Nitrogen flows in Louisiana Gulf Coast salt marsh: Spatial considerations |
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Authors: | R D DeLaune T C Feijtel W H Patrick Jr |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory for Wetland Soils and Sediments, Center for Wetland Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;(2) Department of Soil Science and Geology, Wageningen Agricultural University, P.O. Box 6700, AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | Nitrogen flux data was synthesized in developing a nitrogen flow budget for a Louisiana Barataria BasinSpartina alterniflora salt marsh. Results demonstrate the importance of spatial consideration in developing a nitrogen budget for coastal marshes. Using a mass balance approach nitrogen inputs balanced nitrogen sinks or losses from a marsh soil-plant system with a specific rooting depth. However, per unit areas on a local scale, marshes serve as a large sink for nitrogen due to rapid accretion which removes 17.O g N m–2yr–1 through subsidence below the root zone. On a larger spatial scale (regional) it is shown that the marshes do not serve as a large nitrogen sink. The rapid marsh deterioration currently occurring in the rapidly subsiding marshes of the Mississippi River deltaic plain account for a net regional loss of 12.5 g N m–2yr–1. Thus, regionally the net sink is equivalent to only 5 g N m–2yr–1 as compared to 17.0 g N m–2yr–1 on a local scale. |
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Keywords: | nitrogen budget denitrification nitrogen fixation wetlands |
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