Stream chemistry following a forest fire and urea fertilization in north-central Washington.

Abstract

During 2 years of study, nitrate-N in streamflow increased from background levels of 0.005 part per million (p.p.m.) in a control stream to 0.042 and 0.310 p.p.m. in streams from burned and burned, urea-fertilized watersheds, respectively. Cation concentration increased on the burned, unfertilized watershed, but because of dilution effects, decreased to levels of the control stream on the burned, fertilized watershed. Neither burning nor urea fertilization caused increases in nitrogenous constituents to levels above those recommended for municipal water supplies. Concentrations of nitrate-N observed indicate that losses of N in this form will have a negligible effect on future productivity of these forest ecosystems.

Citation

Tiedemann, Arthur R. 1973. Stream chemistry following a forest fire and urea fertilization in north-central Washington. Res. Note PNW-RN-203. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: 1-20