The impact of nitrogen deposition on upland surface waters in Great Britain: A regional assessment of nitrate leaching

The quality of surface water remains an important issue today. This is particularly acute for water bodies located in the urban-basin geosystems. Purpose. To estimate pressure of atmospheric precipitation within the urban landscape basin geosystem on the river water (by example of the Kharkiv river). Methods. Field landscaping, ecological, landscape-geochemical; analytical; system analysis; chemical analytical; statistical Results. An assessment of the state of surface waters under the impact from the surface runoff of atmospheric origin during 2014-2016, and partly from 2017-2019, formed under the influence of the transport (partly residential) subsystem of the urban area and surface waters in Kharkiv. On the salt content, the characteristic of water quality is "moderately polluted" (1,6); on the tropho-saprobiological indicators, the quality of water is characterized as "polluted" (from 3.1 to 2.75 along the river). It is in this context the impact of waters, which is formed in the conditions of the urban environment for the quality of natural waters, is well demonstrated. The presence of high values of pollutants and natural factors. The assessment of the quality of water on the content of specific indicators is "moderately polluted" (from 2.28 to 1.85). Conclusions. The water of the Kharkiv region, which has a strong influence from the urban environment, has a grade III quality; the water is "moderately polluted". Environmental assessment indicates the impact of surface runoff already on the middle part of the river, which increases in accordance with the conditions of the operation of urban landscapes and anthropogenic (transport) load.

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Introduction to the project DUNE, a DUst experiment in a low Nutrient, low chlorophyll Ecosystem

Biogeosciences Discussions ◽

10.5194/bgd-10-12491-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 12491-12527 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

C. Guieu ◽

F. Dulac ◽

C. Ridame ◽

P. Pondaven

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Atmospheric Deposition ◽

Mediterranean Sea ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Carbon Pump ◽

Mesocosm Experiments ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Atmospheric Inputs ◽

Oligotrophic Ecosystem ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The main goal of the project DUNE was to estimate the impact of atmospheric deposition on an oligotrophic ecosystem based on mesocosm experiments simulating strong atmospheric inputs of Aeolian dust. Atmospheric deposition is now recognized as a significant source of macro- and micro-nutrients for the surface ocean, but the quantification of its role on the biological carbon pump is still poorly determined. We proposed in DUNE to investigate the role of atmospheric inputs on the functioning of an oligotrophic system particularly well adapted to this kind of study: the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea – etymologically, sea surrounded by land – is submitted to atmospheric inputs that are very variable both in frequency and intensity. During the thermal stratification period, only atmospheric deposition is prone to fertilize Mediterranean surface waters which has become very oligotrophic due to the nutrient depletion (after the spring bloom). This paper describes the objectives of DUNE and the implementation plan of a series of mesocosms experiments during which either wet or dry and a succession of two wet deposition fluxes of 10 g m−2 of Saharan dust have been simulated. After the presentation of the main biogeochemical initial conditions of the site at the time of each experiment, a general overview of the papers published in this special issue is presented, including laboratory results on the solubility of trace elements in erodible soils in addition to results from the mesocosm experiments. Our mesocosm experiments aimed at being representative of real atmospheric deposition events onto the surface of oligotrophic marine waters and were an original attempt to consider the vertical dimension in the study of the fate of atmospheric deposition within surface waters. Results obtained can be more easily extrapolated to quantify budgets and parameterize processes such as particle migration through a "captured water column". The strong simulated dust deposition events were found to impact the dissolved concentrations of inorganic dissolved phosphorus, nitrogen, iron and other trace elements. In the case of Fe, adsorption on sinking particles yields a decrease in dissolved concentration unless binding ligands were produced following a former deposition input and associated fertilization. For the first time, a quantification of the C export induced by the aerosol addition was possible. Description and parameterization of biotic (heterotrophs and autotrophs, including diazotrophs) and abiotic processes (ballast effect due to lithogenic particles) after dust addition in sea surface water, result in a net particulate organic carbon export in part controlled by the "lithogenic carbon pump".

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Stream plant chemistry as indicator of acid sulphate soils in Sweden

Agricultural and Food Science ◽

10.2137/1459606054224165 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 83 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. LAX

Keyword(s):

Surface Waters ◽

Stream Water ◽

Low Ph ◽

Fontinalis Antipyretica ◽

Acid Sulphate ◽

Fine Grained ◽

Acid Sulphate Soils ◽

Trace Element Chemistry ◽

Study Results ◽

The Impact

Results from the biogeochemical mapping (roots of aquatic plants and Fontinalis antipyretica) conducted by the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) reflects the metal load of surface waters draining acid sulphate (AS) soils in Sweden. In this study, results from the biogeochemical, soil geochemical and Quaternary mapping programmes at SGU were used to investigate the impact of fine-grained deposits hosting AS soils on stream water trace element chemistry in two separate areas. In the area around Lake Mälaren, postglacial sediments contain the highest levels of most trace elements studied. Owing to the low pH of AS soils and subsequent leaching, levels of nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), sulphur (S), yttrium (Y), uranium (U), tungsten (W), and molybdenum (Mo) were significantly elevated in aquatic roots. Levels were lower in the Skellefteå area, which may be explained by lower concentrations in source deposits. Concentrations of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) were normal or impoverished in biogeochemical samples from postglacial, finegrained sediment areas. Maps based on ratios (Ni:Pb or Y:Pb) in biogeochemical samples can, together with results from Quaternary mapping, be used to predict areas with AS soils in Sweden.;

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Review of key causes and sources for N<sub>2</sub>O emissions and NO<sub>3</sub>-leaching from organic arable crop rotations

10.5194/bg-2018-455 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Sissel Hansen ◽

Randi Berland Frøseth ◽

Maria Stenberg ◽

Jarosław Stalenga ◽

Jørgen E. Olesen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Nitrate Leaching ◽

Organic Production ◽

Crop Rotations ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

N2o Emissions ◽

Catch Crops ◽

Arable Crop ◽

N2o Fluxes ◽

The Impact

Abstract. The emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and leaching of nitrate (NO3) have considerable negative impacts on climate and the environment. Although these environmental burdens are on average less per unit area in organic than in non-organic production, they are not smaller per unit of product. If organic farming is to maintain its goal of being an environmentally friendly production system, these emissions should be mitigated. We discuss the impact of possible triggers within organic arable farming practice for the risk of N2O emissions and NO3 leaching under European climatic conditions, and possible strategies to reduce these. Organic arable crop rotations can be characterised as diverse with frequent use of legumes, intercropping and organic fertilizers. The soil organic matter content and share of active organic matter, microbial and faunal activity are higher, soil structure better and yields lower, than in non-organic, arable crop rotations. Soil mineral nitrogen (SMN), N2O emissions and NO3 leaching are low under growing crops, but there is high potential for SMN accumulation and losses after crop termination or crop harvest. The risk for high N2O fluxes is increased when large amounts of herbage or organic fertilizers with readily available nitrogen (N) and carbon are incorporated into the soil or left on the surface. Freezing/thawing, drying/rewetting, compacted and/or wet soil and mixing with rotary harrow further enhance the risk for high N2O fluxes. These complex soil N dynamics mask the correlation between total N-input and N2O emissions from organic arable crop rotations. Incorporation of N rich plant residues or mechanical weeding followed by bare fallow increases the risk of nitrate leaching. In contrast, strategic use of deep-rooted crops with long growing seasons in the rotation reduces nitrate leaching risk. Reduced tillage can reduce N leaching if yields are maintained. Targeted treatment and use of herbage from green manures, crop residues and catch crops will increase N efficiency and reduce N2O emissions and NO3 leaching. Continued regular use of catch crops has the potential to reduce NO3 leaching but may enhance N2O emissions. A mixture of legumes and non-legumes (for instance grasses or cereals) are as efficient a catch crop as monocultures of non-legume species.

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Agricultural Producers’ Awareness about the Impact of Fertilizers Overuse on the Environment

Агрознање ◽

10.7251/agren1804309p ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 309

Author(s):

Biljana Panin ◽

Snežana Štrbac ◽

Mira Pucarević ◽

Nataša Stojić ◽

Nataša Žugić Drakulić ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Waters ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Farming Practices ◽

Chemical Fertilizers ◽

Agricultural Producers ◽

Pollution Effects ◽

Face To Face ◽

The Impact ◽

Harmful Effects ◽

Nitrates Directive

Overuse of fertilizers can have harmful effects on the environment. The Nitrates Directive aims to protect water quality by preventing nitrates from agricultural sources polluting ground and surface waters and by promoting the use of good farming practices. The paper is based on research about agricultural producers’ awareness about the impact of fertilizers overuse on the environment. Data were collected by face to face interviews with farm owners on 39 farms in Serbia. Analysis of the collected data showed that all farmers use fertilizers. It is important to notice that 79.4% of farmers use chemical fertilizers more than recommended, and 87.1% use organic fertilizers more than recommended. Furthermore, 66.6% of farmers do not know specific harmful pollution effects of nitrates on soil and water. 71.7% of farmers have not heard about the Nitrates Directive. Therefore, it can be concluded that farmers are not sufficiently aware of fertilizers impact on the environment and it is necessary to provide education on this.

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