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SANIFAC

 

Assessment and mitigation of soil and nutrient losses from acid-sensitive catchments

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PROJECT TEAM
Dr Michael Rodgers, National University of Ireland, Galway
Dr Liwen Xiao, National University of Ireland, Galway
Mark O'Connor, National University of Ireland, Galway
Connie O'Driscoll, National University of Ireland, Galway
Zaki-ul-zaman Asam, National University of Ireland, Galway

* Email: michael.rodgers@nuigalway.ie

COMPLETION DATE: October 2010

BACKGROUND
From the 1960s to the 1980s a substantial amount of afforestation occurred in Ireland, on blanket peat. This first rotation crop is now being harvested, or is due for harvesting over the coming years. But it is well known that forest harvesting has the potential to cause releases of solids, nutrient and acidic substrates from soils, causing eutrophication and acidification in receiving waters. This project is particularly relevant to the Forest Water Relations Theme in: (a) examining the effectiveness of buffer zones and grass in the protection of the water quality of receiving waters from forest activities and (b) quantifying the particulate and soluble loads and fluxes in an acid-sensitive forest environment, pre- and post-clearfelling.

OBJECTIVES

  • Develop guidelines for the selection of sustainable clearfell sizes in acid-sensitive catchments based on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative experimental data, including dilution and buffer zone capabilities in the catchment.
  • Review design guidelines and develop soil and nutrient mitigation rates for riparian woodlands and buffer zones based on comprehensive field data.
  • Investigate grass seeding as the method to mitigate the nutrients loss after harvesting.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of soil nutrient release from peats and logging residues to surface runoff.
  • Identify and quantify the sources of nutrient release after harvesting using litter bag experiments.

    PROGRESS
    A workshop was held on 7 May 2009 in Newport, Co Mayo. The attendees were from COFORD, Coillte, Forest Service, Marine Institute, Fisheries Boards, National Parks and Wildlife Service, EPA, Teagasc and Galway County Council. Two steering committee meetings were held on 6 April and 16 November 2009. A project meeting was held on 22 September 2009 at the Marine Institute, Newport.
    All four 10 ha catchments were fully instrumented. Nine monitoring stations - six in Srahrevagh River study catchment and three in Glennamong catchment - were set up. Nine experimental plots which could be used for buffer zone study in Shrahrevagh were instrumented. In Glennamong, a 0.1 ha buffer area was established. Weather stations have been instrumented at both study sites. Rainfall, wind, air temperature, radiation, air humility, flow, physical, chemical and biological data are being collected. Grass surveying was carried out in the Srahrevagh catchment four years after harvesting. A grass seed germination trial was carried out. The buffer zone in Glennamong has been seeded with grass. About 2,000 litter bags have been placed on site to identify and quantify the sources of nutrient release after harvesting.
    The suspended sediment (SS) concentrations at upstream and downstream stations at Srahrevagh, the control site and buffer area in Glennamong are similar and low. The SS concentrations were about 3-5 mg l-1 at base flow. They could increase to about 30 mg l-1 in storm events. The total reactive phosphorus (TRP) concentrations at the upstream area of Srahrevagh, control site and buffer area in Glennamong were continuously low. The mean concentrations are less than 10 mg/l. The phosphorus concentrations at thedownstream station in Srahrevagh were similar to the value at upstream station in storm events and base flow condition, indicating that the phosphorus concentrations are back to pre-clearfelling values four years after clearfelling. The phosphorus concentrations in the main Srahrevagh and Glennamong rivers are similar and low, less than 10 mg TRP l-1.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
  • Project and steering group meetings will be held.
  • Continue reviewing literature relevant to the project during the study period.
  • Data collection for at Srahrevagh and Glennamong catchments will be continued.
  • Biological surveys will be conducted four times per annum.
  • The buffer zone will be seeded again in spring 2010.
  • Litter bags will be collected once every six months for nutrient analysis.
  • Grass study will be continued.
  • Flume and agitator study will be continued.

    OUTPUTS
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor, Connie O'Driscoll and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and mitigation of soil and nutrient losses from acid-sensitive forest catchments. In: HYDROFOR inter-project workshop, UCD Dublin. 16 January, 2009
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. The impacts of forestry activities on the water ecology and flow regime in acid sensitive salmonid receiving waters in the Burrishoole Catchment, Newport, Co Mayo (poster). In: Postgraduate ecology forum in ECI, NUI Galway. 14-17 April, 2009.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor, Connie O'Driscoll and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: A review of the findings in the previous study. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly. 6 April 2009.
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the field study and the future field study plan. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly. 6 April 2009.
    Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Connie O'Driscoll. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the laboratory study and the future laboratory study plan. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co Offaly. 6 April 2009.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor, Connie O'Driscoll and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: A review of the findings in the previous study. In: Technical workshop: Sediment and nutrients release from forest harvesting operations in the Burrishoole catchment in Newport, Co Mayo. 7 May 2009.
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the field study and the future field study plan. In: Technical workshop: Sediment and nutrients release from forest harvesting operations in the Burrishoole catchment in Newport, Co Mayo. 7 May 2009.
    Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Connie O'Driscoll. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the laboratory study and the future laboratory study plan. In: Technical workshop: Sediment and nutrients release from forest harvesting operations in the Burrishoole catchment in Newport, Co Mayo. 7 May 2009
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Forestry impacts on diatom assemblages in two acid sensitive streams, Co Mayo, Ireland. In: British Diatom Meeting 2009 Freshwater Biological Association, Ambleside, UK. 26 October 2009. (Won the best poster award).
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the field study and the future field study plan. In: Meeting with COFORD, Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 22 September 2009.
    Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Connie O'Driscoll. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the laboratory study and the future laboratory study plan. In: Meeting with COFORD, Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 22 September 2009.
    Liwen Xiao, Michael Rodgers, Mark O'Connor, Connie O'Driscoll and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: A review of the findings in the previous study. In: Meeting with COFORD, Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 22 September 2009.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor, Connie O'Driscoll and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: A review of the findings in the previous study and the proposal tasks in the future study. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 16 November 2009.
    Connie O'Driscoll, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the field study and the future field study plan. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 16 November 2009.
    Zaki-ul-Zaman Asam, Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor and Connie O'Driscoll. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Catchments: the preliminary findings of the laboratory study and the future laboratory study plan. In: SANIFAC steering meeting in Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo. 16 November 2009.

     

    2008 report

    download 2008 report pdf (pdf 184Kb)  

    PROJECT TEAM
    Dr Michael Rodgers, National University of Ireland - Galway
    Dr Liwen Xiao, National University of Ireland - Galway
    Mark O'Connor, National University of Ireland - Galway
    Connie O'Driscoll, National University of Ireland - Galway
    Zaki-ul-zaman Asam, National University of Ireland - Galway

    * Email: michael.rodgers@nuigalway.ie

    COMPLETION DATE: October 2010

    BACKGROUND
    From the 1960s to the 1980s a substantial increase in afforestation occurred in Ireland, particularly on blanket peat. This first rotation crop is now being harvested, or is due for harvesting over the coming years. However, it is well known that forest harvesting has the potential to cause releases of solids, nutrient and acidic substrates from soils, causing damage, including eutrophication and acidification, to receiving waters. This project is particularly relevant to the Forest Water Relations Themes in: (a) examining the effectiveness of buffer zones in the protection of the water quality of receiving waters from forest activities and (b) quantifying the particulate and soluble loads and fluxes in an acid-sensitive forest environment, pre- and post-clearfelling.

    OBJECTIVES

  • Develop guidelines for the selection of sustainable clearfell sizes in acid-sensitive catchments based on comprehensive quantitative and qualitative experimental data, including dilution and buffer zone capacities in the catchment.
  • Review design guidelines and develop soil and nutrient mitigation rates for riparian woodlands and buffer zones based on comprehensive field data.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of erosion on five Irish soils in novel laboratory flume studies and establish numerical erodibility indices for disturbed and undisturbed soils.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of soil nutrient release from peats and forest residues to surface runoff in laboratory-simulated overland flow tests on soil layers taken from the study site.
    PROGRESS
    Literature relevant to the research area is being reviewed. Studies carried out in Ireland, the UK and globally on releases of nutrients and sediments, changes in acidity, and changes in biota associated with forestry activities on blanket peats have been reviewed. Four project meetings were held to ensure focused execution of the project objectives.
    The Srahrevagh River study catchment has been instrumented. The instrumentation in Glenamong study catchment is ongoing. Three 3 x 20 m buffer plots have been constructed in Srahrevagh River study catchment. The buffer zone in Glenamong is identified. Data collection is ongoing for the Srahrevagh catchment, including flow rates and water quality parameters. Currently the suspended sediments (SS) concentrations at Station 1 and Station 2 are similar. At storm events, the peak SS at the two stations can range up to 15 mg/l. Also the SS concentrations are similar at Station 3 and Station 4, with concentrations of less than 10 mg/l at base flows and peak concentrations of about 60 mg/l during storm events. The total reactive phosphorus (TRP) concentrations at the upstream station (Station 1) are less than 10 mg/l. The phosphorus concentrations at the downstream station (Station 2) can vary up to 50 µg TRP/l during storm events, indicating that the effects of the clearfelling and harvesting operations in 2005 on the phosphorus release still exist. The phosphorus concentrations at Station 3 and Station 4 in the main river are similar at less than 10µg TRP/l, indicating that the dilution capacity of the main river can reduce the effect of the phosphorus release from the study catchment to acceptable levels. Biological surveys are ongoing in Srahrevagh River and Glenamong River. Blanket peat samples have been collected from the Srahrevagh River study site and were tested in the flumes and the agitator apparatus. The release of suspended sediment, phosphorus and nitrogen into solution is being studied.

    ACTIVITIES PLANNED
    Further project meetings will be held to steer the progress of the project.
    The literature relevant to the project will continue to be reviewed during the study period.
    The instrumentation of the Glenamong catchment will be completed.
    The buffer zones in Srahrevagh River study catchment and Glenamong will be completed.
    The data collection for the Srahrevagh catchment and the Glenamong catchment will continue.
    The biological surveys will be conducted four times per annum.
    Four more types of soils from other catchments will be collected and tested in the flumes and the agitators.

    OUTPUTS
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Phosphorus and sediment release from a forest catchment in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. EPA Annual Conference - poster session. The Royal Hospital, Dublin. (February 6 - 7, 2008).
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Forest Catchments. A meeting with COFORD, Coillte Teo and Forest Service. The Aisling Hotel, Dublin. (April 14, 2008).
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Phosphorus and sediment release from a forest catchment in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. Engineering Research Open Day. Galway Bay Hotel, Galway. (April 22, 2008).
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Forest Catchments. Annual Meeting Forest Service and Marine Institute Group. Marine Institute, Newport, Co Mayo (May 14, 2008).
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Assessment and Mitigation of Soil and Nutrient Losses from Acid-Sensitive Forest Catchments. In: Research day, ECI NUI Galway (June 11, 2008). The best oral presentation award.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Phosphorus and sediment release from a forest catchment in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. In: Teagasc Farmfest, Athenry on 20 June 2008.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Phosphorus and sediment release from a forest catchment in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. In: HYDROFOR project meeting in UCD on 12 August 2008.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. STRIVE-Hydrofor and STIMULUS-SANIFAC Project Meeting, 9 September 2008. Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
    Michael Rodgers, Liwen Xiao, Mark O'Connor. Forest catchment study in Burrishoole, Co Mayo. IHYDROFOR meeting in, 3 November 2008, UCD, Dublin.