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The comprehensive evaluation of nitrate origin and transformation pathways in the oxic alluvial aquifer in Serbia

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Abstract

Accurate pollution source identification is essential for establishing adequate water management strategies, particularly in groundwater with slow flow and prolonged recharge process allowing long-term pollution retention. An integrated study based on hydrogeochemical, dual isotopic (δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3), and microbiological approaches (DN, IRB, and SRB BART tests) along with the statistical data processing was conducted to determine nitrate origin and fate in oxic alluvial groundwater source Ključ in Serbia. The findings from a comprehensive investigation, encompassing 20 groundwater sampling locations during the period 2010–2019, delineated three distinct zones — the hinterland (anthropogenic impact area-untreated sewage inflow), the middle zone (area of mixed influence from fertilizer application, accompanied by a mitigated anthropogenic impact), and the zone of riparian denitrification. Significant linear relationship between anthropogenic impact parameters (Na, Cl, B, NO3−, NH4+, and electrical conductivity) along with the isotopic signatures (δ15N-NO3− ranking from + 10.01 to + 11.18‰ and δ18O-NO3− ranking from + 1.15 to + 6.24‰) and grouped sampling objects by cluster analysis indicated that hinterland is burdened by the nitrates originating from anthropogenic impact. The cross-section of groundwater flow data, concurrent increase of NH4+, and pH levels, along with the highest values of δ15N-NO3− (+ 12.90‰) and δ18O-NO3− (+ 9.70‰), indicated area of fertilizers (urea) impact. BART test results, pH increase, and low oxygen concentration, along with the groundwater flow data in riparian zone, indicated the unfolding of denitrification process. Presented research emphasizes the importance, necessities, and advantages of simultaneous and complementary use of hydrogeochemical, microbiological, and isotopic data.

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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available and presented within the article.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our special gratitude to the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, UFZ, Department Catchment Hydrology, Halle/Saale, Germany, for their expertise and assistance in conducting the isotopic analyses.

Funding

The research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Development of the Republic of Serbia under the Project “Methodology for the Assessment, Design and Maintenance of Groundwater Sources in Alluvial Environments Depending on the Aerobic State,” No. TR37014.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jaroslav Černi Water Institute, Jaroslava Černog 80, Belgrade, Serbia

    Marija Perović, Vesna Obradović, Vesna Zuber-Radenković & David Mitrinović

  2. Department Catchment Hydrology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany

    Kay Knoeller

  3. Institute for Applied Geosciences, Technical University of Darmstadt, Schnittspahnstr. 9, 64287, Darmstadt, Germany

    Kay Knoeller

  4. University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 6, Novi Sad, Serbia

    Zoran Čepić

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  1. Marija Perović
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  2. Vesna Obradović
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  3. Vesna Zuber-Radenković
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  4. Kay Knoeller
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  5. David Mitrinović
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  6. Zoran Čepić
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and analysis were performed by Marija Perović, Vesna Obradović, and Kay Knoeller. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Marija Perović and Vesna Obradović, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. Data processing was performed by Vesna Zuber -Radenković. Review was done by David Mitrinović and Zoran Čepić. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Marija Perović.

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Perović, M., Obradović, V., Zuber-Radenković, V. et al. The comprehensive evaluation of nitrate origin and transformation pathways in the oxic alluvial aquifer in Serbia. Environ Sci Pollut Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-33403-w

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