The Nitrogen Metabolism of Durham New HampshireConnor Reed

Abstract

AcknowledgementsFunding and support from the UNH Leitzel Center RETE program and the NSF #1132648

Advisors: Dr. Kevin Gardner and Deana AulisioRETE program advisor: Dr. Steve HaleSpecial thanks to Durham Town Offices, Alix Contosta, and UNH for information and support

Transportation

Lawn/Field FertilizersHeating Buildings

Agriculture

Durham, NH

Atmospheric Deposition

6.04 Nkg/ha/yr multiplied by Durham, NH area

77,000 lbs

AgricultureFoodTransportationLawn/field careHeating BuildingsAriel Deposition

63.1 %

2.9 %19.1 %

6.2 %

8.7 %

0.1 %

UNH 2,810 lbs 11.3 % Athletics 56 %

1,568 lbsGrounds 44 % 1,242 lbs

Residential Properties 22,179.76 lbs

88.7 %

25,000 lbs

255,000 lbs

Animal Products 156,785 lbs 61.4 %

Vegetables17,800 lbs

7 %

Nuts2,836 lbs

1.1 %Fruits

8,000 lbs2.5 %

Dairy49,564 lbs

19.4 %

Food

Local Farms8,165 lbs

69 %

UNH Dairy Farm3,688 lbs

31 %

11,800 lbs 35,000 lbs

Main Street5,100 lbs

14 %

Route 10823,700 lbs

68 %

Madbury Rd.5,800 lbs

17 %

Faculty Rd.327 lbs

1 %

200 lbs

UNH58 lbs

Rest of Durham 136 lbs

63.1 %

2.9 %

8.7

%

19.1

%

0.1 %

6.2 %

Sectors N-lb/yr %

Agriculture 11853.336 2.9

Food 255142.85 63.1

Transportation 35012.81 8.7

Lawn/field care 24989.76 6.2

Heating Buildings 403.7568 0.1

Aerial Deposition 77078 19.1

Totals 404480.5108 100

400,000 lbs/yr*some numbers rounded to show

approximate quantities

Potential Hazards of Nitrogen Pollution

-Algae blooms

-Oxygen supply depletion

-Death of native species

-Drinking water pollutionSource: http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/LearnTheIssues/WaterPollution/Nitrogen

Conclusions

The next step of this research is to determine where the nitrogen inputs are going: What percentages of the nitrogen inputs from each sector are going directly into Great Bay, the water treatment plant of Durham, the atmosphere, plant life, animal life, and/or other places? Further research could help to illustrate a more complete picture of the nitrogen flows in and out of Durham NH and other communities by tracking these flows from input to output and determining community actions that impact these flows.

A collection of substantial sources of nitrogen inputs to Durham, NH were categorized and quantified for the purpose of organizing a maximum potential input of nitrogen into the Durham, NH boundaries. Inputs of nitrogen from a metabolic viewpoint can be used to help better realize sectors of a community where inputs are occurring. These sectors included agriculture, food needs, atmospheric deposition, transportation, lawn/field care, and heating buildings. Data were based on town census records, the Durham Energy Commission Report released 2008, interviews with Durham and UNH officials, scientific journal articles and graduate student dissertations, and government studies and databases.

The input-output approach to N-flows allows for a unique standpoint of suggestions for a reduction of N into Durham from the sources described, for example:

A plan to reduce input of N by 20 %

-Reduce the amount of animal products in diet: A 20% decrease would take roughly 50,000 lbs or 12. 5 % of N out of total input

-Reduce the need for residential fertilizers by 90 %: reducing N based fertilizers from 22,000 lbs/yr to 2,000 lbs/yr represents 5 % of the current total input

-Replace short car trips with walking or bicycling: According to a study by NHTS, trips under 11 miles in 2009 accounted for 88.35 % of trips, replacing half of these trips with biking or walking would reduce nitrogen input by more than 15,000 lbs or 4 %