Excess nutrients entering aquatic systems cause negative effects downstream. Oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) is an inexpensive proxy which can be used to define the potential nutrient reducing capacity of a system, in particular denitrification. My thesis attempts to determine effects of hydrology and vegetation manipulations on Eh in an agricultural drainage ditch with weirs using continuous automated data loggers to monitor the system. Accuracy and precision of the continuous automated data loggers was confirmed through laboratory and field testing. Effects of hydrology and vegetation on Eh were quantified during testing from May-September 2012 in east-central Mississippi. Vegetation affected Eh (t=-1.75, P=0.08, df=9,754) whereas changes in hydrology also affected Eh (t=7.05, P<0.001, df=9,754). Modeling of these variables indicated the interaction of hydrology and vegetation was the most influential factor measured. Through management of hydrology and vegetation in ditches, Eh can be managed to create conditions conducive for denitrification.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:MSSTATE/oai:scholarsjunction.msstate.edu:td-4804 |
| Date | 17 August 2013 |
| Creators | Shoemaker, Cory |
| Publisher | Scholars Junction |
| Source Sets | Mississippi State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Theses and Dissertations |
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