Riparian Zone Nitrogen Management through the Development of the Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) in a Formerly Glaciated Watershed of the US Northeast

Marzia Tamanna, Soni M. Pradhanang, Arthur J. Gold, Kelly Addy and Philippe G. Vidon
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Marzia Tamanna: Department of Geosciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Soni M. Pradhanang: Department of Geosciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Arthur J. Gold: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Kelly Addy: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
Philippe G. Vidon: Sustainable Resources Management Department, The State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 8, 1-24

Abstract: The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) was developed, calibrated and validated for both hydrologic and water quality data for eight riparian buffers located in a formerly glaciated watershed (upper Pawcatuck River Watershed, Rhode Island) of the US Northeast. The Annualized AGricultural Non-Point Source model (AnnAGNPS) was used to predict the runoff and sediment loading to the riparian buffer. Overall, results showed REMM simulated water table depths (WTDs) and groundwater NO 3 -N concentrations at the stream edge (Zone 1) in good agreement with measured values. The model evaluation statistics showed that, hydrologically REMM performed better for site 1, site 4, and site 8 among the eight buffers, whereas REMM simulated better groundwater NO 3 -N concentrations in the case of site 1, site 5, and site 7 when compared to the other five sites. The interquartile range of mean absolute error for WTDs was 3.5 cm for both the calibration and validation periods. In the case of NO 3 -N concentrations prediction, the interquartile range of the root mean square error was 0.25 mg/L and 0.69 mg/L for the calibration and validation periods, respectively, whereas the interquartile range of d for NO 3 -N concentrations was 0.20 and 0.48 for the calibration and validation period, respectively. Moreover, REMM estimation of % N-removal from Zone 3 to Zone 1 was 19.7%, and 19.8% of N against actual measured 19.1%, and 26.6% of N at site 7 and site 8, respectively. The sensitivity analyses showed that changes in the volumetric water content between field capacity and saturation (soil porosity) were driving water table and denitrification.

Keywords: riparian zone; REMM model; nitrate (NO 3 -N); glaciated; Rhode Island; New England (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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