Denitrification in Wetland and Riparian Buffers of the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

Wetlands and riparian buffers serve an important function in the cycling of nitrogen in natural, converted, and manure-impacted landscapes.  To understand the extent and relative magnitude of denitrification in these wetland systems, investigations were conducted from Delmarva to South Carolina.  Denitrification enzyme activity (DEA) was measured to assess the level of denitrification potential as well as the limiting factors for full expression of denitrification potentials.  Static chambers were used to measure the level of incomplete denitrification and nitrous oxide emissions occurring in these wetlands.  As would be expected, DEA was greater in lower landscape positions within the wetlands. The potential DEA was higher for converted rather than natural wetlands. While nitrous oxide was frequently emitted from both natural and manure-impacted wetlands, the levels of nitrous oxide emission were not extraordinarily high.