Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometric response to hydrologic extremes in a tributary to Lake Erie, USA

Smith, D.R.; Jarvie, H.P.. 2018 Carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometric response to hydrologic extremes in a tributary to Lake Erie, USA. Agricultural and Environmental Letters, 3 (1), 180043. 4, pp. https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2018.08.0043

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Abstract/Summary

Anthropogenic activities are a major cause of water quality impairment. We evaluated how hydrologic extremes (5th and 95th percentile of flow) affect carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry in a tile-drained agricultural tributary to Lake Erie. Water samples collected (2003–2009) from three sites along one agricultural drainage ditch and its receiving third-order stream were analyzed for C, N, and P. The C/N/P concentrations were transformed to compare against the Redfield ratio (106:16:1 C/N/P), ideal for algal proliferation. Nitrogen was depleted relative to C and P at two sites on the agricultural ditch during extreme low-flow conditions, whereas P was depleted to C and N at the third. Tile drainage N and P losses during high flows shifted stoichiometry toward the Redfield ratio. Stoichiometry in the third-order stream was near the Redfield ratio at both hydrologic extremes, likely from wastewater treatment plant effluent.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.2134/ael2018.08.0043
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Water Resources (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2471-9625
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
NORA Subject Terms:	Hydrology
Date made live:	06 Feb 2019 15:53 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/522200

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