Within irrigated agricultural watersheds, canal networks may play a crucial role as nitrogen (N) sink. This
is due to the intertwined action of macrophytes and microbial communities occurring in the dense net of
small watercourses. We hypothesize that vegetated canals may buffer relevant fractions of excess N from
agriculture via microbial denitrification, and that vegetation provides multiple interfaces that greatly
support the activity of bacteria. To test these hypotheses, we measured net dinitrogen (N2) fluxes in bare
sediments and at the reach-scale in vegetated ditches. As study areas we selected canals subjected to
diffuse N pollution, laying in a lowland sub-basin of the Po River (northern Italy). Denitrification was
evaluated on the basis of changes in dissolved N2:Ar, measured by Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry.
Complementary data were obtained via upstream–downstream inorganic N balances and intact core
incubations targeting sedimentary N fluxes. Denitrification was the major pathway for N removal, with
rates at the reach-scale (5–25 mmol N m2 d1
) up to one order of magnitude higher than in sediment
alone (3–7 mmol N m2 d1
). Results highlighted that N uptake by macrophyte stands was quantitatively
small; however, aquatic vegetation provided multiple interfaces for microbial growth and N-related
processes. Our data suggest that 1 ha of vegetated canal may remove between 150 and 560 kg N yr1
. In
the study area, an average canal density of 0.05 linear km ha1 of agricultural land has the potential to
buffer 5–17% of the excess N from agriculture (60 kg N ha1 yr1
).
The results of this study suggest the central role of emergent vegetation in promoting microbial Ntransformation
and canal self-depuration. Innovative management of the canal networks should couple
hydraulic needs with the maintenance of emergent vegetation.