Untangling Nutrient Export Processes from Agricultural Catchments

This research investigates the processes driving nutrient losses and greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural landscapes. Using stable isotope techniques, I traced nutrient sources and transformations across dairy, livestock, and horticultural farming systems. The research showed that rainfall and irrigation events strongly influence nutrient losses and biogeochemical processes across different agricultural land uses. It also identified the processes responsible for greenhouse gas production in agricultural drains and farm ponds, demonstrating that these systems can become hotspots of greenhouse gas emissions following hydrological events. These findings provide new knowledge to support more effective environmental management strategies.