Influence of wetlands on nutrients in headwaters of agricultural catchments

We investigated the influence of land cover on nutrient concentrations (295 samples) in headwater streams over a two year period ten agriculture-dominated subcatchments (163 – 8373 ha) southern Ontario Canada. In this region, monitoring and research dynamics wetlands is sparse. Our results indicated significant positive correlation (Pearson coefficient ρ = 0.320) between soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) percentage these catchments. This result suggests that wetlands, other wet riparian zones, are key sources SRP streams. Nitrate were positively correlated with % agricultural (ρ 0.316), consistent previous studies, while negatively cover. -0.325). There was discharge some Seasonal trends appear to be closely related temperature-dependent seasonal changes redox conditions, including levels dissolved O2. Surficial geology had nitrate streams, which tended higher catchments dominated by glacial till (till terrain), compared extensive areas outwash sand, addition terrain. article protected copyright. All rights reserved.