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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Florence, South Carolina » Coastal Plain Soil, Water and Plant Conservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #284945
Title: Topographic effects on denitrification in drained agricultural fields

Author
item Miller, Jarrod
item LANG, MEGAN - Forest Service (FS)
item McCarty, Gregory
item Hunt, Patrick

Submitted to: Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/28/2012
Publication Date: 7/30/2012
Citation: Miller, J.O., Lang, M., Mccarty, G.W., Hunt, P.G. 2012. Topographic effects on denitrification in drained agricultural fields [abstract]. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America Meeting. http://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2012am/webprogram/Paper73645.html.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Denitrification is affected by soil moisture, while soil moisture can be affected by topography. Therefore, denitrification can be spatially correlated to topographic gradients. Three prior converted fields on the Delmarva Peninsula were sampled spatially for denitrification enzyme activity. The upper six inches of soil were sampled from twenty points in each field. The spatial sites were selected randomly using Arc-GIS. Denitrification enzyme activity was performed in the lab using the acetylene inhibition method. The average pH, conductivity, and soil organic carbon were similar for each field, but average denitrification was greater in field H versus field B and field C. Further spatial analysis of denitrification within each field will be performed using the topographic wetness index.