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Spatial Variability of Nitrate and Ammonium in Pleistocene Aquifer of Central Yangtze River Basin
Author(s) -
Du Yao,
Deng Yamin,
Ma Teng,
Shen Shuai,
Lu Zongjie,
Gan Yiqun
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/gwat.12888
Subject(s) - nitrate , groundwater , aquifer , environmental science , ammonium , hydrology (agriculture) , organic matter , total organic carbon , groundwater flow , spatial variability , environmental chemistry , soil science , geology , chemistry , statistics , geotechnical engineering , mathematics , organic chemistry
It becomes increasingly important and challenging for nitrogen pollution prevention to identify key controls for spatial variability of nitrogen in groundwater that could be affected by multiple factors, including anthropogenic input, groundwater flow, and local geochemistry. This study characterized spatial variability of both nitrate and ammonium in the Pleistocene aquifer of central Yangtze River Basin and assessed the effect of various factors in controlling nitrate and ammonium levels based on multiple statistical approaches (correlation, geostatistics, multiple liner regression). The results indicate that nitrate is mostly influenced by Cl − that represents anthropogenic input, while Eh representing local redox state is a secondary variable influencing nitrate concentrations. The groundwater with elevated nitrate concentrations are estimated to occur mainly in areas with higher‐permeability near‐surface sediments which can facilitate more anthropogenic nitrate transport and less nitrate removal owing to more oxidized state. Ammonium is mostly correlated to Eh, followed by dissolved organic carbon (DOC), but only DOC improves significantly the accuracy of co‐kriging prediction model. The groundwater with elevated ammonium concentrations are estimated to occur mainly in areas with more organic‐rich sediments within or around the aquifer which can facilitate more ammonium release owing to natural organic matter consumption accompanying strong reducing conditions. The regional groundwater flow is not a factor significantly controlling nitrate or ammonium levels owing to flat topography and sluggish lateral flow.