Cresser, M.S. and Green, S.M. (2008) Nitrogen cycle disruption through the application of de-icing salts on upland highways. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. pp. 139-153. ISSN 0049-6979
Abstract
It is hypothesized that episodic introductions of road salt severely disrupt the soil nitrogen cycle at a range of spatial and temporal scales. A field-scale study has confirmed impacts on the nitrogen cycle in soil, soil solution and river samples. There is evidence that ammonium-N retention on cation exchange sites has been reduced by the presence of sodium ions, and that ammonium-N has been flushed from the exchange sites. Increases in soil pH have been caused in naturally acidic uplands. These have enhanced mineralization of organic-N, especially nitrification, leading to a reduction in the mineralizable-N pool of roadside soils. There is evidence to support the hypothesis that organic matter content has been lowered over decades either through desorption or dispersal processes. Multiple drivers are identified that contribute to the disruption of nitrogen cycling processes, but their relative importance is difficult to quantify unequivocally. The influence of road salt on soil and soil solution declines with distance from the highway, but impacts on water chemistry in a local stream are still strongly evident at some distance from the road.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2008 Springer. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Water, Air & Soil Pollution. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | cationic displacement,nitrogen cycle,road salt,sodium chloride,ORGANIC-MATTER,ROADSIDE SOILS,MOBILIZATION,CATCHMENT,SCOTLAND |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Environment and Geography (York) |
Depositing User: | Repository Officer |
Date Deposited: | 08 Apr 2008 17:18 |
Last Modified: | 21 Jan 2025 17:12 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9530-x |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/s11270-007-9530-x |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:3732 |
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