Hydrological controls on nutrient dynamics and load estimation in an agricultural watershed: a case study in Rock Creek, Ohio

Authors

  • Yiwen Xiong School of Environment, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China Author
  • Zeyi Cao School of Environment, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China Author
  • Peng Liu School of Environment, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15583118

Keywords:

Agricultural watershed, nutrient dynamics, hydrological controls, event-driven runoff, water quality management

Abstract

This study investigates the spatiotemporal variability of nutrient concentrations (soluble reactive phosphorus, SRP; total phosphorus, TP; and nitrate, NO₃⁻) and their relationships with hydrological conditions in the Rock Creek watershed, a representative agricultural basin in northwestern Ohio. High-temporal-resolution water quality and discharge data were analyzed over a two-year period (2010–2011) to elucidate seasonal trends, flow-nutrient correlations, and to compare nutrient load estimation methods. The results demonstrate that nutrient transport in the watershed is strongly event-driven, with SRP and TP concentrations peaking during high-flow periods (spring snowmelt and summer/fall storms), exhibiting significant positive correlations with discharge (log-transformed R² = 0.27–0.47). In contrast, nitrate concentrations displayed a distinct seasonal pattern, with a spring flush followed by declining concentrations, suggesting depletion of legacy storage. Notably, flow-weighted mean concentrations (FWMC) exceeded arithmetic means by 2–3 times, revealing that conventional averaging methods underestimate nutrient loads during high-flow events. These findings emphasize the dominance of non-point source pollution during episodic runoff events and underscore the need for targeted management strategies to mitigate nutrient pollution in similar agricultural watersheds.

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References

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Published

2025-06-03

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Articles

How to Cite

Yiwen Xiong, Zeyi Cao, & Peng Liu. (2025). Hydrological controls on nutrient dynamics and load estimation in an agricultural watershed: a case study in Rock Creek, Ohio. Global Academic Frontiers, 3(2), 176-188. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15583118