Nutrients in Streams Draining Woodland and Farmland near Coshocton, Ohio

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Abstract
Nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium concentrations were measured in streams draining woodland and farmland watersheds at Coshocton, Ohio, 1966 through 1969. Temporal variations in the nutrient concentrations were much smaller than the changes in the rate of streamflow. No relationship was found between any nutrient concentration and streamflow, and no seasonal changes in concentration were detected. Nutrient losses from farmland were significantly greater than those from woodland. The nitrate‐N concentration in the farm runoff was below 2 ppm except for one short period when it rose to 10 ppm. The input of nitrogen in the rain was greater than the loss in runoff from both watersheds. The average concentration of phosphate in runoff was 22 ppb (of P) from the farm and 15 ppb from the woodland. The analysis of the data shows that total nutrient losses cannot be calculated meaningfully unless both hydrologic and chemical data are available. The volume of water flow is the most important variable in this calculation.