Browsing by Author "White, Sarah A."

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    Assessing nitrogen and phosphorus removal potential of five plant species in floating treatment wetlands receiving simulated nursery runoff
    Spangler, Jonathan T.; Sample, David J.; Fox, Laurie J.; Albano, Joseph P.; White, Sarah A. (2019-02)
    The feasibility of using floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) to treat runoff typical of commercial nurseries was investigated using two 8-week trials with replicated mesocosms. Plants were supported by Beemat rafts. Five monoculture treatments of Agrostis alba (red top), Canna x generalis Firebird' (canna lily), Carex stricta (tussock sedge), Iris ensata Rising Sun' (Japanese water iris), Panicum virgatum (switchgrass), two mixed species treatments, and an unplanted control were assessed. These plant species are used for ornamental, wetland, and biofuel purposes. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removals were evaluated after a 7-day hydraulic retention time (HRT). N removal (sum of ammonium-N, nitrate-N, and nitrite-N) from FTW treatments ranged from 0.255 to 0.738gm(-2)d(-1) (38.9 to 82.4% removal) and 0.147 to 0.656gm(-2)d(-1) (12.9 to 59.6% removal) for trials 1 and 2, respectively. P removal (phosphate-P) ranged from 0.052 to 0.128gm(-2)d(-1) (26.1 to 64.7% removal) for trial 1, and 0.074 to 0.194gm(-2)d(-1) (26.8 to 63.2% removal) for trial 2. Panicum virgatum removed more N and P than any other FTW treatment and the control in both trials. Results show that species selection and timing of FTW harvest impact the rate and mass of nutrient remediation. FTWs can effectively remove N and P from runoff from commercial nurseries.
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    An Assessment of Floating Treatment Wetlands for Reducing Nutrient Loads from Agricultural Runoff in Coastal Virginia
    Spangler, Jonathan Travis (Virginia Tech, 2017-07-18)
    Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are an innovative best management practice that can enhance the performance of traditional retention ponds by increasing removal of the nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P). FTWs consist of floating rafts on which wetland plants are planted, allowing the roots to be submerged below the water surface while the shoots remain above. A growing body of research has documented FTW performance with regard to urban runoff treatment, however evaluation of FTW effectiveness for treatment of agricultural runoff has received less attention. Due to high fertilization and irrigation rates, commercial nursery runoff contains much higher concentrations of N and P than runoff from urban areas. We conducted this study over two growing seasons (2015 and 2016) to assess the effectiveness of FTWs for use in commercial nursery retention ponds. In the first study we used two different nutrient concentrations, one to simulate nursery runoff (17.1 mg∙L-1 TN and 2.61 mg∙L-1 TP) and one to simulate concentrations that fall between urban and nursery runoff (5.22 mg∙L-1 TN and 0.52 mg∙L-1 TP). Four treatments were used: 1) Pontederia cordata planted in cups supported by a Beemat, 2) Juncus effusus planted in cups supported by a Beemat, 3) a Beemat with no plants, and 4) no treatment (open-water). Performance was evaluated based on a 7-day hydraulic retention time (HRT). Pontederia cordata removed between 90.3% and 92.4% of total phosphorus (TP) and 84.3% and 88.9% total nitrogen (TN), depending on initial loads. These reductions were significantly more than other treatments at both high and low nutrient loading rates. Juncus effusus performed better than the control treatments for TP removal at low nutrient concentrations, but did not perform any better than the control at higher nutrient loads. In the second study, conducted in 2016, we evaluated different plant species over two 8-week trials using simulated nursery runoff. We used five monoculture FTWs with the following species: Agrostis alba, Canna ×generalis, Carex stricta, Iris ensata, and Panicum virgatum. Additionally, two treatments were created from mixed species plantings and the final treatment consisted of an open water control mesocosm. Nutrient removal performance was evaluated over a 7-day HRT. P removal (phosphate-P) by FTW treatments ranged from 26.1% to 64.7% for trial 1 and 26.8% to 63.2% for trial 2. Trial 1 N removal (sum of ammonium-N, nitrate-N, and nitrite-N) efficiencies ranged from 38.9% to 82.4%, and trial 2 ranged from 12.9% to 59.6%. Panicum virgatum removed significantly more N and P than the control and any other FTW treatment in the second study. Both studies indicated, depending upon plant species, that FTWs can effectively remove nitrogen and phosphorous from urban and commercial nursery retention ponds.
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    Data on floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species
    Spangler, Jonathan T.; Sample, David J.; Fox, Laurie J.; Owen, James S. Jr.; White, Sarah A. (Elsevier, 2018-12-15)
    The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species” (Spangler et al., 2018). This Data in Brief article provides data on concentrations of common ions, macro- and micro-nutrients and metals every other week during a floating treatment wetland (FTW) mesocosm experiment, and macro- and micro-nutrient contents in cumulative plant tissues, data on continuously monitored water temperature, and nitrogen and phosphorus removal curves assessed every other week. The full data set is made available to enable critical or extended analysis of the research.
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    Dolomite and Micronutrient Fertilizer Affect Phosphorus Fate in Pine Bark Substrate used for Containerized Nursery Crop Production
    Shreckhise, Jacob H.; Owen, James S. Jr.; Eick, Matthew J.; Niemiera, Alexander X.; Altland, James E.; White, Sarah A. (2019-09)
    Dolomite and a micronutrient fertilizer are routinely incorporated into a pine bark-based soilless substrate when producing containerized nursery crops, yet the effect of these amendments on phosphorus (P) is not well understood. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer amendments on P partitioning among four P fractions (i.e., orthophosphate-P EOM non-orthophosphate dissolved P [NODP], total dissolved P [TDP], and particulate P (PPJ) and to model potential P species in leachate of pine bark substrate. Amendment treatments incorporated into bark at experiment initiation included (1) a control (no fertilizer, dolomite, or micronutrient fertilizer), (2) controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), (3) CRF and dolomite, (4) CRF and micronutrient fertilizer, or (5) CRF, dolomite, and micronutrient fertilizer. Phosphorus fractions in leachate of irrigated pine bark columns were determined at eight sampling times over 48 days. Amending pine bark with dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer reduced leachate OP concentrations by 70% when averaged across sampling dates primarily due to retention of OP in the substrate by dolomite. The NODP fraction was unaffected by amendments, and the response of TDP was similar to that of OP. Particulate P was present throughout the study and was strongly correlated particulate Fe and DOC concentrations. Visual MINTEQ indicated MnHPO4 and Ca-5(PO4)(3)(OH) were consistently saturated with respect to their solid phase in treatments containing CRF. Results of this study suggest amending pine bark with dolomite and micronutrients is a best management practice for reducing P leaching from containerized nurseries.
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    Greenhouse and Nursery Water Management Characterization and Research Priorities in the USA
    White, Sarah A.; Owen, James S.; Majsztrik, John C.; Oki, Lorence R.; Fisher, Paul R.; Hall, Charles R.; Lea-Cox, John D.; Fernandez, R. Thomas (MDPI, 2019-11-08)
    Nursery, floriculture, and propagation production accounted for 79% ($13.3 Billion) of 2017 ornamental specialty crop production in the United States. Access to high quality water sources is increasingly limited for irrigating these economically significant crops. Given the production, environmental, and economic issues associated with the use of water—including recycled, reclaimed, surface, and ground water—it is critical to develop sustainable runoff, containment, and remediation technologies, and to identify alternative sources of water. To better understand current practices and future water-related needs as perceived by grower stakeholders, an online survey was distributed nationally and five in-depth round table discussion sessions were conducted at the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Gulf States Horticultural Expo, California Grown Show, AmericanHort’s Cultivate, and the Farwest Show with a total of 36 individual industry participants. A team of research and extension specialists facilitated by a Specialty Crops Research Initiative Planning Grant (NIFA Project # 2011-51181-30633) analyzed and concisely summarized the results from the survey and the round table discussions. Research priorities related to water management identified by stakeholders revolved around six themes: (1) recycled water infrastructure and management; (2) contaminants; (3) plant health and water quality; (4) water treatment technologies; (5) competing and complementary water uses; (6) societal perception of agricultural water use.
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    GroZone Tracker
    Owen, James Stetter, 1975-; White, Sarah A.; Whipker, Brian; Krug, Brian (Virginia Cooperative Extension, 2016-09-21)
    This document highlights features of an app called GroZone Tracker and how it can assist in recording data and monitoring water quality, substrate pH, and electrical conductivity data for nursery and greenhouse operations. This app can be used on desktops and mobile devices.
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    Nutrition and Plant Growth Regulator Rates for High Quality Growth of Containerized Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana L.)
    White, Sarah A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-04-03)
    Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana) is a flowering herbaceous perennial. Little information is available about its production requirements. This project’s purpose was to determine fertilizer and PGR rates for high quality growth of Spiderwort in a greenhouse production setting. The first experiment screened three plant growth regulators (PGRs) at ascending rates on three T. virginiana cultivars. The most effective rates for height suppression were paclobutrazol at 120 mgּL-1, uniconazole at 45 mgּL-1, and flurprimidol at 45 mgּL-1. The second experiment was divided into two parts. The first screened three T. virginiana cultivars for their growth response to several nitrogen (N) rates. The second experiment used results from the first experiment and examined two cultivars response to a basic fertilizer. For experiment 1, N rates between 100 and 200 mg‧L-1 resulted in quality plant growth. The second experiment showed little difference between height, width and flowering of both cultivars with these N rates. Plant quality was similar for plants fertilized with 100 and 200 mgּL-1 N at the end of both experiments. The third study examined how fertilization rate affects the persistence of PGR growth control. PGR rates identified as effective in experiment 1 were used. Plants fertilized with 200 mgּL-1 N were taller than those fertilized with 100 mgּL-1 N, regardless of PGR treatment. PGRs did not suppress plant growth; plant quality was similar regardless of treatment. The results of these studies indicate that PGR effectiveness in suppressing plant height may be dependent upon season, with PGR application necessary only during the spring growing season.