Abstract
Abstract The migration of nitrogen (N) from farmland to lake aggravates eutrophication. Riparian buffer strips (RBSs) are crucial in alleviating nitrogen into water bodies. This study examined the impacts of different RBS patterns on nitrogen removal. The effects of different RBSs of various widths (5, 15, 30, and 40 m), with different vegetation types (Taxodium hybrid ‘Zhongshanshan’, poplar (Nanlin-95), and a mixed forest of T. hybrid ‘Zhongshanshan’ and poplar) and at different densities (400, 1,000, and 1,600 plants·hm−2) on the TN, NH4+-N and NO3−-N removal rates in different depths of runoff water were studied. The results showed that the 15 m-wide RBS removed nitrogen the most effectively, with average removal rates of NH4+-N, NO3−-N and TN reaching 67.79%, 65.93% and 65.08%, respectively. Among the RBSs with different vegetation types, the poplar forest RBS removed the most NH4+-N (74.28%) and NO3−-N (61.71%). The mixed-forest RBS removed the most TN (65.57%). The RBS with 1,000 plants·hm−2 was more suitable in terms of the removal of NH4+-N (74.25%), NO3−-N (71.08%) and TN (62.67%). The conclusion can provide the basis of vegetation and width optimization for the design and construction of an RBS for maximum eutrophication nutrient removal.
Highlights
Due to the rapid development of industry and agriculture and increase in the usage of chemical fertilizers, pollution of surface waters such as lakes and rivers with nitrogen pollutants has become increasingly severe (Zhang et al )
Where i is the riparian vegetation buffer strips (RBSs) width (5, 15, 30 and 40 m), rNi is the cumulative removal rate of nitrogen at different widths (%), Ni is the concentration of nitrogen at the width of i, and N0 is the concentration of nitrogen in runoff water at the 0 m width
The RBSs had a better removal capacity for N pollutants than strips without any tree cover and the removal capacity could be improved in the aspects of the width, vegetation type and density
Summary
Due to the rapid development of industry and agriculture and increase in the usage of chemical fertilizers, pollution of surface waters such as lakes and rivers with nitrogen pollutants has become increasingly severe (Zhang et al ). The RBS, a banded vegetation zone between polluted water bodies and pollution sources, serves as a buffer transition zone closely connected with aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems (Glenn ). Construction of RBSs is emphasized in lake eutrophication management to reduce the nitrogen content of lake water that occurs through surface runoff and underground runoff (Hefting et al ). To protect river banks and water bodies, the New Zealand government has established regulations, including the restoration of river banks using riparian vegetation buffer strips (RBSs) (Yuan et al ). RBSs have been considered the best management measure for soil and water in Canada (Lorion & Kennedy ), and other European countries are initiating research on RBS technology and actively promoting the application of this technology (Phillips ; Smith )
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