• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.481-490
• /
• 2005

Nitrate contamination in water system is a critical environmental problem caused by excessive application of chemical fertilizer and concentration of livestock. In order to prevent further contamination, therefore, it is necessary to understand the origin of nitrate in nitrogen loading sources and manage the very source of contamination. The objective of this study was to examine the nitrate contamination sources in different agricultural system by using nitrogen isotope ratios. Groundwater and runoff water samples were collected on a monthly basis from February 2003 to November 2003 and analyzed for nitrogen isotopes. The nitrate concentrations of groundwater in livestock fanning area were higher than those in conventional and organic fanning area and exceeded the national drinking water standard of 10mg N/ l. The ${\delta}^{15}N$ranges of chemical fertilizer and animal manure were - 3.7${\sim}$+2.3$\textperthousand$ and +12.5${\sim}$26.7$\textperthousand$, respectively. The higher ${\delta}^{15}N$ of animal manure than those of chemical fertilizer reflected isotope fractionation and volatilization of '''N. The different agricultural systems and corresponding average nitrate concentrations and ${\delta}^{15}N$ values were: conventional farming, 5.47mg/e, 8.3$\textperthousand$; organic fanning, 5.88mg/e, 10.1$\textperthousand$; crop-livestock farming, 12.5mg/e, 17.7%0. These data indicated that whether conventional or organic agriculture effected groundwater and runoff water quality. In conclusions, relationship between nitrate concentrations and ${\delta}^{15}N$ value could be used to make a distinction between nitrate derived from chemical fertilizer and from animal manure. Additional investigation is required to monitor long-term impact on water quality in accordance with agricultural systems.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.8-19
• /
• 2021

In this study, the evaluation standard for nitrate nitrogen contamination degree (WELCUP) was established using six factors that influence the groundwater quality in Jeju Island. To do this, weightings, ranges, and ratings were assigned for each factor and the relative possibility of nitrate nitrogen contamination degree was evaluated using WELCUP index for each well. As a result of calculating the WELCUP index using groundwater quality data of 5,112 wells in Jeju Island for 27 years (1993-2019), all 61 wells with the WELCUP index value higher than 100 are distributed in Daejung and Hangyung watershed with relatively large area of farmland in Jeju Island. In particular, as the ratio of private wells is more than 64%, it is necessary that systematic management is needed for private wells in terms of nitrate nitrogen contamination. Consequently, based on the results of applying the WELCUP evaluation standard, it is necessary to select the prioritization of nitrate nitrogen contamination pathways project for groundwater wells in Jeju Island.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.70-73
• /
• 2003

Nitrate contamination in the aquatic systems is the primary indicator of poor agricultural management. The influence of sewage sludge application rates (0, 10, 25, 50 and 100 dry Mg/ha) on distribution of nitrate originating from the sewage sludge in soil profiles was investigated. Soil profile monitoring of nitrate was carried out with a Lakeland clay soil in 1997. Irrespectively of the sewage sludge application rates up to 50 dry Mg/ha, the concentration of $NO_3$-N at the 120 cm depth was below 10 mg/kg and the difference due to the amount of sewage sludge application was negligible at this depth. There was virtually no $NO_3$-N below 120 cm depth and this was confirmed by a deep sampling up to 300 cm depth. Most of the nitrate remained in the surface 60 cm of the soil. Below 120 cm depth nitrate concentration was very low because of the denitrification even at high sewage sludge rate of 100 dry Mg/ha. The $NO_3$-N concentrations in the soil fluctuated over the growing season due to plant uptake and denitrification. The risk of groundwater contamination by nitrate from sewage sludge application up to high rate of 100 dry Mg/ha was very low in a wheat grown clay soil with high water table ( < 3 m).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.63-66
• /
• 2003

This study applied a hydrogeological field survey and isotope investigation to identify source locations and delineate pathways of groundwater contamination by nitrogen compounds. The infiltration and recharge processes were analyzed with groundwater-level fluctuation data and oxygen-hydrogen stable isotope data. The groundwater flow pattern was investigated through groundwater flow modeling and spatial and temporal variation of oxygen isotope data. Based on the flow analysis and nitrogen isotope data, source types of nitrate contamination in groundwater are identified. Groundwater recharge largely occurs in spring and summer due to precipitation or irrigation water in rice fields. Based on oxygen isotope data and cross-correlation between precipitation and groundwater level changes, groundwater recharge was found to be mainly caused by irrigation in spring and by precipitation at other times. The groundwater flow velocity calculated by a time series of spatial correlations, 231 m/yr, is in good accordance with the linear velocity estimated from hydrogeologic data. Nitrate contamination sources are natural and fertilized soils as non-point sources, and septic and animal wastes as point sources. Seasonal loading and spatial distribution of nitrate sources are estimated by using oxygen and nitrogen isotopic data.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.22-32
• /
• 2012

This study suggests a method to grade groundwater quality quantitatively using statistical approaches for evaluating the quality of groundwater in wells included in the Groundwater Quality Monitoring Network (GQMN). The proposed analysis method is applied to GQMN data from 2001 to 2008 for nitrate nitrogen, chloride, trichloroethylene, potential of hydrogen (pH), and electrical conductivity. The analysis results are obtained as groundwater quality grades of the groundwater representing each of the monitoring stations. The degree of groundwater contamination is analysed for water quality parameters, district, and usage. The results show that the degree of groundwater contamination is relatively high by nitrate nitrogen, bacteria and electrical conductivity and at Seoul, Incheon, Gwangju, Gyeonggido and Jeollado. The degree of contamination by nitrate nitrogen and trichloroethylene is especially high when the groundwater is used for agricultural and industrial water, respectively. It is evaluated that potable groudnwater in GQMN is significantly vulnerable to nitrate nitrogen and bacteria contamination.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.122-133
• /
• 2018

In this study, groundwater quality data measured for 11 years from 2006 to 2016 were analyzed statistically for 101 civil defense emergency water supply facilities (CDEWSF) in the Gwangju area. The contamination level was quantified into four grades by using excess drinking water quality standards, average concentration analysis, and tendency analysis results for each facility. On the basis of this approach, the groundwater contamination degree of each item was evaluated according to land use status, installation year, depth, and geological distribution. The contamination grade ratios, which were obtained by analyzing three contamination indicators (water quality exceeded frequency, average concentration analysis, and trend analysis) for 15 items on statistically significant of civil defense emergency water was relatively high, in the order of Turbidity (51.5 %) > Color (32.7 %) > Nitrate nitrogen (28.7 %) > Hardness (25.7 %). As a result of the contamination grade analysis, except for the items of Turbidity, Color, and Nitrate nitrogen, the contamination levels were distributed in various degrees from "clean (0)" to "seriously contaminated (3)." Regarding the contamination grade of 12 items, 25 % of the total were classified as "possibly contaminated (1)," and 75 % were rated "clean (0)." The four items (Turbidity, Color, Nitrate nitrogen, and Hardness) for which contamination indication rate were evaluated as "high" by the were visualized on a contamination map.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.33-51
• /
• 2013

Spatial and temporal characteristics of nitrate contamination and hydrogeochemical parameters were investigated for springs and surficial and bedrock groundwaters in northeastern part of Hongseong. Two field investigations were conducted at dry and wet seasons in 2011 for 120 sites including measurement of field parameters with chemical analyses of major dissolved constituents. Nitrate concentrations were at background levels in springs while 45% of bedrock groundwater and 49% of surficial groundwater exceeded the drinking water standard of nitrate (10 mg/L as $NO_3$-N). The difference in nitrate concentrations between surficial and bedrock groundwater was statistically insignificant. Cumulative frequency distribution of nitrate concentrations revealed two inflection points of 2 and 16 mg/L as $NO_3$-N. Correlation analysis of hydrogeochemical parameters showed that nitrate had higher correlations with Sr, Mg, Cl, Na, and Ca, in surficial groundwater in both dry and wet season. In contrast, nitrate had much weaker correlations with other hydrogeochemical parameters in bedrock groundwater compared to surficial groundwater and had significant correlations only in wet season. Temporally, nitrate and chloride concentrations decreased and dissolved oxygen (DO) increased from dry season to wet season, which indicates that increased recharge during the wet season affected groundwater quality. Aerobic conditions were predominant for both surficial and bedrock groundwater indicating low natural attenuation potential of nitrate in the aquifers of the study area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2017

Nitrate ($NO_3^-$), a common surface water and groundwater pollutant, poses a serious environmental problem in regions with intensive agricultural activities and dense population. It is thus important to identify the source of nitrate contamination to better manage water quality. Due to the distinct isotope compositions of nitrate among different origins, the dual isotope analysis (${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$) of nitrate has been widely applied to track contamination sources. This paper provided the underlying backgrounds in the isotope analysis of nitrate, which included typical ranges of ${\delta}^{15}N$ and ${\delta}^{18}O$ from various nitrate sources, isotope fractionation, the analytical methods used to concentrate nitrate from samples, and the potential limitations of the dual isotope analysis along with the resolutions. To enhance the applicability of the dual isotope analysis as well as increase the ability to interpret field data, this paper also introduced several case studies. Furthermore, other environmental tracers including ${\delta}^{11}B$ and $Cl^-/Br^-$ ratios were discussed to accompany the dual isotope analysis for better assignment of contamination sources even when microbial transformation of nitrate and/or mixing between contaminant plumes occur.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.313-320
• /
• 2019

Increasing the concentration of nitrate ions in the soil solution and then leaching it to underground aquifers increases the concentration of nitrate in the water, and can cause many health and ecological problems. This study was conducted to evaluate the vulnerability of Meymeh aquifer to nitrate pollution. In this research, sampling of 10 wells was performed according to standard sampling principles and analyzed in the laboratory by spectrophotometric method, then; the nitrate concentration zonation map was drawn by using intermediate models. In the drastic model, the effective parameters for assessing the vulnerability of groundwater aquifers, including the depth of ground water, pure feeding, aquifer environment, soil type, topography slope, non-saturated area and hydraulic conductivity. Which were prepared in the form of seven layers in the ARC GIS software, and by weighting and ranking and integrating these seven layers, the final map of groundwater vulnerability to contamination was prepared. Drastic index estimated for the region between 75-128. For verification of the model, nitrate concentration data in groundwater of the region were used, which showed a relative correlation between the concentration of nitrate and the prepared version of the model. A combination of two vulnerability map and nitrate concentration zonation was provided a qualitative aquifer classification map. According to this map, most of the study areas are within safe and low risk, and only a small portion of the Meymeh Aquifer, which has a nitrate concentration of more than 50 mg / L in groundwater, is classified in a hazardous area.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.57-67
• /
• 2003

Nitrate contamination by human activities is a serious problem to water-supply in agricultural area. Shallow groundwater is the main source of water-supply, but it is very sensitive to contamination. Study area for nitrate contamination is a region of Iljuk, Kyunggi where is an agricultural area having many livestock facilities in various scales. As a result, the points having availability of incoming of external contaminant are 77%, and the ones over the Drinking Water Limit (DWL) are 32～42%. For a nitrogen isotope analysis, all the points having availability of incoming of external contaminant have $\delta$$^{15}$ N-NO$_3$ values over 5$\textperthousand$, and the points of 59% are strongly affected by nitrogen originated from animal wastes. The major source of nitrate in this area is intensive livestock facilities. Even though a livestock facility had enclosed, it affects groundwater quality for a long time. The chemical property of contaminant source is various according to animal species in surface water, but not in groundwater since some solutes are removed by reactions during an inflow to subsurface.