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Denitrification in sediments from the hyporheic zone adjacent to a small forested stream

J.H. Duff·F.J. Triska
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Abstract

Denitrifying potentials increased with increasing distance from the stream channel. Dissolved oxygen was 100% of the concentration expected in equilibrium with the atmosphere in water obtained from monitoring wells immediately adjacent to the stream but was as low as 7% of the expected value in water 11.4 m inland. Both nitrate and dissolved organic carbon decreased over summer in wells at the base of the alder-forested slope. A 48-h injection of nitrate-amended stream water into hyporheic water 8.4 m inland stimulated nitrous oxide production in the presence of acetylene. Nitrous oxide was generated as nitrate and acetylene were co-transported to a well 13 m down-gradient. Acetylene-block experiments coupled with the chemistry data suggest that denitrification can modify the chemistry of water during passage through the hyporheic zone. -from Authors

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Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic SciencesArticle

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BibTeXRIS

J.H. Duff, F.J. Triska. 1990. Denitrification in sediments from the hyporheic zone adjacent to a small forested stream. https://doi.org/10.1139/f90-133

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