Cited by 21Soil and Water Nutrient DynamicsUrban Stormwater Management SolutionsWastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

Ditching Nutrients: Roadside Drainage Networks are Hotspots for Microbial Nitrogen Removal

Tatariw, Corianne, Mason, Olivia U., Mortazavi, Behzad·2021·Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences

Abstract

Human‐made stormwater control systems are biogeochemical hotspots, but construction and management may result in homogenization of their ecosystem structure. Roadside ditches are a ubiquitous part of the landscape, yet few studies have quantified their biogeochemical potential. We conducted a study to determine (a) nitrate (NO 3−) removal potential through rate measurements and (b) microbial community structure using 16S rRNA gene (iTag) sequencing in roadside ditches draining predominantly forested, urban, and agricultural watersheds surrounding Mobile Bay, AL (USA). We found that nitrogen (N) removal rates by denitrification and anammox dominated over N‐retention by dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, accounting for upwards of 89% of NO 3− reduction on average. There were no differences in soil characteristics between land use types, but denitrification potential rates in forested ditches were less than half of those in urban and agricultural ditches, possibly as a result of differences in vegetation management. Microbial alpha and beta diversity were largely homogenous across the three land use types. However, indicator species analysis revealed putative ammonia oxidizers (Nitrososphaeraceae and Nitrosomonadaceae), nitrate reducers (Gaiellales), and nitrous oxide reducers (Myxococcales) as significant groups in urban and agricultural ditches. We conclude that land use effects on N‐removal in these constructed drainage networks are mediated through key microbial groups and ditch vegetation management strategies. Further, roadside ditches have significant potential for reactive N removal in the landscape.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1029/2020jg006115

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140 of 140 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Ditches can mitigate N-loading from both agricultural activity and urban runoff, often at rates comparable to or exceeding those of natural systems.

    “Thus, ditches can mitigate N-loading from both agricultural activity 136 and urban runoff, often at rates comparable to or exceeding those of natural systems 141,142 .”

    From Lines in the landscape (2025) · cites this paper as [142]

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1 of the 141 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Koroleff F., 1983, Methods of seawater analysis, 125
  2. Tatariw C., 2020, Nitrate reduction rates and soil/water chemistry from roadside ditches in the Mobile Bay (AL, USA) region (2018‐05‐23 to 2018‐06‐08) (NCEI Accession 0211099)

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Authors
Tatariw, C., Mason, O. U., & Mortazavi, B.
Affiliations
  • University of Alabama (US)
  • Florida State University (US)
Corresponding author
Tatariw, Corianne
Venue
Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
Published
2021-07
Volume
126
Issue
7
ISSN
  • 2169-8953 (ISSN-L)
  • 2169-8961
OpenAlex
W3169320783
Cited by
21
References
141
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Science Foundation (1438092, 1643486)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Engineering › Urban Stormwater Management Solutions
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
Keywords
roadside ditches, stormwater drainage, denitrification, anammox, dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium, microbial community structure, land use effects, vegetation management, ammonia oxidizers, reactive nitrogen, Mobile Bay

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