Particle-bound nutrients in (semi-)natural rivers:
Do simplified assumptions lead to inappropriate recommendations for action?
Research project funded by:
Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
About the Project
Funding
The project is funded by the "Disruptive Innovation - Early Career Seed Money" funding programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) and the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).
Project Description
This project investigates the (particle-bound) nutrient transport in rivers, with a focus on the morphological conditions of rivers as boundaries for the maintenance and restoration of self-cleaning processes. This is carried out in novel hydraulic flumes in the BOKU River Lab.
Aim
The objective of this study is to validate a novel research method with the aim of providing reliable data on nutrient dynamics in the benthic habitat. The overall goal is to enhance our comprehension of the processes of nutrient and contaminant transport in aquatic ecosystems.
Methods
The novelty and originality of the flume experiments compared to conventional approaches are: (i) adjustable hydraulic conditions; (ii) regulation of the water temperature; (iii) specification of physico-chemical parameters; (iv) controlled addition of nutrients in liquid form (e.g. fertiliser, manure) and particle-bound (e.g. arable soil); (v) reproduction of natural morphological aspects of a river (e.g. surface and subsurface layer of a river bed). ISE probes in the water and sediment are used to record the distribution of ammonium over time. Water and sediment samples are analysed for nutrient distribution in a certified chemical laboratory at BOKU University.
