Role of natural grasslands in retaining nutrients from agriculture

Authors

  • Carolina Lescano Ecología Funcional de Sistemas Acuáticos, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Mariana Ruibal Licenciatura en Gestión Ambiental, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Patricia Barreto Departamento de Suelos y Aguas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Verónica Piñeiro Departamento de Suelos y Aguas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Juan Pablo Lozoya Centro Interdisciplinario de Manejo Costero Integrado del Cono Sur, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Carlos Perdomo Departamento de Suelos y Aguas, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República (UdelaR)
  • Lorena Rodríguez-Gallego Ecología Funcional de Sistemas Acuáticos, Centro Universitario Regional del Este (CURE), Universidad de la República (UdelaR)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26461/13.08

Keywords:

Ecosystem services, water quality, eutrophication, buffer zones

Abstract

The intensification of land uses occurred in recent decades in Uruguay had increased the exportation of nutrients to water bodies, explaining the process of eutrophication observed in this period. Laguna de Rocha is a priority site for biodiversity conservation which belongs to the National System of Protected Areas. However, the lagoon also suffered the impacts of land use changes and has registered some events of cyanobacteria and submerged macrophytes blooms. Strip areas between water bodies and agriculture can function as buffer zones, reducing the nutrient load exported from crops or livestock production systems, providing relevant ecosystem services as maintenance of water quality. With experimental runoff plots we estimated the ecosystem service of nutrients retention, provided by natural grasslands, from a field with artificial pastures. We recorded a 55 % phosphate retention, 44 % dissolved inorganic nitrogen, 28 % suspended solids, 47 % total nitrogen and 42 % total phosphorus.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abu-Zreig, M., Rudra, RP., Whiteley, HR., Lalonde, MN. y Kaushik, NK., 2003. Phosphorus removal in vegetated filter strips. En: Journal of Environmental Quality, 32(2), pp.613-619.


Aguiar, TR., Rasera, K., Parron, LM., Brito, AG. y Ferreira, MT., 2015. Nutrient removal effectiveness by riparian buffer zones in rural temperate watersheds: The impact of no-till crops practices. En: Agricultural Water Management, 149, pp.74-80.

Al-wadaey, A., Wortmann, CS., Franti, TG., Shapiro, CA. y Eisenhauer, DE., 2012. Effectiveness of grass filters in reducing phosphorus and sediment runoff. En: Water Air Soil Pollut, 223, pp.5865-5875.

American Public Health Association, 1985. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 16th ed. Washington: APHA.

Aubriot, L., Conde, D., Bonilla, S., Hein, V. y Britos, A., 2005. Vulnerabilidad de una laguna costera en una Reserva de Biosfera: indicios recientes de eutrofización. En: Vila, I. y Pizarro, J., eds. Taller Internacional de Eutrofización de Lagos y Embalses CYTED XVIIB. [s.n.]: Patagonia Impresores. pp.65-85.

Bendschneider, K. y Robinson RJ., 1952. A new spectrophotometric method for determintation of nitrite in the sea water. En: Journal Marine Research, 11, pp.87-96.

Blanco-Canqui, H., Gantzer, CJ., Anderson, SH., Alberts, EE. y Thompson, AL., 2004. Grass barrier and vegetative filter strip effectiveness in reducing runoff, sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loss. En: Soil Science Society of America, 68, pp.1670-1678.

Borin, M., Passoni, M., Thiene, M. y Tempesta, T., 2010. Multiple functions of buffer strips in farming areas. En: European Journal of Agronomy, 32, pp.103-111.

Bormann, NLB., Baxter, CA., Andraski, TW., Good, LW. y Bundy, LG., 2012. Scale-of-measurement effects on phosphorus in runoff from cropland. En: Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 67(2), pp.122-133.

Brazeiro, A., Achkar, M., Canavero, A., Fagúndez, C., González, E., Grela, I., Lezama, F., Maneyro, R., Barthesagy, L., Camargo, A., Carreira, S., Costa, B., Núñez, D., da Rosa, I. y Toranza, C., 2008. Prioridades geográficas para la conservación de la biodiversidad terrestre de Uruguay. Resumen ejecutivo. Montevideo: Facultad de Ciencias. (Proyecto PDT 32-26).

Cabrera, C., 2015. Optimización de usos del suelo para prevenir floraciones nocivas de fitoplancton en la Laguna de Rocha, Uruguay. Montevideo: Facultad de Ciencias. (Tesis de Maestría).

Carpenter, SR., Stanley, EH., y Vander Zanden, MJ., 2011. State of the world’s freshwater ecosystem physical, chemical, and biological changes. En: Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 36, pp.75–99.

Carpenter, SR., 2005. Eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems: biostability and soil phosphorus. En: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102 (29), pp.10002-10005.

Daniels, RB. y Gilliam, JW., 1996. Sediment and chemical load reduction by grass and riparian filters. En: Soil Science Society of America, 60, pp.246-251.

Deng, N., Li, H. y Shi, D., 2011. Preliminary experimental study on effectiveness of vegetative filter strips to polluentes in surface runoff. En: Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 3, pp.222-227.

DIEA, 2014. Anuario estadístico agropecuario 2014. Montevideo: DIEA.

Dillaha, TA., Sherrard, JH., Lee, D., Mostaghimi, S. y Shanholtz, VO., 1988. Evaluation of vegetative filter strips as best management practice for feed lots. En: Journal Water Pollution Control Federation’s, 60, pp.1231-1238.

Drewry, JJ., Newham, LTH., Greene, RSB., Jakeman, AJ. y Croke, BFW., 2006. A review of nitrogen and phosphorus export to waterways: context for catchment modelling. En: Marine and Freshwater Research, 57, pp.757–774.

Ernst, O. y Siri-Prieto, G.,2011.La agricultura en Uruguay: su trayectoria y consecuencias. En:Facultad de Agronomía, 2011. Segundo Simposio Nacional de Agricultura de Secano. [s.l.]: Facultad de Agronomía. pp.149-163.

Fabiano, G. y Santana, O., 2006. Las pesquerías en las lagunas costeras salobres de Uruguay. En: Menafra, R, Rodríguez-Gallego, L, Scarabino, F y Conde, D., ed., 2006. Bases para la conservación y el manejo de la costa uruguaya.Montevideo: Vida Silvestre. pp.557-565.

Fogle, AW., Carey, DI., Barfield, BJ., Blevins, RL., Evangelou, VP., Madison, CE., y Inamdar, SP., 1994. Impact of riparian grass filter strips on surface-water quality. Lexington: University of Kentucky. (Information Circular, 46).


Goyenola, G., Meerhoff, M., Teixeira-de Mello, F., González-Bergonzoni, I., Graeber, D., Fosalba, C., Vidal, N., Mazzeo, N., Ovesen, NB., Jeppesen, E. y Kronvang, B., 2015. Monitoring strategies of stream phosphorus under contrasting climate-driven flow regimes. En: Hydrology and Earth System Science, 19, pp.4099–4111.

Harmel, D., Qian, S., Reckhow, K. y Casebolt, P., 2008. The MANAGE database: nutrient load and site characteristic updates and runoff concentration data. En: Journal of Environmental Quality, 37, pp.2403–2406.

Hoffman, CC., Kjaergaard, CH., Uusi-Kämppä, J., Hansen, HC. y Kronvang, B., 2009. Phosphorus retention in riparian buffers: review of their efficiency. En: Journal of Environmental Quality, 38, pp.1-14.

Instituto Nacional de Estadística, 2011. Censos 2011. Población por grupo decenal de edades, según área, localidad y sexo[En línea]. [Consulta 29 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.ine.gub.uy/web/guest/censos-2011

Jeppesen, E., Kronvang, B., Meerhoff, M., Søndergaard, M., Hansen, KM., Andersen, HE., Lauridsen, TL., Liboriussen, L., Beklioglu, M., Özen, A. y Olesen, JE., 2009. Climate change effects on runoff, catchment phosphorus loading and lake ecological state, and potential adaptations. En: Journal Environmental Quality, 38, pp.1930-1941.

Koroleff, F., 1970. Direct determination of ammonia in natural water as indophenol-blue. En: ICES. International Conference in the Exploration of the Sea. Information on techniques and methods for sea water analysis. C.M. 1969/C9. Copenhagen: ICES. (Interlaboratory Reports 3). pp.19–22.

Lowrance, R., Todd, R., Fail, J., Hendrickson, O., Leonard, R. y Asmussen, L., 1984. Riparian forest as nutrient filters in agricultural watersheds. En: BioScience, 34(6), pp.374-377.

Magette, WL., Brinsfield, RB., Palmer, RE. y Wood, JD., 1989. Nutrient and sediment removal by vegetated filter strips. En: Transactions of the ASAE, 32(2), pp.663-667.

McDowell, RW. y Sharpley, AN., 2001. Approximating phosphorus release from soils to surface runoff and subsurface drainage. En: Journal of Environmental Quality,30, pp.508–520.

MGAP, 1976. Carta de reconocimiento de suelos del Uruguay. Montevideo: MGAP

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment , 2003. Ecosystems and human well-being: a framework for assessment. Washington: Island Press. (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Series).

Moss, B., Kosten, S., Meerhof, M., Battarbee, R., Jeppesen, E., Mazzeo, N., Havens, K., Lacerot, G., Liu, Z., De Meester, L. y Paerl, H., 2011. Allied attack: climate change and eutrophication. En: Inland Waters, 1(2), pp.101-105.

Müller, R. y Widemann, O., 1955. Die bestimmung des nitrat-ions in Wasser. En: VonWasser, 22, pp.247.

Murphy, J. y Riley, JP., 1962. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. En: Analytica ChimicaActa, 27, pp.31-36.

Naiman, RJ., Décamps, H. y McClain, ME., 2005. Riparia. Ecology, conservation, and management of streamside communities. New York: Elseiver, Academic Press.

Nin, M., Soutullo, A., Rodríguez-Gallego, L., y Di Minin, E., 2016. Ecosystem services-based land planning for environmental impact avoidance. En: Ecosystem Services,17, pp.172–184.

Osborne, LL. y Kovacic, DA., 1993. Riparian vegetated buffer strips in water-quality restoration and stream management. En: Freshwater Biology, 29, pp.243-258.

Perdomo, CH., Barreto, P. y Piñeiro, V., 2015. Pérdida de fósforo desde suelos agrícolas hacia aguas superficiales: resultados preliminares para Uruguay y posibles medidas de manejo para mitigar riesgos. En: Facultad de Agronomía. IV Simposio Nacional de Agricultura. Paysandú, Uruguay (28-29 de octubre de 2015). Paysandú: Facultad de Agronomía. pp.77-94.

Peterjohn, WT., y Correll, DL., 1984. Nutrient dynamics in an agricultural watershed: observations on the role of a riparian forest. En: Ecology, 65(5), pp.1466-1475.

Pote, DH., Daniel, TC., Sharpley, AN., Moore, PA., Edwards, DR. y Nichols, DJ., 1996. Relating extractable soil phosphorus losses in runoff. En: Soil Science Society of America, 60, pp.855-859.

Reckhow, KH., Beaulac, M. y Simpson, J., 1980. Modeling phosphorus loading and lake response under uncertainty: a manual and compilation of export coefficients. Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (EPA 440/5-80-011).

Rodríguez-Gallego, L., Meerhoff, E., Clemente, JM. y Conde, D., 2010. Can ephemeral proliferations of submerged macrophytes influence zoobenthos and water quality in coastal lagoons? En: Hydrobiología, 646(1), pp.253-269.

Rodríguez-Gallego, L., Sabaj, V., Masciadri, S., Kruk, C., Arocena, R. y Conde, D., 2015. Salinity as a major driver for submerged aquatic vegetation in coastal lagoons: a multi-year analysis in the subtropical Laguna de Rocha. En: Estuaries and Coasts, 38(2), pp.451-465.

Rodríguez-Gallego, L., Achkar, M., Defeo, O., Vidal, L., Meerhoff, E. y Conde, D., 2017. Effects of land use changes on eutrophication indicators in five coastal lagoons of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean. En: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 188, pp.116-126.

Sabater, S., Butturini, A., Clement, JCh., Burt, T., Dowrick, D., Hefting, M., Maıtre, V., Pinay, G., Postolache, C., Rzepecki, M. y Sabater, F., 2003. Nitrogen removal by riparian buffers along a european climatic gradient: patterns and factors of variation. En: Ecosystems, 6, pp.20-30.

Sharpley, AN., Gburek, WJ., Folmar, G. y Pionke, HB., 1999. Sources of phosphorus exported from an agricultural watershed in Pennsylvania. En: Agricultural Water Management, 41, pp.77-89.

Sharpley, AN., Daniel, T., Sims, T., Lemunyo, J., Stevens, R. y Parry, R., 2003. Agricultural phosphorus and eutrophication. [s.l.]: Agricultural Research Service, USA.

Sharpley, AN., 2015. Agricultural phosphorus and water quality: challenges to science, practice, and policy. En: Facultad de Agronomía. IV Simposio Nacional de Agricultura. Paysandú, Uruguay (28-29 de octubre de 2015). Paysandú: Facultad de Agronomía. pp.49-75.

Smith, CM., 1989. Riparian pasture retirement effects on sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen in channellised surface run-off from pastures. En: New Zeland Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 23, pp.139-146.

Sondergaard, M., Jenses, JP. y Jeppensen, E., 2001. Retention and internal loading of phosphorus in shallow, eutrophic lakes. En: The Scientific World, 1, pp.427-442.

Tilman, D., 1996. Biodiversity: Population versus ecosystem stability. En: Ecology, 77(2), pp.350-363.

Tilman, D. y Downing, J., 1994. Biodiversity and stability in grasslands. En: Nature, 367, pp.363-365.

USDA, 1985. SCS national engineering handbook. Washington: USDA

Vadas, PA., Kleinman, PJA., Sharpley, AN. y Turner, BL., 2005. Relating soil phosphorus to dissolved phosphorus in runoff: a single extraction coefficient for water quality modeling. En: Journal of Environmental Quality, 34, pp.572–580.

Valderrama, JC., 1981. The simultaneous analysis of total N and P in natural waters. En: Marine Chemistry, 10, pp.109–122.

Wilson, LG., 1967. Sediment removal from flood water by grass filtration. En: Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers, 10(1), pp.35-37.

Young, RA., Huntrods, T. y Waine, A., 1980. Effectiveness of vegetated buffer strips in controlling pollution from feedlot runoff. En: Journal of Environmental Quality, 9, pp.483-487.

Zar, JH., 1999. Biostatistical analysis. New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Zhou, X., Helmers, MJ., Asbjornsen, H., Kolka, R., Tomer, MD. y Cruse, RM., 2014. Nutrient removal by prairie filter strips in agricultural landscapes. En: Journal of soil and water conservation, 69(1), pp.54-64.

Published

2017-06-29

How to Cite

Lescano, C., Ruibal, M., Barreto, P., Piñeiro, V., Lozoya, J. P., Perdomo, C., & Rodríguez-Gallego, L. (2017). Role of natural grasslands in retaining nutrients from agriculture. INNOTEC, (13 ene-jun), 78–91. https://doi.org/10.26461/13.08

Issue

Section

Articles

Most read articles by the same author(s)