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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbus, Ohio » Soil Drainage Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #262743
Title: Impact of buffer type on streamside nutrient concentrations in Upper Big Walnut Creek, Ohio

Author
item King, Kevin
item Smiley, Peter - Rocky
item Fischer, Eric
item Fausey, Norman

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/8/2010
Publication Date: 8/7/2011
Citation: King, K.W., Smiley, P.C., Fischer, E.N., Fausey, N.R. 2011. Impact of buffer type on streamside nutrient concentrations in Upper Big Walnut Creek, Ohio [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The identification and assessment of conservation practices continues to be important for the protection of natural resources. Buffers, also referred to as filter strips, buffer strips, riparian buffers, or vegetative filters are one of the most common types of conservation practice installed in the US. Data were collected on a weekly basis from 8 different streams in the Upper Big Walnut Creek (UBWC) watershed representing different types of buffers (wooded, herbaceous, and no buffer). Water samples from each stream were analyzed for nitrate-nitrogen, total nitrogen, dissolved reactive phosphorus, and total phosphorus. Buffer type had a significant effect on nitrogen concentrations but no effects were detected for phosphorus. The findings suggest that for nitrogen control buffers may play a significant role; however, with respect to phosphorus the buffers will have to be modified or enriched to be statistically effective.