Nitrogen In Shallow Groundwater Research Articles

Effect of Fallow on Nitrogen Accumulation in Soil Profile and Shallow Groundwater in Cropland Around Fuxian Lake

Soil nitrogen accumulation in cropland and groundwater nitrogen pollution can be effectively alleviated by reducing exogenous nitrogen input, and fallow is an important measure for reducing exogenous nitrogen input. To explore the effects of fallow on nitrogen accumulation in the soil profile and shallow groundwater, the soil profile and shallow groundwater in cropland around Fuxian Lake were selected as research objects. The changes in nitrogen accumulation in the 0-100 cm soil profile and nitrogen concentration in shallow groundwater before (December 2017) and after (August 2020 and April 2021) fallow and their relationships were analyzed. The results showed that the content and storage of nitrogen in soil profiles were significantly reduced by fallow, and the contents of TN, ON, DTN, NO3--N, and NH4+-N in 0-30, 30-60, and 60-100 cm soil profiles after fallow decreased by 18.4 %-36.5 %, 16.1 %-26.8 %, 54.0 %-130.2 %, 59.5 %-90.8 %, and 60.1 %-110.6 %, respectively. The storages of TN, ON, DTN, NO3--N, and NH4+-N in 0-100 cm soil profiles before fallow were (17.20 ±0.97) t·hm-2, (15.50 ±1.23) t·hm-2, (0.68 ±0.06) t·hm-2, (266.8 ±31.17) kg·hm-2, and (18.7 ±3.04) kg·hm-2, respectively. However, their storages after fallow decreased by 25.5 %, 23.3 %, 44.7 %, 80.1 %, and 59.9 %, respectively. Fallow also changed the concentration and composition of different forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater. The concentrations of TN, ON, NO3--N, and NH4+-N in groundwater after fallow decreased by 88.4 %, 82.7 %, 92.1 %, and 65.8 %, respectively, and ON/TN and NH4+-N/TN increased from 26 % and 6 % before fallow to 39 % and 17 % after fallow, respectively, whereas NO3--N/TN decreased from 61 % before fallow to 41 % after fallow. Changes in nitrogen concentrations and their forms in groundwater were closely related to DTN, NO3--N, and NH4+-N in the soil profile and pH, ORP, and DO in groundwater before and after fallow. Our study highlights that fallow effectively reduced nitrogen accumulation in cropland soil profiles, further alleviating nitrogen pollution in shallow groundwater, and was conducive to preventing the deterioration of water quality in plateau lakes.

Shallow Groundwater Around Plateau Lakes: Spatiotemporal Distribution of Nitrogen and Its Driving Factors

Shallow groundwater around plateau lakes is one of the important sources of production and potable water. Shallow groundwater NO3--N pollution driven by factors such as surface nitrogen input load, rainfall, and irrigation is serious and threatens the water quality of plateau lakes. In order to identify the characteristics of nitrogen pollution and its driving factors in shallow groundwater, 463 shallow groundwater samples were collected from wells in farmland and residential areas around eight plateau lakes of Yunnan in the rainy and dry seasons in 2020 and 2021. The results showed that the average values of ρ(TN), ρ(NO3--N), ρ(ON), and ρ(NH4+-N) in shallow groundwater were 24.35, 15.15, 8.41, and 0.79 mg·L-1, respectively. Nearly 32% of the shallow groundwater samples around the eight lakes failed to meet the groundwater Class Ⅲ water quality requirements (GB/T 14848) of 20 mg·L-1 for NO3--N. Among them, the NO3--N concentration in the shallow groundwater around Erhai Lake, Qiluhu Lake, and Dianchi Lake had the highest rate of exceeding the standard, followed by that around Xingyunhu Lake, Yangzonghai Lake, Yilonghu Lake, Fuxianhu Lake, and Chenghai Lake as the smallest. Land use and seasonal changes affected the concentration and composition of various forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater. The concentration of various forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater in the farmland area was higher than that in the residential area. The nitrogen concentration in shallow groundwater in farmland was higher than that in residential areas. Except for NH4+-N, the concentration of various forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater in the rainy season was higher than that in the dry season. NO3--N was the main nitrogen form in shallow groundwater; the fraction of TN was 57%-68%, and the fraction of ON was 27%-38%. The EC, DO, ORP, and T in shallow groundwater were the key factors reflecting or affecting the concentration of various forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater, whereas soil factors had a weak impact on the concentration of various forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater.

Spatial and Temporal Variations of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Surface Water and Groundwater of Mudong River Watershed in Huixian Karst Wetland, Southwest China

When considering the factors affecting the spatial and temporal variation of nitrogen and phosphorus in karst watersheds, the unique karst hydrogeology as an internal influencing factor cannot be ignored, as well as natural factors such as meteorological hydrology and external factors such as human activities. A watershed-scale field investigation was completed to statistically analyze spatial and temporal dynamics of nitrogen and phosphorus through the regular monitoring and collection of surface water and shallow groundwater in the agricultural-dominated Mudong River watershed in the Huixian Karst Wetland over one year (May 2020 to April 2021). Our research found that non-point source pollution of nitrogen (84.5% of 239 samples TN > 1.0 mg/L) was more serious than phosphorus (7.5% of 239 samples TP > 0.2 mg/L) in the study area, and shallow groundwater nitrogen pollution (98.3% of 118 samples TN > 1.0 mg/L) was more serious than surface water (68.6% of 121 samples TN > 1.0 mg/L). In the three regions with different hydrodynamic features, the TN concentration was higher and dominated by NO3−-N in the river in the northern recharge area, while the concentrations of TN and TP were the highest in shallow groundwater wells in the central wetland core area and increased along the surface water flow direction in the western discharge area. This research will help improve the knowledge about the influence of karst hydrodynamic features on the spatial patterns of nitrogen and phosphorus in water, paying attention to the quality protection and security of water in karst areas with a fragile water ecological environment.

Hydrochemical properties and influencing factors of nitrogen pollution for shallow groundwater in the Urban planning area of Suzhou City

Detailed study of the chemical analysis results of 14 shallow groundwater samples, representing different land use types, were carried out in an attempt to identify the hydrochemical properties and influencing factors of nitrogen pollution for the Urban planning area in Suzhou city, China. Hydrochemical properties were analyzed by water quality and its’ main influential factors of nitrogen pollution were analyzed by using ArcGIS geostatistics module and factor analysis method. The results show that the water chemistry type of shallow groundwater in the study area was mainly HCO3-Ca·Na type, the shallow groundwater was in a strong reducing geological environment rich in organic matter. Shallow groundwater shows a significant nitrogen occurrence with high ammonia and low nitrate owing to the strong reducing geological environment with abundant organic matter and low oxygen in the study area.The occurrence forms of nitrogen in shallow groundwater were controlled by the oxidation-reduction environment. Factor analysis shows that the nitrogen content and pollution of shallow groundwater are mainly controlled by human activities and geological conditions, followed by formation lithology, redox conditions and topography.

Sources, Influencing Factors, and Pollution Process of Inorganic Nitrogen in Shallow Groundwater of a Typical Agricultural Area in Northeast China

As one of the largest agricultural areas, the Sanjiang Plain of Northeast China has faced serious inorganic nitrogen pollution of groundwater, but the sources and the formation mechanism of pollution in the regional shallow groundwater remain unclear, which constrains the progress of pollution control and agricultural development planning. An investigation on potential nitrogen sources, groundwater inorganic nitrogen compounds (NH4+, NO3−, NO2−), and topsoil total nitrogen concentration (TN) was conducted in a typical paddy irrigation area of Sanjiang Plain. Multivariate statistical analysis combined with geospatial-based assessment was applied to identify the sources, determine the governing influencing factors, and analyze the formation process of inorganic nitrogen compounds in shallow groundwater. The results show that the land use type, oxidation-reduction potential (Eh), groundwater depth, NO2− concentration, and electrical conductivity (EC) are highly correlated with the NO3− pollution in groundwater, while DO and Eh affected the distribution of NH4+ most; the high concentrations of NO3− in sampling wells are most likely to be found in the residential land and are distributed mainly in densely populated areas, whereas the NH4+ compounds are most likely to accumulate in the paddy field or the lands surrounded by paddy field and reach the highest level in the northwest of the area, where the fields were cultivated intensively with higher fertilization rates and highest values of topsoil TN. From the results, it can be concluded that that the NO3− compounds in groundwater originated from manure and domestic waste and accumulated in the oxidizing environment, while the NH4+ compounds were derived from N fertilization and remained steady in the reducing environment. NO2− compounds in groundwater were the immediate products of nitrification as a result of microorganism activities.

Temporal-spatial variations and influencing factors of nitrogen in the shallow groundwater of the nearshore vegetable field of Erhai Lake, China.

Nitrogen export from the nearshore vegetable field of Erhai Lake seriously threatens the water quality of Erhai Lake, which is the second largest highland freshwater lake in Yunnan Province, China. Among the nitrogen flows into Erhai Lake, shallow groundwater migration is a major pathway. The nitrogen variation and influencing factors in the shallow groundwater of the nearshore vegetable field of Erhai Lake are not well documented. A 2-year field experiment was conducted to determine the concentrations of nitrogen species in the shallow groundwater and their influencing factors in the nearshore vegetable field of Erhai Lake. The results showed that concentrations of TN, NO3--N, and NO2--N gradually increased with increasing elevation and distance from Erhai Lake, but the opposite was observed for NH4+-N in the shallow groundwater. The concentrations of nitrogen species in the rainy season were greater than those in the dry season. NO3--N accounted for more than 79% of total nitrogen in shallow groundwater. Redundancy analysis showed that more than 70% of the temporal and spatial variations of nitrogen concentrations in the shallow groundwater were explained by shallow groundwater depth, and only approximately 10% of variation was explained by the factors of soil porosity, silt clay content of soil, and NH4+-N and NO3--N concentrations of soil (p < 0.05). The shallow groundwater depth had more notable effects on nitrogen concentrations in the shallow groundwater than other factors. This result will strongly support the need for further research regarding the management practices for reducing nitrogen concentrations in shallow groundwater.

Shallow groundwater nitrogen and denitrification in a newly afforested, subirrigated riparian buffer

Summary1. The EU ‘Nitrates Directive’ (Directive 91/676/EEC) and the WFD (Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EEC) introduced a series of measures designed to reduce and prevent water pollution caused or induced by nitrates from agricultural sources. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement to control the nitrate concentration in freshwater. The objective of this paper was to verify the potential capacity of a specifically designed afforested riparian zone in removing the excess of nitrogen from river water.2. A buffer zone was set with irrigation ditches, to produce a subsurface water flow carrying water from the study river through the buffer strip to drainage ditches. This experimental system enables the co‐occurrence of two main processes: vegetation/microbial nitrogen uptake and denitrification. Both in situ denitrification and denitrification potential were measured at different soil depths, and nitrogen removal of water passing through the buffer system was measured.3. After the first year, high removal rates (63–64%) of total nitrogen in water were recorded. The lowest rate of denitrification took place in the upper soil layer, while maximum denitrification occurred in the medium layer (40–55 cm). Denitrification occurred mainly in the first few metres of the irrigation ditches leading away from the river. The denitrification rates clearly increased from the second to the third year, with highest rates in summer and autumn. Denitrification potential indicated that carbon availability was the most limiting factor.4. Synthesis and applications. This study has demonstrated that nitrogen levels can be reduced in rivers by forcing water to circulate through afforested buffers. Nitrogen was removed both by plants and by microbial denitrification. Such activity can be supported by promoting anoxic conditions through appropriate water flow management. This could be achieved by creating semi‐natural floodplains where water flows can be efficiently managed as in a drained wetland.

An Evaluation of Sources of Nitrogen in Shallow Groundwater Using 15N Abundance Technique

A 15N abundance technique was employed to identify the source of NO3-N in groundwater under three commercial citrus production sites in central Florida. Water samples were collected from 0 to 300 and 300 to 600 cm depths in the surficial aquifer and analyzed for NO3-N and delta N-15 (δ 15N). Groundwater samples were also collected in a residential area adjacent to one of the citrus groves and analyzed for NO3-N and δ 15N. The δ 15N values were in the range of +1 to +10% in both depths underneath the citrus groves. The range of δ 15N measured in this study represents the range expected for groundwater that was impacted by NO3-N originated from mineralization of organic N from the soil as well as from the crop residue. There are occasional high δ 15N values which are indicative of the effects of NH3 volatilization losses of applied fertilizer N. The range of δ 15N values for groundwater samples collected from the residential area adjacent to the citrus groves was very similar to that from the groundwater underneath the citrus groves. Thus, the source of NO3-N that impacted the groundwater under the citrus groves also impacted the groundwater in the adjacent residential area.

A Comparison of Nitrogen in Shallow Ground Water from Sewered and Unsewered Areas, Nassau County, New York, from 1952 through 1976a

ABSTRACTMedian nitrogen concentrations of ground water and water from streams in Nassau County were statistically analyzed on an areal and temporal basis and by individual well to compare concentrations of nitrogen in ground water beneath sewered and unsewered areas. The comparison is discussed in terms of hydrogeologic conditions and major point and nonpoint sources of nitrogen.Although no significant differences in median nitrate concentrations during the 25‐year period of record were observed between the sewered and unsewered areas, recent (1972–76) ammonium and nitrate data suggest a relative improvement in water quality in the sewered area. This finding is based on (1) significantly lower ammonium and nitrate concentrations in stream water of the sewered area during base flow, (2) significantly lower median ammonium concentrations in ground water in the sewered area, (3) significant decreasing long‐term nitrate trends in water from 8 of 13 wells in the sewered area where records were sufficient for analysis, and (4) significantly lower median nitrate concentrations near the water table beneath the sewered area.The lack of significant difference between median nitrate concentrations in the sewered and unsewered areas may be in part due to sampling bias and to the considerable length of time necessary for ground water in the sewered area, which was contaminated by cesspool and septic‐tank effluent before sewering, to reach a point of discharge in a stream or bay.In addition, ammonium leached from landfills and nitrate originating from nonpoint sources such as fertilizers and animal wastes, cannot be removed by sewers and may be obscuring water‐quality improvements brought about by sewering.