Nitrogen cycle Biogeochemistry October 17, 2005 Maria Moskalenko, Gretchen Miles, Emily Paduano, Jaconette Mirck Biogeochemistry October 17, 2005 Maria Moskalenko, Gretchen Miles, Emily Paduano, Jaconette Mirck

Outline  Background Information on N  Papers:  Kaiser, The Other Global Pollutant  Agriculture: fertilizer & food  Mitsch, Reducing N loading to Gulf  Mississippi River-hypoxia  Solutions to N-pollution  Driscoll, N Pollution in Northeast US  Atmospheric Inputs  Estuaries  Models  Discussion  Background Information on N  Papers:  Kaiser, The Other Global Pollutant  Agriculture: fertilizer & food  Mitsch, Reducing N loading to Gulf  Mississippi River-hypoxia  Solutions to N-pollution  Driscoll, N Pollution in Northeast US  Atmospheric Inputs  Estuaries  Models  Discussion

Nitrogen Forms, Phases and Oxidation States ** * NO x, greenhouse gases

Nitrogen the other global pollutant (Kaiser, 2001)  Essential element for growth/primary production  Surplus nitrogen = pollutant  Sources:  Fertilizer  Fossil fuels  Results in various problems:  Algal bloom  Greenhouse gas  Ozone  Essential element for growth/primary production  Surplus nitrogen = pollutant  Sources:  Fertilizer  Fossil fuels  Results in various problems:  Algal bloom  Greenhouse gas  Ozone

Solutions  Increase requirements for fossil fuels  Smaller cars  Hybrids  Eat less meat to reduce food of live stock  Less manure  Food control, precise amino acid ratio  Reduce runoff  Increase price of fertilizer  Increase requirements for fossil fuels  Smaller cars  Hybrids  Eat less meat to reduce food of live stock  Less manure  Food control, precise amino acid ratio  Reduce runoff  Increase price of fertilizer

Reducing Nitrogen Loading to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi River Basin: Strategies to Counter a Persistent Ecological Problem -Mitsch, et al. 2001

Problems  Anthropogenic Additions of N to aquatic systems cause  Increased Productivity  Eutrophication  Hypoxia  Fish Kills  Anthropogenic Additions of N to aquatic systems cause  Increased Productivity  Eutrophication  Hypoxia  Fish Kills

Sources  Agriculture  Waste Water  Draining Wetlands  Agriculture  Waste Water  Draining Wetlands

Drained wetlands converted to agricultural land

Solutions: Controlling N in Miss. River Basin  Modifying Agricultural Practice - use less fertilizer - apply fertilizer in spring - account for N sources present  Riparian and Wetland Buffers - effective nitrogen sinks due to high levels of denitrification  Modifying Agricultural Practice - use less fertilizer - apply fertilizer in spring - account for N sources present  Riparian and Wetland Buffers - effective nitrogen sinks due to high levels of denitrification

Example of Riparian Buffer

Solutions cont.  Urban & Suburban Non-point Source Control  Point Source Control  Controls on Atmospheric NO x  Mississippi River Diversions  Urban & Suburban Non-point Source Control  Point Source Control  Controls on Atmospheric NO x  Mississippi River Diversions

Creation of Wetlands

Benefits of Reducing Nitrogen Levels in the Mississippi River Basin  Predicted 40% reduction of nitrogen loading to the Gulf through implementation of these practices  In addition to reduced hypoxia - reduced river pollution - reduced wetland loss - improved river ecosystems - improved control of floods  Predicted 40% reduction of nitrogen loading to the Gulf through implementation of these practices  In addition to reduced hypoxia - reduced river pollution - reduced wetland loss - improved river ecosystems - improved control of floods

Northeast U.S. Brief History  Population Changes  Land Use Changes  Capacity of 2 nd Growth Forests for N-retention  Population Changes  Land Use Changes  Capacity of 2 nd Growth Forests for N-retention

N-pollution Sources in Northeast U.S. (Driscoll et al. 2003)  Atmospheric N Sources  Food Imports  Fertilizer & Farming Practices  Feed Imports  Wastewater Effluent  Mycorrhizae & Legumes  Atmospheric N Sources  Food Imports  Fertilizer & Farming Practices  Feed Imports  Wastewater Effluent  Mycorrhizae & Legumes

Problems  Acidic Deposition  Ground Level Ozone Formation  Coastal Eutrophication  Acidification & Overfertilization N-enrichment  Forest (N-saturation)  Freshwater (high flow)  Acidic Deposition  Ground Level Ozone Formation  Coastal Eutrophication  Acidification & Overfertilization N-enrichment  Forest (N-saturation)  Freshwater (high flow) Smog in LA & Chicago

Wet Deposition and Emissions a: nitrate, sulfate, b: nitrate & ammonium, c: sulfate, nitrate, chloride

Ozone Formation  For Formation: NO x & VOC’s (volitile organic compounds)  Or NO from soil + Oxygen  VOC’s were thought to be limiting factor  Automobile VOC’s are regulated  VOC’s are also produced naturally (isoprene)  In Northeast U.S. we now believe that NO x regulates O 3 formation  Ground Level O 3 in many U.S. cities exceeds National Ambient Air Quality Standards  For Formation: NO x & VOC’s (volitile organic compounds)  Or NO from soil + Oxygen  VOC’s were thought to be limiting factor  Automobile VOC’s are regulated  VOC’s are also produced naturally (isoprene)  In Northeast U.S. we now believe that NO x regulates O 3 formation  Ground Level O 3 in many U.S. cities exceeds National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Solution: Reductions in N Management Options:  Coastal Watersheds  Wastewater Treatment Plants  Agriculture  Atmosphere  Fossil fuel electric utilities  Transportation  Agriculture Management Options:  Coastal Watersheds  Wastewater Treatment Plants  Agriculture  Atmosphere  Fossil fuel electric utilities  Transportation  Agriculture

Purpose of Modeling  Models were run to test proposed management options and determine their effectiveness  Atmospheric Model: PnET-BGC  Estuary Loading: WATERSN  Models were run to test proposed management options and determine their effectiveness  Atmospheric Model: PnET-BGC  Estuary Loading: WATERSN

Conclusions Estuary: Major N-source Wastewater effluent: Add biotic N-removal to wastewater treatment practices Atmosphere: Source Specific Control (due to numerous sources) Estuary: Major N-source Wastewater effluent: Add biotic N-removal to wastewater treatment practices Atmosphere: Source Specific Control (due to numerous sources)

Discussion Topics  Ecotechnology  Phytoremediation  Willow Project  Theoretical Models vs. Real Life Problems?  Lifestyle Changes  No Meat = No Nitrogen  SUV’s, Hybrids,Public Transportation, Walk, Bike  Other Effects of N  Purely Atmospheric take on N- Aerosols  Ecotechnology  Phytoremediation  Willow Project  Theoretical Models vs. Real Life Problems?  Lifestyle Changes  No Meat = No Nitrogen  SUV’s, Hybrids,Public Transportation, Walk, Bike  Other Effects of N  Purely Atmospheric take on N- Aerosols

Willow Applications  Set-aside arable land  Bio-remediation of contaminated soils, like brownfields (phytoremediation)  Nutrient and waste management systems  Windbreaks/snow fences  Buffer zones for clean water  Set-aside arable land  Bio-remediation of contaminated soils, like brownfields (phytoremediation)  Nutrient and waste management systems  Windbreaks/snow fences  Buffer zones for clean water Incorporating willow biomass crops into riparian buffers produces clean water and renewable energy (Salix Maskiner 2000)

Soil Conservation Very little soil erosion once the crop is established Negligible N leaching from established willow plantings, even with large applications nitrogen (Adegbidi 1999, Aronsson et al. 2000). One year old coppcie growth

Nitrogen Movement Trial with organic amendments with nitrogen loads ranging from 200 – 1,880 TKN kg/ha (Adeigbidi 1999)

Aerosols GCEP 2004 Orientation Presentation by Jeff Gaffney What??? Aerosols absorb or scatter light Ecological Effect Photosynthesis

The End