Geomorphologic and sedimentary features dominate the nitrogen accumulation and leaching in the deep vadose zone from a catchment viewpoint

IF 5.9 1区地球科学 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Journal of Hydrology Pub Date : 2025-01-12 DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.132682

Kangda Tan, Shiqin Wang, Wenbo Zheng, Zhixiong Zhang, Bingxia Liu

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Although the application of nitrogen fertilizer increases grain yield, it also raises the risk of nitrogen leaching to groundwater. Not much work has been done on nitrogen accumulation and leaching at a watershed level, especially for deep vadose zone of alluvial-proluvial sediments. Here, nitrate (NO3–) accumulation and leaching were investigated in the deep vadose zone (20 m below ground level (b.g.l.)) across Baiyangdian watershed in the North China Plain (NCP). The study area is rich in sedimentary deposits of varying geomorphologic features. Results of the study showed that watershed geomorphologic and sedimentary features control not only soil water flux, but also nitrate accumulation and leaching in the deep vadose zone. Nitrate leaching was highest (252.0 kg·N·ha−1·y−1) and accumulation lowest (352.7 kg·N·ha−1) in regions of the study area with highly permeable sandy alluvial-proluvial fan. In contrast, nitrate accumulation was highest (3276.7 kg·N·ha−1) and leaching lowest (9.8 kg·N·ha−1·y−1) in thick silty/clay flood plains and lake depressions areas. The nitrate flux was primarily driven by vertical infiltration in flood plains and lake depressions. Also, Nitrogen fertilizer (N-fertilizer) input and irrigation affect nitrogen leaching into the deeper vadose zone and groundwater in the study area. It was inferred that, rising of water table under extreme precipitation events could trigger the release accumulated soil nitrogen, the shorten nitrogen leaching lag-time, and increase risk of groundwater pollution. This finding could guide policy decisions given the sensitivity and vulnerability of groundwater to the risk of pollution in the study area.

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来源期刊

Journal of Hydrology 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

11.00

自引率

12.50%

发文量

1309

审稿时长

7.5 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of Hydrology publishes original research papers and comprehensive reviews in all the subfields of the hydrological sciences including water based management and policy issues that impact on economics and society. These comprise, but are not limited to the physical, chemical, biogeochemical, stochastic and systems aspects of surface and groundwater hydrology, hydrometeorology and hydrogeology. Relevant topics incorporating the insights and methodologies of disciplines such as climatology, water resource systems, hydraulics, agrohydrology, geomorphology, soil science, instrumentation and remote sensing, civil and environmental engineering are included. Social science perspectives on hydrological problems such as resource and ecological economics, environmental sociology, psychology and behavioural science, management and policy analysis are also invited. Multi-and interdisciplinary analyses of hydrological problems are within scope. The science published in the Journal of Hydrology is relevant to catchment scales rather than exclusively to a local scale or site.