Spatial variability of N₂O concentrations and of denitrification-related factors in the surficial groundwater of a catchment in Northern Germany

N₂O concentrations and denitrification-related factors (NO₃, SO₄, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and CO₂) were investigated in the surface groundwater of a catchment in northern Germany, the Fuhrberger Feld Aquifer (FFA). We sampled 79 plots that were selected according to the three criteria of land...

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Published in:Journal of hydrology (Amsterdam) 2008-10, Vol.360 (1-4), p.230-241
Main Authors: von der Heide, C, Böttcher, J, Deurer, M, Weymann, D, Well, R, Duijnisveld, W.H.M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
agricultural land
aquifers
carbon dioxide
denitrification
dissolved organic carbon
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
forests
Geochemistry
groundwater
hydrochemistry
Hydrogeology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
land use
land use change
Mineralogy
nitrate nitrogen
nitrous oxide
pastures
Silicates
sulfates
Water geochemistry
water table
watersheds
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Summary:N₂O concentrations and denitrification-related factors (NO₃, SO₄, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and CO₂) were investigated in the surface groundwater of a catchment in northern Germany, the Fuhrberger Feld Aquifer (FFA). We sampled 79 plots that were selected according to the three criteria of land use, historical land use conversion (1954-1995) and groundwater level. We sampled three sites within each plot. The sampling depth was 0.5m below the groundwater surface. We found no indication for the occurrence of autotrophic denitrification in the surface groundwater. Heterotrophic denitrification was identified as the main process for N₂O accumulation. The variability of N₂O concentrations on the plot-scale was extremely high and was poorly explained by the three sampling criteria. Other denitrification-related variables such as NO₃, SO₄ and DOC were less variable. The selection criteria land use and groundwater level clearly influenced the order of magnitude of N₂O concentrations in the surface groundwater. Under arable land, high NO₃ concentrations resulted in high N₂O concentrations. The surface groundwater under forest and pasture was almost NO₃-free and had also very small N₂O concentrations. Plots where the distance from the soil surface to the groundwater surface was large (>1m up to 3.4m) showed higher N₂O concentrations in the surface groundwater than plots where the distance was small (
ISSN:0022-1694
1879-2707
DOI:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.07.034