Nitrogen wet deposition in the Three Gorges Reservoir area: Characteristics, fluxes, and contributions to the aquatic environment

Abstract

Measurements of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in precipitation were conducted at six different sites in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) area from January 2016 to December 2017. The characteristics and the sources of nitrogen (N) species were identified. N flux of wet deposition in the hinterland of the TGR area were 13.56 ± 2.95 kg N ha−1 yr−1, of which the proportions of NO3−-N, NH4+-N and DON were 60.9%, 25.1% and 14.0%, respectively. N flux in urban area was significantly higher than those in suburban, agricultural, and wetland areas. Industrial activities, biomass burning, and secondary transformation were the main contributors of N in urban area. In agricultural area, biomass burning, crustal, and manure were main sources of N. In suburban area, mixed emissions from industry, agriculture, and crustal sources were primary contributors of N. For wetlands, the major contributions were from industrial sector and biomass burning. Additional, analysis of regional distribution of dissolved N deposition in the TGR area was conducted by combining current study data and previously published data between 2000 and 2017. N flux of wet deposition in the entire TGR area ranged from 12.17 to 51.93 kg N ha−1 yr−1, with an average of 26.81 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Regional N distribution was greatest in the tail region, followed by the head region, and then the hinterland in the TGR area. The amount of N entering the TGR directly through atmospheric wet deposition was 2906 t yr−1, accounting for 2.1% of the total N inputs. N load from wet deposition had exceeded the critical loads from that of the water, forest, and even some farmland ecosystems in the TGR area. Decreasing NH3 emissions from agricultural activities is the key to alleviate the regional N deposition.