Journal article
Intermittent rainstorms cause pulses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper in leachate from compost in bioretention systems
The Science of the total environment, Vol.537, pp.294-303
12/15/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/101127
PMID: 26282763
Abstract
Bioretention systems rely on vegetation and mixtures of soil, sand, and compost to filter stormwater runoff. However, bioretention systems can also leach metals and nutrients, and compost may be a major contributor to this leaching. To safely implement bioretention systems, it is crucial to determine the composition of compost leachate. We characterized and quantified the leachate composition of compost following intermittent, simulated storm events. Columns of municipal compost were irrigated to simulate 6-month, 24-hour rain storms in the Seattle–Tacoma region. Outflow was analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), particulate concentration, surface tension, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper. Results indicate a decrease of chemical concentrations over the course of individual storms and following repeated storms, but each new storm released another peak of constituents. The decrease in phosphorus, copper, and DOC concentrations with repeated storms was slower than for nitrate and EC. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that the DOC consisted mainly of aliphatic and aromatic components typical of fulvic and humic acids. Less than 3% of the original copper content from the compost leached out even after nine storm events. Nonetheless, copper concentrations in the leachate exceeded regulatory discharge standards. Our results show that compost can serve as a sustained source of leaching of nutrients and metals.
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•Intermittent rainstorms release N, P, and Cu from compost in bioretention systems.•Leaching of Cu is sustained over several years of rainfall.•Leaching of Cu is correlated with DOC concentrations.•Compost in bioretention systems can be a source of pollution.
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Details
- Title
- Intermittent rainstorms cause pulses of nitrogen, phosphorus, and copper in leachate from compost in bioretention systems
- Creators
- Jessica M Mullane - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USAMarkus Flury - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USAHamid Iqbal - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USAPatrick M Freeze - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USACurtis Hinman - Natural Resources Program Extension, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, USACraig G Cogger - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USAZhenqing Shi - Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Washington State University, Puyallup, WA 98371, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Publication Details
- The Science of the total environment, Vol.537, pp.294-303
- Academic Unit
- Crop and Soil Sciences, Department of
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- Identifiers
- 99900546785201842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article