Freshwater diversions as an ecosystem management tool for maintaining soil organic matter accretion in coastal marshes

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

DELAUNE, R.D.

Dep. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, Etats-Unis

KONGCHUM, M.

School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, Etats-Unis

WHITE, J.R.

Dep. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, Etats-Unis

JUGSUJINDA, A.

Dep. of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, School of the Coast and Environment, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge, Etats-Unis

Description :
Marsh soil accretion processes were examined at 12 locations in fresh and brackish marshes in Louisiana's northern Barataria Basin estuary. Sedimentation rates were determined by 137 Cs. Soil structure and accretion were controlled primarily by organic matter accumulation rather than mineral sediment deposition with water and entrapped gases occupying the majority of the soil volume. Such organic-based fresh and brackish marsh soil are more fragile than mineral based marsh soils and are subject to impact by salt water intrusion and hurricane storm surge forces. The Davis Pond diversion is a conduit between the Mississippi River and the coastal marshes of Barataria basin currently reintroducing river water into the basin leading to lower basin salinities. This hydrologic management measure should benefit and extend the stability of the studied marsh sites encouraging continued vegetation growth and soil organic matter accumulation.

Type de document :
Article de périodique

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2013, vol. 107, p. 139-144, nombre de pages : 6, Références bibliographiques : 31 ref.

Date :
2013

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais