Denitrification along the Stream-Riparian Continuum in Restored and Unrestored Agricultural Streams

Relationships between denitrification rates and functional gene abundance in a wetland: The roles of single- and multiple-species plant communities

Wetland soil denitrification removes excess inorganic nitrogen (N) and prevents eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems. Wetland plants have been considered the key factors determining the capacity of wetland soil denitrification to remove N pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. However, the influences of various plant communities on wetland soil denitrification remain unknown. In the present study, we measured variations in soil denitrification under different herbaceous plant communities including single Phragmites karka (PK), single Paspalum thunbergia (PT), single Zizania latifolia (ZL), a mixture of Paspalum thunbergia plus Phragmites karka (PTPK), a mixture of Paspalum thunbergia plus Zizania latifolia (PTZL), and bare soil (CK) in the Estuary of Nantiaoxi River, the largest tributary of Qingshan Lake in Hangzhou, China. The soil denitrification rate was significantly higher in the surface (0-10 cm) than the subsurface (10-20 cm) layer. Wetland plant growth increased the soil denitrification rate by significantly increasing the soil water content, nitrate concentration, and ln(nirS) + ln(nirK). A structural equation model (SEM) showed that wetland plants indirectly regulated soil denitrification by altering the aboveground and belowground plant biomass, nitrate concentration, abundances of denitrifying functional genes, and denitrification potential. There was no significant difference in soil denitrification rates among PT, PK and ZL. The soil denitrification rate was significantly lower in PTZL than PTPK. Two-plant communities did not necessarily enhance the denitrification rate compared to single planting, the former had a greater competitiveness on N uptake and consequently reduced the amount of nitrate available for denitrification. As PTPK had the highest denitrification rate, co-planting P. thunbergia and P. karka could effectively improve N removal efficiency and help mitigate eutrophication in adjacent aquatic ecosystems. The results of this investigation provide useful information guiding the selection of appropriate wetland herbaceous plant species for wetland construction and the removal of N pollutants in aquatic ecosystems.

Microbial community and soil enzyme activities driving microbial metabolic efficiency patterns in riparian soils of the Three Gorges Reservoir

Riparian zones represent important transitional areas between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Microbial metabolic efficiency and soil enzyme activities are important indicators of carbon cycling in the riparian zones. However, how soil properties and microbial communities regulate the microbial metabolic efficiency in these critical zones remains unclear. Thus, microbial taxa, enzyme activities, and metabolic efficiency were conducted in the riparian zones of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). Microbial carbon use efficiency and microbial biomass carbon had a significant increasing trend along the TGR (from upstream to downstream); indicating higher carbon stock in the downstream, microbial metabolic quotient (qCO₂) showed the opposite trend. Microbial community and co-occurrence network analysis revealed that although bacterial and fungal communities showed significant differences in composition, this phenomenon was not found in the number of major modules. Soil enzyme activities were significant predictors of microbial metabolic efficiency along the different riparian zones of the TGR and were significantly influenced by microbial α-diversity. The bacterial taxa Desulfobacterota, Nitrospirota and the fungal taxa Calcarisporiellomycota, Rozellomycota showed a significant positive correlation with qCO₂. The shifts in key microbial taxa unclassified_k_Fungi in the fungi module #3 are highlighted as essential factors regulating the microbial metabolic efficiency. Structural equation modeling results also revealed that soil enzyme activities had a highly significant negative effect on microbial metabolism efficiency (bacteria, path coefficient = -0.63; fungi, path coefficient = -0.67).This work has an important impact on the prediction of carbon cycling in aquatic-terrestrial ecotones. Graphical abstract.

Enhanced soil potential N2O emissions by land-use change are linked to AOB-amoA and nirK gene abundances and denitrifying enzyme activity in subtropics

Conversion of forestland to intensively managed agricultural land occurs worldwide and can increase soil nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions by altering the transformation processes of nitrogen (N) cycling related microbes and environmental conditions. However, little research has been conducted to assess the relationships between nitrifying and denitrifying functional genes and enzyme activities, the altered soil environment and N₂O emissions under forest conversion in subtropical China. Here, we investigated the long-term (two decades) effect of converting natural forests to intensively managed tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plantations on soil potential N₂O emissions, inorganic N concentrations, functional gene abundances of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, as well as nitrifying and denitrifying enzyme activities in subtropical China. The conversion significantly increased soil potential N₂O emissions, which were regulated directly by increased denitrifying enzyme activity (52 %) and nirS + nirK gene abundance (38 %) as shown by structural equation modeling, and indirectly by AOB-amoA gene abundance and inorganic N concentration. Our results indicate that converting natural forests to tea plantations directly increases soil inorganic N concentration, resulting in increases in the abundance of soil nitrifying and denitrifying microorganisms and the associated N₂O emissions. These findings are crucial for disentangling the factors that directly and indirectly affect soil potential N₂O emissions respond to the conversion of forest to tea plantation.

Discussing on "source-sink" landscape theory and phytoremediation for non-point source pollution control in China

Water pollution is exacerbated due to irrational human activities in China. Restoring and rebuilding river basin ecosystems are major ecological strategies at present. Controlling the non-point source pollution (NPSP) by reasonable management of land use in the basin and phytoremediation of contaminated waters is the optimum approach. Thus, it is significant to study on the relationship that between landscape change and the aquatic environment, as well as further to analyze on the combined effect of the landscape and water quality. This paper describes the application and development of the "source-sink" landscape theory in China, and the role of the theory in controlling NPSP. From this perspective, a landscape capable of generating NPSP would be a "source" landscape, such as farmland, while another capable of preventing NPSP would be a "sink" landscape, such as forests and wetland. Applying the source-sink landscape theory, it is possible to exert the ecological benefits of the landscape while playing the esthetic value of the landscape. Also, the purification mechanism of plants in contaminated water is discussed. Besides, it is vital that research on water body restoration should focus not only on single discipline but also on integration and coordination between various ones such as ecology, environmental science, and geography to jointly push up researches related to water body phytoremediation. Hopefully, this paper could help to control water pollution from a new perspective, also to improve water environment and benefit human lives.

Combining Tools from Edge-of-Field to In-Stream to Attenuate Reactive Nitrogen along Small Agricultural Waterways

Reducing excessive reactive nitrogen (N) in agricultural waterways is a major challenge for freshwater managers and landowners. Effective solutions require the use of multiple and combined N attenuation tools, targeted along small ditches and streams. We present a visual framework to guide novel applications of ‘tool stacking’ that include edge-of-field and waterway-based options targeting N delivery pathways, timing, and impacts in the receiving environment (i.e., changes in concentration or load). Implementing tools at multiple locations and scales using a ‘toolbox’ approach will better leverage key hydrological and biogeochemical processes for N attenuation (e.g., water retention, infiltration and filtering, contact with organic soils and microbes, and denitrification), in addition to enhancing ecological benefits to waterways. Our framework applies primarily to temperate or warmer climates, since cold temperatures and freeze–thaw-related processes limit biologically mediated N attenuation in cold climates. Moreover, we encourage scientists and managers to codevelop N attenuation toolboxes with farmers, since implementation will require tailored fits to local hydrological, social, and productive landscapes. Generating further knowledge around N attenuation tool stacking in different climates and landscape contexts will advance management actions to attenuate agricultural catchment N. Understanding how different tools can be best combined to target key contaminant transport pathways and create activated zones of attenuation along and within small agricultural waterways will be essential.

Excess N2 and denitrification in hyporheic porewaters and groundwaters of the San Joaquin River, California

The San Joaquin River (SJR) in California is purported to receive high nitrate loadings from surrounding agricultural lands through both surface and groundwater inputs. To investigate the potential removal of nitrate (NO₃^-) from surface and ground water sources, the spatial variations in dinitrogen (N₂) gas concentrations and direct measurements of sediment denitrification potential (DNP), with amended NO₃^- and carbon (C) treatments, were investigated in the summer along a 95-km reach of the San Joaquin River. Excess N₂ in hyporheic porewaters ranged from <0.1 to 8.65 mg L^-1 and was significantly higher in porewaters from the 1.3 m (ground water source) versus 0.3 m (mixed surface and ground water) depths. In deep groundwater wells (3-7 m), median excess N₂ concentration was 5.39 mg L^-1 (range = <0.1-14.6 mg L^-1). Excess N₂ concentrations were inversely correlated with dissolved oxygen and NO₃^- concentrations suggesting denitrification as an important process in the dominantly anaerobic sediments. Hyporheic porewater NO₃^- concentrations exceeded the detection limit of 0.01 mg L^-1 in only 20% of the hyporheic porewaters, in spite of high NO₃^- concentrations measured in both surface waters (mean = 2.25 mg N L^-1) and surrounding groundwaters. Sediment DNP rates averaged 253 and 297 μg N kg^-1 hr^-1 for NO₃^- amended, and NO₃^- + C amended sediments, respectively, supporting the prevalence of denitrification in hyporheic sediments. Our results indicate that the hyporheic/riparian zones act as an anoxic barrier to nitrate transport from regional groundwater and as a location to remove NO₃^- from surface waters exchanging with the hyporheic zone.

Changes in riparian hydrology and biogeochemistry following storm events at a restored agricultural stream

Quantifying changes in riparian biogeochemistry following rainfall events is critical for watershed management. Following storms, changes in riparian hydrology can lead to high rates of nutrient processing and export and greenhouse gas (GHG) release. We assessed shifts in hydrology and biogeochemistry 24 and 72 hours post-rainfall following storms of three different magnitudes in an agricultural riparian zone influenced by stream restoration in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, USA. Post-storm changes in water table height, soil moisture, groundwater flow, and lateral hydraulic gradient were related to biogeochemical processing. Though near-field nitrate (NO3-) concentrations were elevated (median: 13 mg nitrogen (N) L-1 across storms), substantial riparian NO3- removal occurred (89-96%). High N removal throughout the study occurred concurrently with release of dissolved solutes (e.g., soluble reactive phosphorus [SRP]) and fluxes of gases (carbon dioxide [CO2], nitrous oxide [N2O], and methane [CH4]), based on storm timing, magnitude, and intensity. A high intensity, short duration storm of low magnitude lead to release of CO2 across the riparian zone and low SRP removal. A storm of intermediate duration/magnitude towards the beginning of the summer lead to mobilization of near-field NO3- and release of N2O in the upper riparian zone and SRP in the lower riparian zone. Finally, a larger storm of longer duration lead to pronounced near-stream release of CH4. Therefore, it is important to expand research of biogeochemical response to different types of storm events in restored riparian zones to better balance water quality goals with potential greenhouse gas emissions.

Twenty Years of Riparian Zone Research (1997-2017): Where to Next?

Riparian zones have been used for water quality management with respect to NO in subsurface flow and total P (TP), sediments, and pesticides in overland flow for decades. Only recently has the fate and transport of soluble reactive P (SRP), Hg, emerging contaminants, and greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes (NO, CO, and CH) been examined in riparian zones. Overall, riparian zones are efficient at reducing emerging contaminants in subsurface flow and only function as hot spots of methylmercury production in the landscape when dominated by Hg-rich wet organic soils. However, riparian zones do not provide consistent benefits with respect to SRP removal or GHG emissions. Although most existing riparian models almost exclusively focus on NO removal, recent developments in riparian models demonstrate the potential for using easily accessible digital environmental datasets to simulate and scale up riparian functions beyond NO removal to include SRP, TP, and GHG dynamics. To further inform integrated watershed management efforts, more research should be conducted on how various practices, including stream restoration, subsurface drainage, two-stage ditches, beaver dam analogues, denitrification bioreactors and permeable reactive barriers, artificial wetlands, and short-rotation forestry crops affect riparian water and air quality functions. Riparian zone benefits should be discussed not only with respect to water and air quality, but also in terms of recreation, habitat for wildlife, and other ecosystem services. More research is needed to fully address potential water quality or air quality tradeoffs associated with riparian zone management in a multicontaminant-multiuse landscape context.