Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Stoichiometric Controls On Denitrification In High Nitrate Watersheds, Brian Grebliunas

Theses and Dissertations

Watershed biogeochemistry throughout Midwestern agroecosystems have been altered through hydrologic manipulation and over-application of nitrogenous fertilizers. As a result, nitrate (NO3-N) export from subsurface drainage has negative impacts on local and downstream ecosystem health. Wetland installation has proven to be a viable option for targeted management where a large proportion of NO3-N is removed through the bacterially mediated process denitrification. For denitrification to maintain high rates under prolonged NO3-N saturation, a stable supply of labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is required. The focus of this dissertation was to study how the stoichiometry of agricultural wetlands limits denitrification within a controlled …