@article{messer_moore_nelson_ahiablame_bean_boles_cook_hall_mcmaine_schlea_2021, title={CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS FOR WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT: A SYNTHESIS ON NUTRIENT REDUCTION FROM AGRICULTURAL EFFLUENTS}, volume={64}, ISSN={["2151-0040"]}, DOI={10.13031/trans.13976}, abstractNote={Abstract.}, number={2}, journal={TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASABE}, author={Messer, T. L. and Moore, T. L. and Nelson, N. and Ahiablame, L. and Bean, E. Z. and Boles, C. and Cook, S. L. and Hall, S. G. and McMaine, J. and Schlea, D.}, year={2021}, pages={625–639} }
 @article{messer_birgand_burchell_2019, title={Diel fluctuations of high level nitrate and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in constructed wetland mesocosms}, volume={133}, ISSN={0925-8574}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.04.027}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecoleng.2019.04.027}, abstractNote={Portable in situ ultraviolet-visual spectrometers, through high frequency water quality measurements, provide new insight into biogeochemical processes occurring within dynamic ecosystems. Nitrogen and carbon cycling were observed in two distinct wetland mesocosm environments during a two-year mesocosm study. Simulated drainage water was loaded into the mesocosms across seasons with target nitrate-N levels between 2.5 and 10 mg L−1. Nitrate-N and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the water column were measured hourly with the spectrometer and calibrated with water quality grab samples. Prominent and unique diel cycles were observed in both nitrate-N and dissolved organic carbon readings from the spectrometer, which reveal biogeochemical processes in these systems are more complicated than typically considered in empirical models. Findings support the importance of utilizing high frequency monitoring to advance current knowledge of nitrogen and carbon processes occurring in treatment wetland ecosystems.}, journal={Ecological Engineering}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Messer, Tiffany L. and Birgand, François and Burchell, Michael R.}, year={2019}, month={Aug}, pages={76–87} }
 @article{messer_burchell_birgand_broome_chescheir_2017, title={Nitrate removal potential of restored wetlands loaded with agricultural drainage water: A mesocosm scale experimental approach}, volume={106}, ISSN={0925-8574}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.06.022}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.06.022}, abstractNote={Wetland restoration is often conducted in Eastern U.S. coastal plain watersheds alongside agricultural lands that frequently export significant amounts of nitrogen in drainage water. Restoration plans that incorporate the addition of agricultural drainage water can simultaneously increase the success of achieving a target hydroperiod and reduce discharge of nitrogen to nearby surface water. The potential nitrogen removal effectiveness of two wetland restoration sites with such a restoration plan was evaluated in a two-year mesocosm study. Six large wetland mesocosms (3.5 m long × 0.9 m wide × 0.75 m deep) along with unplanted controls were used in this experiment. Three replicates of two soils that differed in organic matter and pH were planted with soft-stem bulrush (Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani) and allowed to develop in the two growing seasons prior to the study. Simulated drainage water was loaded into the mesocosms over eighteen batch studies across seasons with target nitrate-N levels between 2.5 to 10 mg L−1. Grab samples were collected from the water column and analyzed for nitrate-N, dissolved organic carbon, and chloride, along with other environmental parameters such as pH, water temperature, and soil redox. Seasonally, nitrogen and carbon within the wetland plants and soil were also measured. Multivariate statistical analyses were utilized to determine differences in nitrate-N reductions between treatments. Variables included carbon availability, temperature, antecedent moisture condition, nitrogen loading, and water pH. Contrary to the hypothesis that higher nitrate-N removal rates would be observed in the wetlands with higher organic matter, overall removal rates were higher in the wetland mesocosms containing Deloss soils (WET-Min) (maximum of 726 mg m−2 d−1) than those containing Scuppernong soil (WET-Org) (maximum of 496 mg m−2 d−1) and were dependent on daily NO3-N concentrations and season. Significant differences in NO3-N removal were found between seasons and soil types (α = 0.05), which helped to provide insight to the expected magnitude of nitrogen removal within these systems throughout the year, and potential mechanisms (i.e. denitrification vs. plant uptake) that will govern these removals.}, journal={Ecological Engineering}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Messer, Tiffany L. and Burchell, Michael R., II and Birgand, François and Broome, Stephen W. and Chescheir, George}, year={2017}, month={Sep}, pages={541–554} }
 @article{messer_burchell_bohlke_tobias_2017, title={Tracking the fate of nitrate through pulse-flow wetlands: A mesocosm scale N-15 enrichment tracer study}, volume={106}, ISSN={["1872-6992"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.06.016}, abstractNote={Quantitative information about the fate of applied nitrate (NO3-N) in pulse-flow constructed wetlands is essential for designing wetland treatment systems and assessing their nitrogen removal services for agricultural and stormwater applications. Although many studies have documented NO3-N losses in wetlands, controlled experiments indicating the relative importance of different processes and N sinks are scarce. In the current study, 15NO3-N isotope enrichment tracer experiments were conducted in wetland mesocosms of two different wetland soil types at two realistic agricultural NO3-N source loads. The 15N label was traced from the source NO3-N into plant biomass, soil (including organic matter and ammonium), and N-gas constituents over 7–10 day study periods. All sinks responded positively to higher NO3-N loading. Plant uptake exceeded denitrification 2–3 fold in the low NO3-N loading experiments, while both fates were nearly equivalent in the high loading experiments. One to two years later, soils largely retained the assimilated tracer N, whereas plants had lost much of it. Results demonstrated that plant and microbial assimilation in the soil (temporary N sinks) can exceed denitrification (permanent N loss) in pulse-flow environments and must be considered by wetland designers and managers for optimizing nitrogen removal potential.}, journal={ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING}, author={Messer, Tiffany L. and Burchell, Michael R. and Bohlke, J. K. and Tobias, Craig R.}, year={2017}, month={Sep}, pages={597–608} }
 @article{wiseman_burchell_grabow_osmond_messer_2014, title={GROUNDWATER NITRATE CONCENTRATION REDUCTIONS IN A RIPARIAN BUFFER ENROLLED IN THE NC CONSERVATION RESERVE ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM}, volume={50}, ISSN={["1752-1688"]}, DOI={10.1111/jawr.12209}, abstractNote={Abstract}, number={3}, journal={JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION}, author={Wiseman, Jacob D. and Burchell, Michael R. and Grabow, Garry L. and Osmond, Deanna L. and Messer, T. L.}, year={2014}, month={Jun}, pages={653–664} }
 @article{messer_burchell_grabow_osmond_2012, title={Groundwater nitrate reductions within upstream and downstream sections of a riparian buffer}, volume={47}, ISSN={["1872-6992"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.ecoleng.2012.06.017}, abstractNote={The objective of this study was to evaluate the water quality benefits provided by a buffer enrolled in the North Carolina Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (NC CREP). A 5-year study was conducted on two distinct buffer sections along the same stream to evaluate the hydrology and attenuation of groundwater nitrate (NO3−-N) entering from nearby agricultural fields. The average buffer widths were 60 m (Section 1, upstream) and 45 m (Section 2, downstream). Three transects of groundwater monitoring well nests within each buffer zone were installed to monitor water quality and water table depths for 5 years. Mean groundwater NO3−-N concentrations at the 1.5 m depth decreased from 4.5 mg L−1 to 1.7 mg L−1 and from 12.9 mg L−1 to 1.4 mg L−1 in buffer Sections 1 and 2 respectively. These differences were significant in both buffer sections (α = 0.05), but the wider Section 1 received significantly less NO3−-N than did Section 2 (P < 0.0001). Groundwater NO3−-N loads were reduced by 0.003 kg m−2 yr−1 (76% reduction) at the 1.5 m depth, while in Section 2 these loads were reduced by 0.02 kg m−2 yr−1 (94% reduction) and 0.04 kg m−2 yr−1 (86% reduction) at the 1.5 m and 3 m depths, respectively. Topography, water table and redox measurements, nitrate to chloride ratios, and deep groundwater cation analyses, indicated both sections were suitable for denitrification to proceed. However, the position of the wider Section 1 buffer in the landscape limited the amount of NO3−-N contaminated groundwater that entered from the agricultural fields, and thus could have been designed to be narrower. The effectiveness of NO3−-N reduction in riparian buffer systems is dependent on multiple landscape and biogeochemical factors and not buffer width alone. Findings provide design guidance for conservation buffer program managers as related to the influence of buffer landscape position on groundwater nitrate reduction.}, journal={ECOLOGICAL ENGINEERING}, author={Messer, Tiffany L. and Burchell, Michael R., II and Grabow, Garry L. and Osmond, Deanna L.}, year={2012}, month={Oct}, pages={297–307} }