Utilizing A Tracer Test To Calculate The Transport And Fate Of Nitrate Within A Saturated Buffer Zone

Title

Utilizing A Tracer Test To Calculate The Transport And Fate Of Nitrate Within A Saturated Buffer Zone

Files

Publication Date

4-2021

Document Type

Presentation

Presentation Type

Individual

Degree Type

Graduate

Department

Geography, Geology and the Environment

Mentor

Eric Peterson

Mentor Department

Geography, Geology and the Environment

Co-Mentor

Catherine O'Reilly

Co-Mentor Department

Geography, Geology and the Environment

Abstract

The Upper Mississippi basin, which includes Illinois, has some of the best fertile soils and experiences intensive agricultural practices. This has led to the excessive export of nitrates (NO3 - ) from the agricultural fields into surface and subsurface waters. Excess nitrate in water bodies contributes to eutrophication, development of hypoxic zones and development of algal blooms. To reduce this excess nitrate exportation, methods known as Best Management Practices were employed. One of these methods which exhibited success in lowering the NO3 - is the diversion of tile drained waters from the agricultural fields into a saturated buffer zone before it enters the stream. Previous works have shown a reduction in the NO3 - content in the SBZ but the extent to which this removal occurs cannot be quantified without knowing the residence time of the reintroduced tile-waters into the SBZ. This study seeks to use NaBras tracer to determine the residence time of the tile waters in the SBZ at T3 site in Normal, Illinois and determine the amount of reduction or dilution of the NO3 - in the SBZ using a mixing model. Knowing this will help quantify the benefits of redirecting tile waters into SBZ as a method of reducing NO3 - from agricultural tile-drained waters.

Utilizing A Tracer Test To Calculate The Transport And Fate Of Nitrate Within A Saturated Buffer Zone
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