The reduction effects of riparian reforestation on runoff and nutrient export based on AnnAGNPS model in a small typical watershed, China.

The continuous deterioration of the aquatic environment in rivers and streams is increasingly causing social and political tensions. To alleviate aquatic environmental problems, especially for the nonpoint source pollution, establishment of riparian forest buffers has been demonstrated as an effective control measure. However, few comprehensive studies of the reduction effects of riparian reforestation on the aquatic environment have been performed, particularly in identifying the suitable widths of reforestation projects. In this paper, the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model was used to simulate the reduction effects of riparian reforestation on runoff and nutrient loads in Wucun watershed, China. The results showed that 20-m, 40-m, and 60-m widths of riparian buffer reforestation had significant effects on the yearly loads of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP), with reduced rates of 23.21 to 56.2% and 18.16 to 52.14%, respectively. The reduction effect on annual runoff varied from 2.8 to 5.4%. Furthermore, the reduction effect of nutrients performed best during the transition period, while the best runoff reduction was found during the dry period. These distinct reductions indicated that the implementation of riparian forest buffers was capable of reducing the risk and frequency of flooding and eutrophication, especially during the wet and transition periods. Additionally, the 20-m width of riparian buffer reforestation achieved the highest reduction efficiency for runoff, and the 40-m width was the most suitable reforested riparian buffer width for TN and TP. Therefore, 40 m may be the optimum buffer width for the implementation of riparian reforestation in the Wucun watershed. These research results provided scientific information on selecting the optimum buffer width for aquatic environmental regulators and managers as the reduction effects of different widths of riparian buffers on runoff and nutrients were different when considering buffer reforestation.

Simulation of runoff and nutrient export from a typical small watershed in China using the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran.

The Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF), which is a hydrological and water-quality computer model that was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, was employed to simulate runoff and nutrient export from a typical small watershed in a hilly eastern monsoon region of China. First, a parameter sensitivity analysis was performed to assess how changes in the model parameters affect runoff and nutrient export. Next, the model was calibrated and validated using measured runoff and nutrient concentration data. The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (E NS ) values of the yearly runoff were 0.87 and 0.69 for the calibration and validation periods, respectively. For storms runoff events, the E NS values were 0.93 for the calibration period and 0.47 for the validation period. Antecedent precipitation and soil moisture conditions can affect the simulation accuracy of storm event flow. The E NS values for the total nitrogen (TN) export were 0.58 for the calibration period and 0.51 for the validation period. In addition, the correlation coefficients between the observed and simulated TN concentrations were 0.84 for the calibration period and 0.74 for the validation period. For phosphorus export, the E NS values were 0.89 for the calibration period and 0.88 for the validation period. In addition, the correlation coefficients between the observed and simulated orthophosphate concentrations were 0.96 and 0.94 for the calibration and validation periods, respectively. The nutrient simulation results are generally satisfactory even though the parameter-lumped HSPF model cannot represent the effects of the spatial pattern of land cover on nutrient export. The model parameters obtained in this study could serve as reference values for applying the model to similar regions. In addition, HSPF can properly describe the characteristics of water quantity and quality processes in this area. After adjustment, calibration, and validation of the parameters, the HSPF model is suitable for hydrological and water-quality simulations in watershed planning and management and for designing best management practices.

Insights into complexation of dissolved organic matter and Al(III) and nanominerals formation in soils under contrasting fertilizations using two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy techniques.

Understanding the organomineral associations in soils is of great importance. Using two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) techniques, this study compared the binding characteristics of organic ligands to Al(III) in dissolved organic matter (DOM) from soils under short-term (3-years) and long-term (22-years) fertilizations. Three fertilization treatments were examined: (i) no fertilization (Control), (ii) chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK), and (iii) NPK plus swine manure (NPKM). Soil spectra detected by the 2DCOS Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that fertilization modified the binding characteristics of organic ligands to Al(III) in soil DOM at both short- and long- term location sites. The CH deformations in aliphatic groups played an important role in binding to Al(III) but with minor differences among the Control, NPK and NPKM at the short-term site. While at the long-term site both C-O stretching of polysaccharides or polysaccharide-like substances and aliphatic O-H were bound to Al(III) under the Control, whereas only aliphatic O-H, and only polysaccharides and silicates, were bound to Al(III) under NPK and NPKM, respectively. Images from HRTEM demonstrated that crystalline nanominerals, composed of Fe and O, were predominant in soil DOM under NPK, while amorphous nanominerals, predominant in Al, Si, and O, were dominant in soil DOM under Control and NPKM. In conclusion, fertilization strategies, especially under long-term, could affect the binding of organic ligands to Al(III) in soil DOM, which resulted in alterations in the turnover, reactivity, and bioavailability of soil organic matter. Our results demonstrated that the FTIR-2DCOS combined with HRTEM techniques could enhance our understanding in the binding characteristics of DOM to Al(III) and the resulted nanominerals in soils.