Water quality impacts of forest fertilization with nitrogen and phosphorus

The drinking-water quality of streamwater in forests is typically very good, exceeding the quality of water in areas with other types of land use. Streams draining agricultural lands in the United States average about nine times greater concentrations of nitrate and phosphate than streams draining forested areas. Forest fertilization commonly increases nutrient concentrations in streamwater, and large increases could lead to unacceptable degradation of water quality. This review summarizes information from studies of forest fertilization around the world, and evaluates the responses of streamwater chemistry. In general, peak concentrations of nitrate-N in streamwater increase after forest fertilization, with a few studies reporting concentrations as high as 10-25 (mg N)/l as nitrate. Increases in average concentrations of nitrate are much lower than the peak values, and the highest annual average nitrate-N concentration ever reported was 4 (mg N)/l. Relatively high concentrations of streamwater nitrate-N tend to occur with repeated fertilization, use of ammonium nitrate (rather than urea), and fertilization of N-saturated hardwood forests. Ammonium-N concentrations may also show large peaks following fertilization (up to 15 (mg N)/l), but annual averages remain <0.5 (mg N)/l. Fertilization with phosphate can lead to increased peak concentrations of >1 (mg P)/l, but annual averages remain <0.25 (mg P)/l. No evidence has been reported of detectable effects of forest fertilization on the composition or productivity of stream communities, but more detailed studies may be warranted (especially in relation to P fertilization). Major limitations in current knowledge include the effects of repeated fertilization in short-rotation plantations, fertilization of large landscapes rather than small stands, and the effects of fertilization on streamwater chemistry in tropical plantations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.