University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Christina Gaitzenauer
(2012):
Nutrient retention along stream banks of different morphology.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Hydrobiologie, Gewässermanagement (IHG),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 57.
UB BOKU
obvsg
- Abstract:
- The Weinviertel in the north east of Austria is one of the most productive agricultural areas in the country. There, nutrients originating from agricultural land use constitute a major diffuse pollution source for the streams. In this study, we analyzed nutrient concentrations at four different vegetated riparian buffers (natural forest -, trees and shrubs -, reed - and grass bank) along transects from the field to the stream in order to investigate the influence of bank vegetation types on the retention of particulate and dissolved nutrients and organic matter from adjacent fields. Samples were taken in the top – and subsoil layer in autumn (all sites) and in spring (two sites). The results showed that both, bank vegetation type and land use in the immediate catchment influence soil nutrient concentrations of the banks. The reed and grass banks exhibited a higher retention capacity for particulate phosphorous than the forested sites, yielding reductions of 13–22% Pinorg per meter stream bank length. Phosphate retention was comparable among sites with appr. 12-21% reduction per meter bank length. Porg showed an accumulation along the banks at most sites. NO3 and NH4 exhibited rather inhomogeneous patterns, usually yielding a decrease between 3-25%, but also an increase in some cases. In autumn, dissolved nutrients were lower in the field than in the buffer zone probably due to plant uptake, harvesting, and leaching during the vegetated period. Spring samples showed increased ammonium concentrations at both, field and bank sites, due to fertilizer application. In order to avoid diffuse nutrient inputs to streams in the Weinviertel, both, an adequate land use practice and an efficient buffer management, are necessary for water pollution control. Our study indicates that the establishment of continuous riparian buffer strips with a dense grass or reed vegetation may be the best option for an efficient buffer management in the Weinviertel region.
- Beurteilende(r): Hein Thomas
- 1.Mitwirkender: Weigelhofer Gabriele