Abstract
Soil- and stream-water data from the Plynlimon research area, mid-Wales, have been used to develop a conceptual model of spatial variations in nitrogen (N) leaching within moorland catchments. Extensive peats, in both hilltop and valley locations, are considered near-complete sinks for inorganic N, but leach the most dissolved organic nitrogen (DON). Peaty mineral soils on hillslopes also retain inorganic N within upper organic horizons, but a proportion percolates into mineral horizons as nitrate (NO −3 ), either through incomplete immobilisation in the organic layer, or in water bypassing the organic soil matrix via macropores. This NO −3 reaches the stream where mineral soilwaters discharge (via matrix throughflow or pipeflow) directly to the drainage network, or via small N-enriched flush wetlands. NO −3 in hillslope waters discharging into larger valley wetlands will be removed before reaching the stream. A concept of catchment ‘nitrate leaching zones’ is proposed, whereby most stream NO −3 derives from localised areas of mineral soil hillslope draining directly to the stream; the extent of these zones within a catchment may thus determine its overall susceptibility to elevated surface water NO −3 concentrations.
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Evans, C.D., Reynolds, B., Curtis, C.J. et al. A conceptual model of spatially heterogeneous nitrogen leaching from a welsh moorland catchment. Water Air Soil Pollut: Focus 4, 97–105 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-005-3019-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11267-005-3019-7