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Nitrate Pathways, Processes, and Timing in an Agricultural Karst System: Development and Application of a Numerical Model
Author(s) -
Husic A.,
Fox J.,
Adams E.,
Ford W.,
Agouridis C.,
Currens J.,
Backus J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/2018wr023703
Subject(s) - karst , phreatic , aquifer , hydrology (agriculture) , groundwater , geology , environmental science , geotechnical engineering , paleontology
Nitrogen (N) contamination within agricultural‐karst landscapes and aquifers is widely reported; however, the complex hydrological pathways of karst make N fate difficult to ascertain. We developed a hydrologic and N numerical model for agricultural‐karst, including simulation of soil, epikarst, phreatic, and quick flow pathways as well as biochemical processes such as nitrification, mineralization, and denitrification. We tested the model on four years of nitrate (NO 3 − ) data collected from a phreatic conduit and an overlying surface channel in the Cane Run watershed, Kentucky, USA. Model results indicate that slow to moderate flow pathways (phreatic and epikarst) dominate the N load and account for nearly 90% of downstream NO 3 − delivery. Further, quick flow pathways dilute NO 3 − concentrations relative to background aquifer levels. Net denitrification distributed across soil, epikarst, and phreatic water removes approximately 36% of the N inputs to the system at rates comparable to nonkarst systems. Evidence is provided by numerical modeling that NO 3 − accumulation via evapotranspiration in the soil followed by leaching through the epikarst acts as a control on spring NO 3 − concentration and loading. Compared to a fluvial‐dominated immature karst system, mature‐karst systems behave as natural detention basins for NO 3 − , temporarily delaying NO 3 − delivery to downstream waters and maintaining elevated NO 3 − concentrations for days to weeks after hydrologic activity ends. This study shows the efficacy of numerical modeling to elucidate complex pathways, processes, and timing of N in karst systems.