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Influences of the unsaturated, saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River, California, USA

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Abstract

Transport and transformation of nitrate was evaluated along a 1-km groundwater transect from an almond orchard to the Merced River, California, USA, within an irrigated agricultural setting. As indicated by measurements of pore-water nitrate and modeling using the root zone water quality model, about 63% of the applied nitrogen was transported through a 6.5-m unsaturated zone. Transport times from recharge locations to the edge of a riparian zone ranged from approximately 6 months to greater than 100 years. This allowed for partial denitrification in horizons having mildly reducing conditions, and essentially no denitrification in horizons with oxidizing conditions. Transport times across a 50–100-m-wide riparian zone of less than a year to over 6 years and more strongly reducing conditions resulted in greater rates of denitrification. Isotopic measurements and concentrations of excess N2 in water were indicative of denitrification with the highest rates below the Merced River. Discharge of water and nitrate into the river was dependent on gradients driven by irrigation or river stage. The results suggest that the assimilative capacity for nitrate of the groundwater system, and particularly the riverbed, is limiting the nitrate load to the Merced River in the study area.

Résumé

Le transport et la transformation des nitrates ont été étudiés le long d’un transect long d’un kilomètre dans un verger d’amandiers le long de la Merced River, en Californie (Etats-Unis), en environnement irrigué. Les dosages des nitrates dans l’eau des pores et les modélisations utilisant le modèle RZWQM (root zone water quality model) ont montré que près de 63% de l’azote utilisé était transporté à travers les 6.5 m de la zone non saturée. Les temps de transit depuis les lieux de réalimentation jusqu’à la bordure d’une zone ripicole étaient compris entre 6 mois environ et plus de 100 ans. Ceci a permis une dénitrification partielle dans les horizons relativement réducteurs, et quasiment aucune dénitrification dans les horizons à conditions oxydantes. Les temps de transit de moins d’un an à plus de 6 ans à travers une zone ripicole de 50 à 100 m de large, en conditions plus réductrices, ont généré des taux de dénitrification plus élevés. Les dosages isotopiques et les concentrations de N2 en excès dans les eaux étaient indicatrices des taux de dénitrification les plus élevés à l’aval dans la Merced River. Le flux d’eau et de nitrates vers la rivière était dépendant des gradients générés par l’irrigation et du niveau de la rivière. Les résultats suggèrent que la capacité d’assimilation des nitrates du système aquifère, en particulier le lit de la rivière, limite la charge en nitrates de la Merced River sur le secteur d’étude.

Resumen

Se ha evaluado el transporte y la transformación de los nitratos a lo largo de un transecto de 1 km desde un huerto de almendros hasta el Río Merced, California, USA, dentro de una zona de agricultura de regadío. Como indican las medidas de nitratos en el agua intersticial y la modelización utilizando el Modelo de Calidad del Agua en la Zona de la Raíz, alrededor de un 63% del nitrógeno aplicado se transporta a través de 6.5 m de zona no saturada. El tiempo de transporte desde los lugares de recarga hasta el límite de la zona ribereña oscila entre aproximadamente 6 meses hasta más de 100 años. Esto permite que exista denitrificación parcial en horizontes que tienen condiciones ligeramente reductoras, y esencialmente no exista denitrificación en horizontes con condiciones oxidantes. Los tiempos de transporte a lo largo de una zona ribereña de entre 50 a 100 m de ancho, de entre menos de un año a más de seis años y condiciones más fuertemente reductoras dan lugar a mayores rangos de denitrificación. Los resultados isotópicos y las concentraciones del exceso de N2 en el agua fueron indicativos de denitrificación con los rangos más altos bajo el Río Merced. La descarga de agua y nitrato en el río dependieron de los gradientes producidos por el regadío o del estadio del río. Los resultados sugieren que la capacidad asimilativa del sistema de aguas subterráneas para el nitrato, y particularmente el lecho del río, está limitando la carga de nitrato al Río Merced en el área de estudio.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank L. R. Ahuja, J. C. Ascough II, and L. Ma of the US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service/Northern Plains Area/Great Plains System Research Unit, Ft. Collins, Colo., and K. Rojas of the US Department of Agriculture/National Research Conservation Service/Information Technology Center, Ft. Collins, CO., and D. R. Wauchope, University of Georgia Coastal Plain/ US Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, Tifton, Georgia, for tireless assistance with the Root Zone Water Quality Model. The authors would also like to thank L. Kauffman, US Geological Survey (USGS), for his assistance in the groundwater modeling efforts. We also thank the landowners for access, permission to install wells and other equipment, and information regarding on-site agricultural practices. The authors would like to acknowledge USGS researchers J. Constantz and H. Essaid for their invaluable guidance with modeling efforts using the temperature model, VS2DH. The USGS National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program supported this work. Support for R. Wildman (graduate student, California Institute of Technology was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF SGER grant EAR-0408329).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Placer Hall, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA

    Joseph L. Domagalski, Steven P. Phillips & Celia Zamora

  2. US Geological Survey, 5957, Lakeside Blvd., Indianapolis, IN, 46278, USA

    E. Randall Bayless

  3. US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Building 15, McKelvey Building, Mail Stop 434, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Carol Kendall

  4. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 East California Boulevard, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA

    Richard A. Wildman Jr

  5. Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Überlandstrasse 133, P.O. Box 611, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Janet G. Hering

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  1. Joseph L. Domagalski
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Correspondence to Joseph L. Domagalski.

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Domagalski, J.L., Phillips, S.P., Bayless, E.R. et al. Influences of the unsaturated, saturated, and riparian zones on the transport of nitrate near the Merced River, California, USA. Hydrogeol J 16, 675–690 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-007-0266-x

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