Evaluation of Whole-Lake Nitrogen Fertilization for Controlling Blue-Green Algal Blooms in a Hypereutrophic Lake

Abstract

Indian Lake, a shallow hypereutrophic lake in southern Wisconsin, was treated with ammonium nitrate to test whether high dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations or high total nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) ratios could prevent the development of summer blue-green algal blooms (predominately Microcystis aeruginosa). The fertilizer was applied weekly from late April to early July 1981–82 in annual amounts of 14 and 23 g N/m2, respectively. In 1981, a dense summer blue-green algal bloom developed, although both dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) and algal P (particulate P/chlorophyll a) were lower than in summers without fertilizer treatments. In 1982, unusually clear water in May allowed aquatic macrophytes and associated filamentous algae to become very dense in June. The increase in water clarity and macrophytes was probably a response to a fishkill the previous winter. Later in the summer the macrophyte community disappeared and a blue-green algal bloom developed. After each fertilization in both treatment years, the NH4+ and NO3− decreased rapidly, suggesting nitrification/denitrification in the lake sediments. Whole-lake N fertilization did not prevent the summer blue-green algal blooms in Indian Lake. Low DIN apparently does not trigger the bloom development or cause the vernal nonblue-green algae to decline. Also, Sow total N:P ratios (<11 by weight) during the blooms occur partly because of high DIP and because of high algal P levels resulting from luxury P consumption. The Indian Lake data suggest that low total N:P ratios are only predictive of (or resultant from) blue-green algal blooms rather than causative.