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Impact of N-Saturated Upland Forests on Downstream N Pollution in the Tatara River Basin, Japan

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Abstract

This study evaluated whether nitrogen (N) saturated upland forests can degrade downstream water quality in the Tatara River Basin, northern Kyushu, western Japan. Our hypothesis is that elevated atmospheric N deposition degrades downstream water quality in a watershed containing N-saturated forests because a considerable amount of atmospherically deposited N passes into the streams without being retained. Synoptic stream water samplings were conducted at 23 sites across a wide range of land-use categories in the basin over 1 year. A long-term temporal analysis of downstream water quality over the last 30 years (1977–2007) was conducted and compared with long-term trends in related factors such as urban/agricultural activity, sewage wastewater treatment, atmospheric N deposition, and forest condition. The results showed that atmospherically deposited N to N-saturated forests can be a large enough non-point source of N leaving the watershed to impact downstream water quality. This was highlighted by the reduction in pollutant exports derived from urban/agricultural activities, an increase in atmospheric N deposition, and the maturation of coniferous plantation forests in the past 30 years. These have led to reductions in total phosphorus and organic nitrogen concentrations in downstream water, whereas downstream nitrate (NO3 −) concentrations increased over the last 30 years. The consequent increase in the downstream N:P ratio indicated P limitation. Reducing the NO3 − exports from N-saturated upland forests is suggested as a strategy to improve regional downstream NO3 − pollution, but involves intercontinental-scale action in reducing atmospheric N emissions.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Professor K. Otsuki of Kyushu University for advice and support of this study. This study, including publication costs, was supported by a Research Grant for Young Investigators from the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University. We would also like to thank Fukuoka City and Fukuoka Prefecture for the long-term monitoring and statistical databases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kyushu University Forest, Kyushu University, 394 Tsubakuro, Sasaguri, 811-2415, Japan

    Masaaki Chiwa, Jun’ichiro Ide & Atsushi Kume

  2. Fishery Research Laboratory, Kyushu University, 4-46-24 Tsuyazaki, Fukuoka, 811-3304, Japan

    Norio Onikura

  3. Joensuu Research Unit, Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 68, 80101, Joensuu, Finland

    Jun’ichiro Ide

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  1. Masaaki Chiwa
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  2. Norio Onikura
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  3. Jun’ichiro Ide
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  4. Atsushi Kume
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Correspondence to Masaaki Chiwa.

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Author Contributions

MC, NO, JI, and AK conceived and designed the study. MC and NO setup the monitoring sites. MC performed research. MC and NO analyzed data. JI and AK interpreted results. MC wrote the article with assistance from all authors.

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Chiwa, M., Onikura, N., Ide, J. et al. Impact of N-Saturated Upland Forests on Downstream N Pollution in the Tatara River Basin, Japan. Ecosystems 15, 230–241 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-011-9505-z

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