 1144 - 1151. [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]