The research was possible due to funding from the Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP). We are especially thankful for site-access permission from the producers, research assistance from members of the USDA-ARS-Delta Water Management Research Unit, and sample analysis by staff at the Ecotoxicology Research Facility, Arkansas State University. Part of this research was supported by an appointment to the ARS Participation Program, administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) through an interagency agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy and the USDA. ORISE is managed by ORAU under DOE contract number DE-AC05-06OR23100. All opinions expressed in this paper are the author&#39;s and do not necessarily reflect the policies and views of USDA, ARS, DOE, or ORAU/ORISE.

<ol><li>Pellerin, B. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1752-1688.12386/pdf">Emerging Tools for Continuous Nutrient Monitoring Networks: Sensors Advancing Science and Water Resources Protection.</a> J Am Water Resour Assoc. 52 (4), 993-1008 (2016).</li>
<li>Rozemeijer, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((Application+and+Evaluation+of+a+New+Passive+Sampler+for+Measuring+Average+Solute+Concentrations+in+a+Catchment+Scale+Water+Quality+Monitoring+Study%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Environ+Sci+Tech%22%5BJournal%5D)">Application and Evaluation of a New Passive Sampler for Measuring Average Solute Concentrations in a Catchment Scale Water Quality Monitoring Study.</a> Environ Sci Tech. 44 (4), 1353-1359 (2010).</li>
<li>Cassidy, R., Jordan, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022169411003301">Limitations of instantaneous water quality sampling in surface-water catchments: Comparison with near-continuous phosphorus time-series data.</a> J. Hydrol. 405 (1-2), 182-193 (2011).</li>
<li>Facchi, A., Gandolfi, C., Whelan, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=((A+comparison+of+river+water+quality+sampling+methodologies+under+highly+variable+load+conditions%5BTitle%5D)+AND+%22Chemosphere%22%5BJournal%5D)">A comparison of river water quality sampling methodologies under highly variable load conditions.</a> Chemosphere. 66 (4), 746-756 (2007).</li>
<li>Hamilton, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://pages.aquaticinformatics.com/web-report.html">Global hydrological monitoring industry trends</a>. , Aquatic Informatics. Vancouver, B.C. (2012).</li>
<li>Aryal, N., Reba, M. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167880916305436">Transport and transformation of nutrients and sediment in two agricultural watersheds in Northeast Arkansas.</a> Agric Ecosyst Environ. 236, 30-42 (2017).</li>
<li>National Research Council (U.S.). <a target="_blank" href="http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22Confronting+the+nation%27s+water+problems%3A+The+role+of+research%22">Confronting the nation's water problems: The role of research</a>. , National Academies Press. (2004).</li>
<li>LMRRA (Lower Mississippi River Resource Assessment). <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mvm.usace.army.mil/Portals/51/docs/missions/projects/LMRRA/LMRRA_Final%20Assessment%20Public.pdf?ver=2016-09-15-141848-490">Final Assessment in Response to Section 402 of WRDA 2000 Public Review Draft</a>. , (2015).</li>
<li>MWNTF (Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force). <a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-07/documents/htf-goals-framework-2015.pdf">New Goal Framework</a>. , Washington, DC. (2008).</li>
<li>USDA-NRCS (The United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service). Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative Maps and List of Watershed. , Available from:
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<li>Reba, M. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jswconline.org/content/68/2/45A.full.pdf+html">A statewide network for monitoring agricultural water quality and water quantity in Arkansas.</a> J. Soil Water Conserv. 68 (2), 45a-49a (2013).</li>
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</ol>

The authors have nothing to disclose.

Overall, the continuous monitoring of nutrients and sediment has several advantages over monitoring using the grab sampling method. Hydrological and water quality processes are affected by rainfall over a very short span of time. Users can obtain high temporal-resolution data on nutrients and sediment to study complex problems. Other water quality parameters, such as conductivity, pH, temperature, and DO, can be obtained simultaneously and at the same cost as for monitoring nitrate, ammonium, and turbidity. Moreover, the...

Water quality monitoring provides information on the concentrations of pollutants at different spatial scales, depending upon the size of the contributing area, which can range from a plot or a field to a watershed. This monitoring takes place over a period of time, such as a single event, a day, a season, or a year. The information garnered from monitoring water quality, mainly relating to nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment, can be used to: 1) understand hydrological processes and the transport and transformation of pollutants in streams, such as agricultural drainage ditches; 2) evaluate the efficiency of management practices applied to the watershed to reduce the nutrient and sediment load and to increase the water quality; 3) assess the delivery of the sediment and nutrients to the water downstream; and 4) improve the modeling of nutrients and sediment to understand the hydrological and water quality processes that determine pollutant transport and dynamics over the range of temporal and spatial scales.
This information is crucial to aquatic ecosystem restoration, sustainable planning, and the management of water resources1.
The most commonly used method for nutrient and sediment monitoring in a watershed is grab sampling. Grab sampling accurately represents a snapshot concentration at the time of sampling2. It can also depict a variation of pollutant concentrations with time if frequent sampling is done. However, frequent sampling is time intensive and expensive, often making it impractical2. Additionally, grab sampling may under- or overestimate the actual pollutant concentrations outside of the sampling time2,3,4. Consequently, loads calculated using such concentrations may not be accurate.
Alternatively, continuous monitoring provides accurate and timely information on water quality in a predetermined time interval, such as a minute, an hour, or a day. Users can select the appropriate time intervals based on their needs. Continuous monitoring enables the researchers, planners, and managers to optimize sample collection; develop and monitor time-integrated metrics, such as total maximum daily loads (TMDLs); evaluate the recreational use of the water body; assess baseline stream conditions; and spatially and temporally evaluate the variation of pollutants to determine cause-effect relationships and develop a management plan5,6. Continuous monitoring of nutrients and sediment has recently received increased attention due to advances in computing and sensor technology, the improved capacity of storage devices, and the increasing data requirements needed to study more complex processes1,5,7. In a global survey of over 700 water professionals, the use of multi-parameter sondes increased from 26% to 61% from 2002 to 2012 and is expected to reach 66% by 20225. In the same survey, 72% of respondents indicated the need for the expansion of their monitoring network to meet their data needs5. The number of stations in a monitoring network and the number of variables monitored per station in 2012 are expected to increase by 53% and 64%, respectively, by 20225.
However, continuous water quality and quantity monitoring in agricultural watersheds is challenging. Large rainfall events wash away sediment and macrophytes, contributing to high sediment load and debris buildup in the sensors and sondes. The runoff of excess nitrogen and phosphorus applied to agricultural fields creates ideal conditions for the growth of microscopic and macroscopic organisms and for the fouling of instream sensors and sondes, especially during the summer. Fouling and sediment buildup can cause sensors to fail, drift, and produce unreliable data. Despite these challenges, finer temporal resolution (as low as per minute) data are required to study the runoff processes and non-point source contamination, as they are affected by watershed characteristics (e.g., size, soil, slope, etc.) and the timing and intensity of rainfall7. Careful field observation, frequent calibration, and proper cleaning and maintenance can ensure good-quality data from the sensors and sondes, even at the finer time resolution.
Here, we discuss a method for the in situ continuous monitoring of two agricultural watersheds using multi-parameter water quality sondes, area-velocity and pressure transducer sensors, and autosamplers; their calibration and field maintenance; and data processing. The protocol demonstrates a way in which continuous water quality monitoring can be performed. The protocol is generally applicable to continuous water quality and quantity monitoring at any type or size of watershed.
The protocol was carried out in Northeast Arkansas in Little River Ditches Basin (HUC 080202040803, 53.4 km2 area) and Lower St. Francis Basin (HUC 080202030801, 23.4 km2 area). These two watersheds drain into tributaries of the Mississippi River. A need for monitoring tributaries of the Mississippi River was identified by the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee and the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force to develop a watershed management plan and to record the progress of management activities8,9. Moreover, these watersheds are characterized as focus watersheds by the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), based on the potential for reducing nutrient and sediment pollution and for improving water quality10. Edge-of-field monitoring is being carried out in these watersheds as part of the statewide Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) network11. More details of the watersheds (i.e., site locations, watershed characteristics, etc.) are provided in Aryal and Reba (2017)6. In short, the Little River Ditches Basin has predominantly silt loam soils, and cotton and soybean are the major crops, whereas the Lower St. Francis Basin has predominantly Sharkey clay soil, and rice and soybean are the major crops. At each watershed, in situ continuous water quantity and quality monitoring (i.e., discharge temperature, pH, DO, turbidity, conductivity, nitrate, and ammonium) was carried out at three stations in the mainstream using this protocol to understand the spatial and temporal variability in the pollutant loads and the hydrological processes. Additionally, weekly water samples were collected and analyzed for suspended sediment concentration.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Multiparameter sonde</td><td>Hach Hydrolab</td><td>DS5X</td><td>measures temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonium, turbidity</td></tr><tr><td>Area velocity flow module and sensor</td><td>Teledyne Isco</td><td>2150</td><td>measures average stream velocity and flow depth, and calculates flow rate and total flow based on provided cross-section area of the ditch. Stored data can be downloaded directly to computer.</td></tr><tr><td>Automatic portable water sampler</td><td>Teledyne Isco</td><td>ISCO 6712</td><td>automatically samples water in the set interval or in conjunction with flow module and sensor</td></tr><tr><td>Pressure Transducer</td><td>In-situ</td><td>Rugged Troll 100</td><td>measures presure, level and temperature in the water. Stored data can be directly downloaded to the computer</td></tr><tr><td>Portable flow meter</td><td>Flo-mate (Hach)</td><td>Marsh-McBirney 2000</td><td>For manual discharge measurement</td></tr><tr><td>Battery, 12 v, rechargeable</td><td>UPG</td><td>UB 1270</td><td>To power sonde</td></tr><tr><td>Battery, 12 v, rechargeable</td><td>Interstate Batteries</td><td>SRM 27</td><td>Lead acid battery to power autosampler</td></tr><tr><td>Solar panel</td><td>Alt E</td><td>ALT20-12P</td><td>To recharge battery at the site</td></tr><tr><td>C-8 batteries</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Calibration standards</td><td>Hach or Fisher Scientific</td><td>mulitple</td><td>Standards of pH (4,7,10), conductivity (1412 uS/cm), nitrate (5 and 50 mg/L), ammonium (5 and 50 mg/L), and turbidity (50,100,200 NTU)</td></tr><tr><td>High nitrate standard</td><td>Hach</td><td>013810HY</td><td>50 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td>Low nitrate standard</td><td>Hach</td><td>013800HY</td><td>5 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td>High ammonium standard</td><td>Hach</td><td>002588HY</td><td>50 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td>Low ammonium standard</td><td>Hach</td><td>002587HY</td><td>5 mg/L</td></tr><tr><td>Turbidity standard</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>R8819050-500G</td><td>50 NTU</td></tr><tr><td>Turbidity standard</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>88-061-6</td><td>100 NTU</td></tr><tr><td>Turbidity standard</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>R8819200500 C</td><td>200 NTU</td></tr><tr><td>Potassium chloride salt pellets</td><td>Hach</td><td>005376HY</td><td>to maintain electrolyte for pH electrode</td></tr><tr><td>Potassium chloride standard</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>5890-16</td><td>1412 us/cm</td></tr><tr><td>Buffer solution, pH 4</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>SB99-1</td><td>for pH sensor calibration</td></tr><tr><td>Buffer solution, pH 7</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>SB108-1</td><td>for pH sensor calibration</td></tr><tr><td>Buffer solution, pH 10</td><td>Fisher scientific</td><td>SB116-1</td><td>for pH sensor calibration</td></tr><tr><td>Silicon sealant</td><td>Hach</td><td>00298HY</td><td>For sealing sensor battery cover water tight</td></tr><tr><td>All purpose cleaner</td><td>Sunshine Makers Inc</td><td>Simple green</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Wipes</td><td>Kimberly-Clark</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>L-bracket</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Telsbar post</td><td>Unistrut Service Company</td><td></td><td>Secure sensors and sondes in the stream</td></tr><tr><td>Steel wire</td><td></td><td></td><td>supend sonde and PT sensor</td></tr><tr><td>Carabiner</td><td></td><td></td><td>supend sonde and PT sensor</td></tr><tr><td>Allen wrench</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Copper wire mesh</td><td>Bird B Gone</td><td></td><td>Rodent and bird control copper mesh roll</td></tr><tr><td>Adhesive Tape</td><td>Agri Drain Corporation</td><td></td><td>Tile tape, works in wet and cold weather</td></tr></tbody></table>

continuous instream monitoring of nutrients and sediment in agricultural watersheds

Pollutant concentrations and loads in watersheds vary considerably with time and space. Accurate and timely information on the magnitude of pollutants in water resources is a prerequisite for understanding the drivers of the pollutant loads and for making informed water resource management decisions. The commonly used &#34;grab sampling&#34; method provides the concentrations of pollutants at the time of sampling (i.e., a snapshot concentration) and may under- or overpredict the pollutant concentrations and loads. Continuous monitoring of nutrients and sediment has recently received more attention due to advances in computing, sensing technology, and storage devices. This protocol demonstrates the use of sensors, sondes, and instrumentation to continuously monitor in situ nitrate, ammonium, turbidity, pH, conductivity, temperature, and dissolved oxygen (DO) and to calculate the loads from two streams (ditches) in two agricultural watersheds. With the proper calibration, maintenance, and operation of sensors and sondes, good water quality data can be obtained by overcoming challenging conditions such as fouling and debris buildup. The method can also be used in watersheds of various sizes and characterized by agricultural, forested, and/or urban land.

In the Aryal and Reba (2017) publication, this protocol was used to study the transport and transformation of nutrients and sediment in two small agricultural watersheds6. Additional outcomes from this protocol are described below.
Rainfall-runoff Water Quality Relationships:
The strength of continuous monitoring is that users can choose a fine tim...

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Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds | Environment | Video

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

With the advancement of technology and the rise in end-user expectations, the need and use of higher temporal resolution data for pollutant load estimation has increased. This protocol describes a method for continuous in situ water quality monitoring to obtain higher temporal resolution data for informed water resource management decisions.

Pollutant concentrations and loads in watersheds vary considerably with time and space. Accurate and timely information on the magnitude of pollutants in ...

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11.2K Views.  Oak Ridge Institute of Science and Education (ORISE). With the advancement of technology and the rise in end-user expectations, the need and use of higher temporal resolution data for pollutant load estimation has increased. This protocol describes a method for continuous in situ water quality monitoring to obtain higher temporal resolution data for informed water resource management decisions.

Video: Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

Clean Sampling and Analysis of River and Estuarine Waters for Trace Metal Studies

Most of the trace metal concentrations in ambient waters obtained a few decades ago have been considered unreliable owing to the lack of contamination control. Developments of some techniques aiming to reduce trace metal contamination in the last couple of decades have resulted in concentrations reported now being orders of magnitude lower than those in the past. These low concentrations often necessitate preconcentration of water samples prior to instrumental analysis of samples. Since contamination can appear in all phases of trace metal analyses, including sample collection (and during preparation of sampling containers), storage and handling, pretreatments, and instrumental analysis, specific care needs to be taken in order to reduce contamination levels at all steps. The effort to develop and utilize "clean techniques" in trace metal studies allows scientists to investigate trace metal distributions and chemical and biological behavior in greater details. This advancement also provides the required accuracy and precision of trace metal data allowing for environmental conditions to be related to trace metal concentrations in aquatic environments.
This protocol that is presented here details needed materials for sample preparation, sample collection, sample pretreatment including preconcentration, and instrumental analysis. By reducing contamination throughout all phases mentioned above for trace metal analysis, much lower detection limits and thus accuracy can be achieved. The effectiveness of "clean techniques" is further demonstrated using low field blanks and good recoveries for standard reference material. The data quality that can be obtained thus enables the assessment of trace metal distributions and their relationships to environmental parameters.

Special care using "clean techniques" is required to properly collect and process water samples for trace metal studies in aquatic environments. A protocol for sampling, processing, and analytical procedures with the aim of obtaining reliable environmental monitoring data and results with high sensitivity for detailed trace metal studies is presented.

Most of the trace metal concentrations in ambient waters obtained a few decades ago have been considered unreliable owing to the lack of contamination ...

Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework

There is a critical need for tools and methodologies capable of managing aquatic systems within heavily impacted watersheds. Current efforts often fall short as a result of an inability to quantify and predict complex cumulative effects of current and future land use scenarios at relevant spatial scales. The goal of this manuscript is to provide methods for conducting a targeted watershed assessment that enables resource managers to produce landscape-based cumulative effects models for use within a scenario analysis management framework. Sites are first selected for inclusion within the watershed assessment by identifying sites that fall along independent gradients and combinations of known stressors. Field and laboratory techniques are then used to obtain data on the physical, chemical, and biological effects of multiple land use activities. Multiple linear regression analysis is then used to produce landscape-based cumulative effects models for predicting aquatic conditions. Lastly, methods for incorporating cumulative effects models within a scenario analysis framework for guiding management and regulatory decisions (e.g., permitting and mitigation) within actively developing watersheds are discussed and demonstrated for 2 sub-watersheds within the mountaintop mining region of central Appalachia. The watershed assessment and management approach provided herein enables resource managers to facilitate economic and development activity while protecting aquatic resources and producing opportunity for net ecological benefits through targeted remediation.

There is a critical need for tools and methodologies capable of managing aquatic systems in the face of uncertain future conditions. We provide methods for conducting a targeted watershed assessment that enables resource managers to produce landscape-based cumulative effects models for use within a scenario analysis management framework.

There is a critical need for tools and methodologies capable of managing aquatic systems within heavily impacted watersheds. Current efforts often fall ...

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a highly diverse mixture of molecules providing one of the largest sources of energy and nutrients to stream ecosystems. Yet the in situ study of DOM is difficult as the molecular complexity of the DOM pool cannot be easily reproduced for experimental purposes. Nutrient additions to streams however, have been shown to repeatedly alter the in situ and ambient DOM pool. Here we demonstrate an easily replicable field-based method for manipulating the ambient pool of DOM at the ecosystem scale. During nutrient pulse experiments changes in the concentration of both dissolved organic carbon and dissolved organic nitrogen can be examined across a wide-range of nutrient concentrations. This method allows researchers to examine the controls on the DOM pool and make inferences regarding the role and function that certain fractions of the DOM pool play within ecosystems. We advocate the use of this method as a technique to help develop a deeper understanding of DOM biogeochemistry and how it interacts with nutrients. With further development this method may help elucidate the dynamics of DOM in other ecosystems.

Understanding Dissolved Organic Matter Biogeochemistry Through In Situ Nutrient Manipulations in Stream Ecosystems

Dissolved organic matter provides an important source of energy and nutrients to stream ecosystems. Here we demonstrate a field-based method to manipulate the ambient pool of dissolved organic matter in situ through easily replicable nutrient pulses.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a highly diverse mixture of molecules providing one of the largest sources of energy and nutrients to stream ecosystems. ...

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff

Urban stormwater and agriculture irrigation runoff contain a complex mixture of contaminants that are often toxic to adjacent receiving waters. Runoff may be treated with simple systems designed to promote sorption of contaminants to vegetation and soils and promote infiltration. Two example systems are described: a bioswale treatment system for urban stormwater treatment, and a vegetated drainage ditch for treating agriculture irrigation runoff. Both have similar attributes that reduce contaminant loading in runoff: vegetation that results in sorption of the contaminants to the soil and plant surfaces, and water infiltration. These systems may also include the integration of granulated activated carbon as a polishing step to remove residual contaminants. Implementation of these systems in agriculture and urban watersheds requires system monitoring to verify treatment efficacy. This includes chemical monitoring for specific contaminants responsible for toxicity. The current paper emphasizes monitoring of current use pesticides since these are responsible for surface water toxicity to aquatic invertebrates.

This article summarizes the design attributes and the effectiveness of treatment systems that treat urban stormwater and agriculture irrigation runoff to remove pesticides and other contaminants associated with aquatic toxicity.

Urban stormwater and agriculture irrigation runoff contain a complex mixture of contaminants that are often toxic to adjacent receiving waters. Runoff may ...

Capturing Flow-weighted Water and Suspended Particulates from Agricultural Canals During Drainage Events

The purpose of this study is to describe the methods used to capture flow-weighted water and suspended particulates from farm canals during drainage discharge events. Farm canals can be enriched by nutrients such as phosphorus (P) that are susceptible to transport. Phosphorus in the form of suspended particulates can significantly contribute to the overall P loads in drainage water. A settling tank experiment was conducted to capture suspended particulates during discrete drainage events. Farm canal discharge water was collected in a series of two 200 L settling tanks over the entire duration of the drainage event, so as to represent a composite subsample of the water being discharged. Imhoff settling cones are ultimately used to settle out the suspended particulates. This is achieved by siphoning water from the settling tanks via the cones. The particulates are then collected for physico-chemical analyses.

Nutrients present in particulate form can contribute significantly to the overall loads in agricultural drainage waters. This study describes a novel method to capture flow-weighted water and suspended particulates from farm canal drainage over the entire duration of the drainage event.

The purpose of this study is to describe the methods used to capture flow-weighted water and suspended particulates from farm canals during drainage ...

Continuous Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring of Vernal Ponds

Vernal ponds, also referred to as vernal pools, provide critical ecosystem services and habitat for a variety of threatened and endangered species. However, they are vulnerable parts of the landscapes that are often poorly understood and understudied. Land use and management practices, as well as climate change are thought to be a contribution to the global amphibian decline. However, more research is needed to understand the extent of these impacts. Here, we present methodology for characterizing a vernal pond's morphology and detail a monitoring station that can be used to collect water quantity and quality data over the duration of a vernal pond's hydroperiod. We provide methodology for how to conduct field surveys to characterize the morphology and develop stage-storage curves for a vernal pond. Additionally, we provide methodology for monitoring the water level, temperature, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, dissolved oxygen, and electrical conductivity of water in a vernal pond, as well as monitoring rainfall data. This information can be used to better quantify the ecosystem services that vernal ponds provide and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on their ability to provide these services.

Understanding the ecosystem services and processes provided by vernal ponds and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on their ability to provide these services requires intensive hydrologic monitoring. This sampling protocol using in-situ monitoring equipment was developed to understand the impact of anthropogenic activities on water levels and quality.

Vernal ponds, also referred to as vernal pools, provide critical ecosystem services and habitat for a variety of threatened and endangered species. ...

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

Phosphorus (P) is a critical limiting nutrient in agroecosystems requiring careful management to reduce transport risk to aquatic environments. Routine laboratory measures of P bioavailability are based on chemical extractions performed on dried samples under oxidizing conditions. While useful, these tests are limited with respect to characterizing P release under prolonged water saturation. Labile orthophosphate bound to oxidized iron and other metals can rapidly desorb to solution in reducing environments, increasing P mobilization risk to surface runoff and groundwater. To better quantify P desorption potential and mobility during extended saturation, a laboratory microcosm method was developed based on repeated sampling of porewater and overlying floodwater over time. The method is useful for quantifying P release potential from soils and sediments varying in physicochemical properties and can improve site-specific P mitigation efforts by better characterizing P release risk in hydrologically active areas. Advantages of the method include its ability to simulate in situ dynamics, simplicity, low cost, and flexibility.

Accurate quantification of phosphorus (P) desorption potential in saturated soils and sediments is important for P modeling and transport mitigation efforts. To better account for in situ soil-water redox dynamics and P mobilization under prolonged saturation, a simple approach was developed based on repeated sampling of laboratory microcosms.

Phosphorus (P) is a critical limiting nutrient in agroecosystems requiring careful management to reduce transport risk to aquatic environments. Routine ...

In Situ Soil Moisture Sensors in Undisturbed Soils

Soil moisture directly affects operational hydrology, food security, ecosystem services, and the climate system. However, the adoption of soil moisture data has been slow due to inconsistent data collection, poor standardization, and typically short record duration. Soil moisture, or quantitatively volumetric soil water content (SWC), is measured using buried, in situ sensors that infer SWC from an electromagnetic response. This signal can vary considerably with local site conditions such as clay content and mineralogy, soil salinity or bulk electrical conductivity, and soil temperature; each of these can have varying impacts depending on the sensor technology.
Furthermore, poor soil contact and sensor degradation can affect the quality of these readings over time. Unlike more traditional environmental sensors, there are no accepted standards, maintenance practices, or quality controls for SWC data. As such, SWC is a challenging measurement for many environmental monitoring networks to implement. Here, we attempt to establish a community-based standard of practice for in situ SWC sensors so that future research and applications have consistent guidance on site selection, sensor installation, data interpretation, and long-term maintenance of monitoring stations.
The videography focuses on a multi-agency consensus of best-practices and recommendations for the installation of in situ SWC sensors. This paper presents an overview of this protocol along with the various steps essential for high-quality and long-term SWC data collection. This protocol will be of use to scientists and engineers hoping to deploy a single station or an entire network.

In Situ Soil Moisture Sensors in Undisturbed Soils

The determination of soil water content is a critical mission requirement for many state and federal agencies. This protocol synthesizes multi-agency efforts to measure soil water content using buried in situ sensors.

Soil moisture directly affects operational hydrology, food security, ecosystem services, and the climate system. However, the adoption of soil moisture ...

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters

Measuring the in situ primary productivity of periphyton during the growing season gradient can elucidate the quantitative effect of environmental drivers (mainly phosphorus concentration and light intensity) and species composition on primary productivity. Primary productivity is mainly driven by light intensity, temperature, availability of nutrients, and distribution of the ionic species of the carbonate system in the respective depths of the euphotic zone. It is a complex system that is very difficult to simulate in the laboratory. This cheap, transportable, and easy-to-build floating barge allows measuring the primary productivity accurately-directly under the actual natural conditions. The methodology is based on measuring the primary productivity in real time using noninvasive oxygen sensors integrated into tightly sealed glass jars, enabling online oxygen flux monitoring and providing new insights into metabolic activities. Detailed seasonal in situ measurements of gross primary productivity of microbial mats (or other benthic organisms) can improve current knowledge of the processes controlling primary productivity dynamics in lentic waters.

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters

Presented here is a cost-effective and transportable method/facility for measuring the primary productivity of microbial mats under actual in situ environmental temperature and light conditions. The experimental setup is based on widely available materials and can be used under various conditions while offering the advantages of laboratory-based models.

Measuring the in situ primary productivity of periphyton during the growing season gradient can elucidate the quantitative effect of environmental drivers ...

Integrated Visualization of Biogeochemical Data for Nutrient Management

Visualization of Productivity Zones Based on Nitrogen Mass Balance Model in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

Primary productivity in the coastal regions, linked to eutrophication and hypoxia, provides a critical understanding of ecosystem function. Although primary productivity largely depends on riverine nutrient inputs, estimation of the extent of riverine nutrient influences in the coastal regions is challenging. A nitrogen mass balance model is a practical tool to evaluate coastal ocean productivity to understand biological mechanisms beyond data observations. This study visualizes the biological production zones in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA, where hypoxia frequently occurs, by applying a nitrogen mass balance model. The Bay is divided into three zones - brown, green, and blue zones - based on primary productivity, which are defined by the mass balance model results. Brown, green, and blue zones represent a high physical process, a high biological process, and a low biological process zone, depending on river flow, nutrient concentrations, and mixing rates. The results of this study can better inform nutrient management in the coastal ocean in response to hypoxia and eutrophication.

Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management

Here, we aim to visualize the zonation of biological productivity in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, based on the nitrogen mass balance model. The results will inform nutrient management in the coastal regions to reduce hypoxia and eutrophication.

Primary productivity in the coastal regions, linked to eutrophication and hypoxia, provides a critical understanding of ecosystem function. Although ...

Continuous Instream Monitoring of Nutrients and Sediment in Agricultural Watersheds

Summary

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A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters

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