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Localized zones of denitrification in a floodplain aquifer in southern Wisconsin, USA

Zones localisées de dénitrification dans un aquifère sous plaine inondable dans le Sud du Wisconsin, USA

Zonas localizadas de desnitrificación en un acuífero de una llanura aluvial en el sur de Wisconsin, EEUU

美国威斯康星州南部泛滥平原含水层局部地区的反硝化作用

Zonas localizadas de desnitrificação num aquífero de planície de inundação no sul de Wisconsin, EUA

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Abstract

A floodplain aquifer within an agricultural watershed near Madison, Wisconsin (USA), was studied to determine whether denitrification was occurring below the surface organic layer. Groundwater levels and concentrations of O2, Cl−, NO −3 , SO 2−4 , dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and major cations were monitored over a 1-year period along a 230-m transect between an agricultural field and a stream discharge point. Seventeen groundwater samples were analyzed for δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 composition. Samples in which NO −3 was too low for stable isotope analysis were analyzed for excess dissolved N2. Groundwater NO −3 concentrations declined between the agricultural field and the discharge point. Chloride and δ15NNO3/δ18ONO3 data indicated that the drop in NO −3 was caused primarily by dilution of shallow NO −3 -rich water with deeper, NO −3 -depleted groundwater. Two localized zones of denitrification were identified in the upland-wetland transition by their δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 signatures, and two in the stream hyporheic zone by the presence of excess dissolved N2. The combined stratigraphic, hydrologic, and geochemical data in these locations correspond to groundwater mixing zones where NO −3 is delivered to subsurface layers that support denitrification fueled by dissolved (e.g. DOC or dissolved Fe(II)) and/or solid-phase (e.g. particulate organic carbon, solid-associated Fe(II), or pyrite) electron donors.

Résumé

Un aquifère situé sous plaine inondable à l’intérieur d’un bassin versant agricole, près de Madison, Wisconsin (USA), a été étudié afin de déterminer si une dénitrification avait lieu sous la couche organique de surface. Le niveau des eaux souterraines et la concentration en O2, Cl−, NO −3 , SO 2−4 , carbone organique dissous et majeurs cationiques ont été contrôlés pendant une année, le long d’un transect de 230-m, entre un terrain agricole et le cours d’eau drainant. La teneur en δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 de dix sept échantillons d’eau souterraine a été mesurée. Pour les échantillons dans lesquels NO −3 était trop bas pour permettre une détermination des isotopes stables, l’analyse a porté sur le N2 dissous en excès. La concentration en NO −3 des eaux souterraines diminue entre le terrain agricole et le cours d’eau drainant. Les données sur les chlorures et le rapport δ15NNO3/δ18ONO3 indiquent que la baisse du NO −3 est due principalement à la dilution de l’eau peu profonde riche en cet élément par une eau souterraine plus profonde moins chargée. Deux zones localisées de dénitrification ont été identifiées dans le domaine de transition entre le plateau et la zone humide grâce à leur signature δ15NNO3 and δ18ONO3 et deux autres dans l’inféro-flux grâce à la présence de N2 dissous en excès. Les données conjuguées de la stratigraphie, de l’hydrologie et de la géochimie dans ces localisations délimitent les zones de mélange des eaux souterraines, où NO −3 est transféré aux couches de sub-surface, qui sont le siège d’une dénitrification alimentée par les donneurs d’électrons de la phase dissoute (par exemple le carbone organique dissous COD ou le Fe(II) dissous) et/ou de la phase solide (par exemple le carbone organique des particules, le Fe(II) associé à la phase solide ou la pyrite).

Resumen

Se estudió un acuífero de llanura aluvial dentro de una cuenca agrícola cerca de Madison, Wisconsin (EEUU), para determinar si la desnitrificación estaba ocurriendo debajo de la capa orgánica superficial. Se monitorearon los niveles de agua subterráneas y las concentraciones de O2, Cl−, NO −3 , SO 2−4 , carbono orgánico disuelto (DOC), y los cationes mayoritarios durante un período de un año a lo largo de una transecta de 230 m entre un campo agrícola y un punto de descarga de una corriente. Se analizaron diecisiete muestras de aguas subterránea para la composición de δ15NNO3 y δ18ONO3. Las muestras en las cuales NO −3 fue demasiado bajo para un análisis de isótopos estables fueron analizados para el exceso de N2.disuelto. Las concentraciones de NO −3 en el agua subterránea disminuyeron entre el campo agrícola y el punto de descarga. Los datos de cloruros y δ15NNO3/δ18ONO3 indicaron que la caída de nitrato fue causada principalmente por dilución de agua somera rica en NO −3 con agua subterránea extraída con aguas subterránea con nitrato más profunda. Se identificaron dos zonas de desnitrificación en la transición de la llanura alta y el humedal por sus trazas de δ15NNO3 y δ18ONO3, y dos en la zona hiporreica de la corriente por la presencia de exceso de N2.disuelto. Los datos geoquímicos, hidrológicos y estratigráficos combinados en estos sitios corresponden a zonas de mezcla de aguas subterráneas donde el NO −3 es entregado a las capas subsuperficiales que suportan la desnitrificación, alimentados por electrones donores de la fase disuelta (por ejemplo DOC o Fe(II)) y/o electrones de la fase sólida (por ejemplo carbono orgánico particulado, Fe (II) asociado a Fe(II), o pirita)

摘要

本文通过对美国威斯康星州麦迪逊市附近的一个农业流域的泛滥平原含水层的研究, 确定地表有机层以下反硝化作用是否发生。在农田和溪流排泄点之间一个230m长的横断面上检测了超过一年的地下水位, O2、Cl−、 NO −3 、 SO =4 的浓度, 溶解有机碳(DOC), 以及主要的阳离子。分析17个地下水样中NO −3 的δ15N和δ18O值, 并对NO −3 中稳定性同位素低的水样进一步分析过量的溶解N2。在农田和排泄点之间, 地下水中NO −3 的浓度降低。氯化物和NO −3 中δ15N和δ18O的比值表明NO −3 的降低主要由浅部NO −3 含量较高的地下水与深部NO −3 耗尽的地下水稀释引起的。通过NO −3 的δ15N和δ18O值的鲜明特征, 将山地-湿地过渡区分为两个反硝化的局部作用带, 并通过过多的溶解N2的存在, 划分两个底流区。这些区域地层的、水文的以及地球化学的数据与地下水混合区相一致。在该区NO −3 迁移到地下, 并以溶解的 (如DOC或溶解的Fe++) 和固体相的 (如微粒状的有机碳、固相的Fe++, 或者黄铁矿) 电子供体为原料进行反硝化作用。

Resumo

Estudou-se um aquífero de planície de inundação dentro de uma bacia hidrográfica agrícola perto de Madison, Wisconsin (EUA), para determinar se ocorria desnitrificação abaixo da camada orgânica superficial, Durante um ano monitorizaram-se os níveis piezométricos e as concentrações de O2, Cl−, NO −3 , SO 2−4 , carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) e catiões maiores ao longo de um corte transversal de 230 m entre um campo agrícola e um ponto de descarga numa linha de água. Analisou-se a composição de δ15NNO3 e δ18ONO3 em 17 amostras de águas subterrâneas. Nas amostras em que o NO −3 era muito baixo para análise de isótopos estáveis foi analisado o N2 dissolvido em excesso. As concentrações de NO −3 das águas subterrâneas diminuíram entre o campo agrícola e o ponto de descarga. Os dados de cloreto e δ15NNO3/δ18ONO3 indicaram que a queda do NO −3 foi causada em primeiro lugar pela diluição de água subsuperficial rica em NO −3 com água subterrânea mais profunda empobrecida em NO −3 . Identificaram-se duas zonas localizadas de desnitrificação na transição entre a zona superior e a zona húmida pelas suas assinaturas de δ15NNO3 e δ18ONO3, e duas na zona de fluxo hiporreíco da linha de água através da presença de N2 dissolvido em excesso. As combinações de dados de estratigrafia, hidrologia e geoquímica nestes locais correspondem a zonas de mistura de águas subterrâneas onde o NO −3 é entregue às camadas subsuperficiais que sustentam a desnitrificação impulsionadas por dadores de electrões dissolvidos (e.g. COD ou Fe(II) dissolvido) e/ou de fase sólida (e.g. carbono orgânico particulado, Fe(II) associado a sólidos ou pirite)

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Acknowledgements

We thank R. Sharma, J. Dockery, C. Lowry, M. Cobb, and J. Wyss for field assistance. We also acknowledge the generous assistance from the U.S. Geological Survey Stable Isotope Laboratory in Reston, VA, and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Dissolved Gas Laboratory. Funding was provided by the University of Wisconsin Department of Geology and Geophysics, with additional funding from a Brown and Caldwell Eckenfelder Scholarship, an Anna Grant Birge Memorial Award, and a Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research.

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  1. Desert Research Institute, University of Nevada-Reno, 2215 Raggio Parkway, Reno, NV, 89512, USA

    Laura Craig

  2. Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 W. Dayton Street, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Jean M. Bahr & Eric E. Roden

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  1. Laura Craig
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Correspondence to Eric E. Roden.

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Craig, L., Bahr, J.M. & Roden, E.E. Localized zones of denitrification in a floodplain aquifer in southern Wisconsin, USA. Hydrogeol J 18, 1867–1879 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0665-2

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