Abstract
Analyses of groundwater samples collected from several locations in a small watershed of the Deccan Trap Hydrologic Province, indicated anomalously higher values of nitrate than the background. However, the NO3 concentrations in water from dug wells under pastureland where the subsurface material consisted of stony waste were minimum. The maximum values were reported for water from dug wells where the principal land use was agricultural. Lowering of NO3 values under shallow water-table conditions suggests denitrification. Higher concentrations of nitrate determined for samples collected from the wells with a deeper water-table indicate that denitrification process is inactive. The high values of nitrate coinciding with agricultural land use indicate fertilizers as the main source of nitrate pollution of ground-water. Decrease in Cl/NO3 ratio for agricultural land use confirms this inference.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andersen LJ and Kristiansen H (1984) Nitrate in groundwater and surface water related to land use in the Karup Basin, Denmark. Environ Geol 5(4):207–212
Beck BF, Asmussen L, and Leonard R (1985) Relationship of geology, physiography, agricultural land use, and ground-water quality in southwest Georgia. Ground Water 23(5): 627–634
Burden RJ (1986) Elevated levels of nitrate in ground water beneath intensively grazed pastureland in New Zealand. In: Vrba J and Romijn E (Eds), Impact of agricultural activities on ground water, vol 5. Hannover: Verlag Heinz Heise. pp 263–270
Cherry JA, Gillham RW, Anderson EG, and Johnson PE (1983) Migration of contaminants in ground water at a landfill: A case study. J Hydrol 63:31–49
Deshpande SM, Kaplay RD, and Deshmukh AN (1993) Nitrate contamination of ground water in Paithan Taluka of Aurangabad district. Abstract volume, Seminar on Geology of Maharashtra: Economical and Environmental Aspects. Solapur: Shivaji University, P.G. Center. p 14
Deshmukh DS, Raghava Rao KV, Konala RKR, Murthy JVS, and Anjaneyulu D (1978) Hydrogeological investigations in regard to geotechnical programme for environmental and urban hydrology of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh. G.S.I., Misc. Publ. No. 42, pp 21–25
Flipse WJ Jr, Katz BG, Linder JB, and Markel R (1984) Source of nitrate in ground water in sewered housing development, central Long Island, New York. Ground Water 22(4):418–426
Gillham RW and Cherry JA (1978) Field evidence of denitrification in shallow groundwater flow systems. Water Pollut Res Can 13: 53–71
Gormly JR and Spalding RF (1979) Sources and concentration of nitrate-nitrogen in ground water of the Central Platte region, Nebraska. Ground Water 17(3):291–301
Hantzsche NN and Finnemore EJ (1992) Predicting ground-water nitrate-nitrogen impacts. Ground Water 30(4):490–500
Hendry MJ, McCready RGL, and Gould WD (1984) Distribution, source and evolution of nitrate in glacial till of southern Alberta, Canada. J Hydrol 70:77–198
Hill AR (1982) Nitrate distribution in the ground water at the Alliston region of Ontario, Canada. Ground Water 20(6):696–702
Houzim V, Vavra J, Fuska J, Pekny V, Vrba J, and Stibral J (1986) Impact of fertilizers and pesticides on ground water quality. In: Vrba J and Romijn E (Eds), Impact of agricultural activities on ground water, vol 5. Hannover: Verlag Heinz Heise. pp 89–132
Kolaja V, Vrba J, and Zwirmann KH (1986) Control and management of agricultural impact on groundwater. In: Vrba J and Romijn E (Eds), Impact of agricultural activities on ground water, vol 5. Hannover: Verlag Heinz Heise. pp 197–229
Komor SC and Anderson HW Jr (1993) Nitrogen isotopes as indicators of nitrate sources in Minnesota sand-plain aquifers. Ground Water 31(2):260–271
Lance JC (1972) Nitrogen removal by soil mechanisms. J Water Pollut Control Fed 44(4):1352–1361
Pawar NJ (1993) Geochemistry of carbonate precipitation from the groundwaters in basaltic aquifers: An equilibrium thermodynamic approach. J Geol Soc India 41:119–131
Pearce BR (1982) Fractured rock aquifers in central Queensland. Proceedings, international conference on groundwater in fractured rock aquifers, Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. pp 161–172
Saffigna PG and Keeney DR (1977) Nitrate and chloride in ground water under irrigated agriculture in central Wisconsin. Ground Water 15(2):170–177
Sahgal UK, Sahgal RK, and Kakar YP (1989) Nitrate pollution of ground water in Lucknow area, U.P. Proceedings, international workshop on appropriate methodologies for development and management of groundwater resources in developing countries. National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India, 28 February-4 March, pp 871–892
Somasundaram MV, Ravindran G, and Tellam JH (1993) Ground water pollution of the Madras urban aquifer, India. Ground Water 31(1):4–12
Starr RC and Gillham RW (1993) Denitrification and organic carbon availability in two aquifers. Ground Water 31(6):934–948
Venkatesh V (1969) Reconnaissance hydrogeochemical investigations along the eastern margin of the Cuddapah basin, Andhra Pradesh. G.S.I. Misc. Publ. No. 17. pp 61–78
Vrba J (1986) Groundwater quality monitoring under different agricultural conditions. In: Vrba J and Romijn (Eds), Impact of agricultural activities on ground water, vol 5. Hannover: Verlag Heinz Heise. pp 173–196
Zaporozec A (1983) Nitrate concentrations under irrigated agriculture. Environ Geol 5:35–38
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pawar, N.J., Shaikh, I.J. Nitrate pollution of ground waters from shallow basaltic aquifers, Deccan Trap Hydrologic Province, India. Geo 25, 197–204 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00768549
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00768549