U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory: Beltsville, MD
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    CareersSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications
- People
- Research Sites
- Pesticide Volatilization
- Watershed Modeling
- Climate Change
- Soil Moisture
- Drought and ET
- HRSL Brochure

Title:   Author  item
                                            GEIS-ASTEGGIATE, L. - University Of Marylanditem
                                            MCCONNELL, L.L. - University Of Marylanditem
                                            Hapeman, Cathleenitem
                                            McCarty, Gregoryitem
                                            Rice, Clifforditem
                                            Nguyen, Anhitem
                                            Downey, Peteritem
                                            TORRENTS, A. - University Of Maryland
  Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2014
                                    Publication  Date: 8/10/2014
                                    Citation: Geis-Asteggiate, L., Mcconnell, L., Hapeman, C.J., Mccarty, G.W., Rice, C., Nguyen, A., Downey, P.M., Torrents, A. 2014. Developing unique tracers to distinguish nutrient contributions from agriculture and wastewater sources in the Choptank River and Anacostia River watersheds [abstract]. American Chemical Society. AGRO 480.Interpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Eutrophication is a major problem for the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The efficacy of the restoration efforts implemented is restricted by the inability to differentiate nutrient sources. This study assessed the use of stable tracers in order to discriminate between urban and agricultural nutrient sources. The Choptank River and Anacostia River watersheds were chosen as model systems as their land use is mainly agricultural and urban, respectively. MESA (a metabolite of metolachlor) was selected as an agricultural tracer and sucralose (an artificial sweetener) as an urban tracer. Surface water was collected, extracted, and analyzed for herbicides, their metabolites, and sucralose. The results demonstrated that sucralose was present in areas influenced by wastewater. Linear correlations between nitrate and MESA and ortho-phosphorous and sucralose were observed, indicating both agricultural and urban nutrient sources in the Choptank River. This work provides evidence that these tracers can be used for nutrient source discrimination in the Chesapeake Bay.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov