Cited by 23Soil and Water Nutrient DynamicsWastewater Treatment and Nitrogen RemovalSoil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

Catchment controls of denitrification and nitrous oxide production rates in headwater remediated agricultural streams

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Hallberg, Lukas, Hallin, Sara, Bieroza, Magdalena·2022·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

Heavily modified headwater streams and open ditches carry high nitrogen loads from agricultural soils that sustain eutrophication and poor water quality in downstream aquatic ecosystems. To remediate agricultural streams and reduce the export of nitrate (NO3−), phosphorus and suspended sediments, two-stage ditches with constructed floodplains can be implemented as countermeasures. By extending hydrological connectivity between the stream channel and riparian corridor within constructed floodplains, these remediated ditches enhance the removal of NO3− via the microbial denitrification process. Ten remediated ditches were paired with upstream trapezoidal ditches in Sweden across different soils and land uses to measure the capacity for denitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) production and yields under denitrifying conditions in stream and floodplain sediments. To examine the controls for denitrification, water quality was monitored monthly and flow discharge continuously along reaches. Floodplain sediments accounted for 33 % of total denitrification capacity of remediated ditches, primarily controlled by inundation and stream NO3− concentrations. Despite reductions in flow-weighted NO3− concentrations along reaches, NO3− removal in remediated ditches via denitrification can be masked by inputs of NO3−-rich groundwaters, typical of intensively managed agricultural landscapes. Although N2O production rates were 50 % lower in floodplains compared to the stream, remediated ditches emitted more N2O than conventional trapezoidal ditches. Higher denitrification rates and reductions of N2O proportions were predicted by catchments with loamy soils, higher proportions of agricultural land use and lower floodplain elevations. For realizing enhanced NO3− removal from floodplains and avoiding increased N2O emissions, soil type, land use and the design of floodplains need to be considered when implementing remediated streams. Further, we stress the need for assessing the impact of stream remediation in the context of broader catchment processes, to determine the overall potential for improving water quality.

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  • Ditches are recipients of terrestrial fluxes, often from intensively managed environments.

    “As such, ditches are recipients of terrestrial fluxes, often from intensively managed environments 104,105 .”

    From Lines in the landscape (2025) · cites this paper as [104]

  • Ditches often receive water and pollutant fluxes from artificial drainage, such as urban stormwater or agricultural subsurface drains, or through direct water pumping into ditches.

    “Ditches often receive water and pollutant fluxes from artificial drainage, such as urban stormwater or agricultural subsurface drains 18,104,117 , or through direct water pumping into ditches 112 .”

    From Lines in the landscape (2025) · cites this paper as [104]

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  1. Brink, K., Juhlin, L., Kuhlau, Å., 2012. Svärtaåprojektet. 2010-2012. Erfarenheter av praktiskt åtgärdsarbete i samarbete med lantbrukare i Svärtaåns avrinningsområde. Rapport 2013: 23. Länsstyrelsen Södermanlands län, pp. 1-44.
  2. Hedin, J., Kivivuori, H., 2015. Tullstorpsåprojektet. Utvärdering. Tvåstegsdiken och kantavplaning sträckan Stora Markie-Stävesjö Ålholmens dikningsföretag. Rapport. Naturvårdsingenjörerna AB, pp. 1-22.
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Authors
Hallberg, L., Hallin, S., & Bieroza, M.
Affiliations
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SE)
Corresponding author
Hallberg, Lukas
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-09
Volume
838
Issue
Pt 3
Pages
156513
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4281675283
Cited by
23
References
65
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8
FWCI
1.86
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Epsilon Open Archive (Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet biblioteket (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences)) (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas (2018-00890)
  • Stiftelsen Oscar och Lili Lamms Minne (DO2019-0021)
  • Havs- och Vattenmyndigheten (3280-2019)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
Keywords
denitrification, nitrous oxide production, agricultural streams, nitrate removal, floodplain deposits, soil type, agricultural land use, floodplain elevation, eutrophication, water quality
MeSH terms
Agriculture, Nitrates, Nitrogen, Nitrous Oxide, Soil, Ecosystem, Denitrification

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