Determinative factors of denitrification in a urban, arid wash of central Arizona (2012-2013)

Although the absence of nitrogen (N) can be detrimental to many biological processes, in large quantities certain forms of N can be harmful to the environment. N deposits can leak down through the soil and accumulate in groundwater stores, lakes, and other bodies of water. In arid, residential watersheds, N accumulates by fertilization, atmospheric deposition, and litter from residents and is transported to washes during storms. The main goal of this research is to ascertain how geochemical and hydrological factors limit denitrification and, therefore, affect the quantities of N exported from such a wash. In this study, we evaluate the effects of factors including moisture content, soil texture, and N concentrations on denitrification in a residential, desert wash. In order to carry out our research, we sampled soil from a wash in Scottsdale, AZ during summer 2012. Although there were no strong geochemical correlations with denitrification, it was found that there was a strong relationship between denitrification and distance between inlets and sites.