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Global patterns of nitrate storage in the vadose zone

Author

Listed:
  • M. J. Ascott

    (British Geological Survey)

  • D. C. Gooddy

    (British Geological Survey)

  • L. Wang

    (British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre)

  • M. E. Stuart

    (British Geological Survey)

  • M. A. Lewis

    (British Geological Survey)

  • R. S. Ward

    (British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre)

  • A. M. Binley

    (Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University)

Abstract

Global-scale nitrogen budgets developed to quantify anthropogenic impacts on the nitrogen cycle do not explicitly consider nitrate stored in the vadose zone. Here we show that the vadose zone is an important store of nitrate that should be considered in future budgets for effective policymaking. Using estimates of groundwater depth and nitrate leaching for 1900–2000, we quantify the peak global storage of nitrate in the vadose zone as 605–1814 Teragrams (Tg). Estimates of nitrate storage are validated using basin-scale and national-scale estimates and observed groundwater nitrate data. Nitrate storage per unit area is greatest in North America, China and Europe where there are thick vadose zones and extensive historical agriculture. In these areas, long travel times in the vadose zone may delay the impact of changes in agricultural practices on groundwater quality. We argue that in these areas use of conventional nitrogen budget approaches is inappropriate.

Suggested Citation

  • M. J. Ascott & D. C. Gooddy & L. Wang & M. E. Stuart & M. A. Lewis & R. S. Ward & A. M. Binley, 2017. "Global patterns of nitrate storage in the vadose zone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01321-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01321-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaochen Liu & Arthur H. W. Beusen & Hans J. M. Grinsven & Junjie Wang & Wim Joost Hoek & Xiangbin Ran & José M. Mogollón & Alexander F. Bouwman, 2024. "Impact of groundwater nitrogen legacy on water quality," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(7), pages 891-900, July.
    2. Gao, Jingbo & Li, Zhiqin & Chen, Zhujun & Zhou, Yang & Liu, Weiguo & Wang, Lei & Zhou, Jianbin, 2021. "Deterioration of groundwater quality along an increasing intensive land use pattern in a small catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    3. Pinardi, Monica & Soana, Elisa & Severini, Edoardo & Racchetti, Erica & Celico, Fulvio & Bartoli, Marco, 2022. "Agricultural practices regulate the seasonality of groundwater-river nitrogen exchanges," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    4. Wang, Jingjing, 2022. "Harnessing natural attenuation to reduce CAFOs nitrate emissions: An integrated modeling approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    5. Severini, Edoardo & Magri, Monia & Soana, Elisa & Bartoli, Marco & Faggioli, Marco & Celico, Fulvio, 2023. "Irrigation practices affect relationship between reduced nitrogen fertilizer use and improvement of river and groundwater chemistry," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    6. Qiaona Guo & Zhifang Zhou & Guojiao Huang & Zhi Dou, 2019. "Variations of Groundwater Quality in the Multi-Layered Aquifer System near the Luanhe River, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Yingjun She & Ping Li & Xuebin Qi & Wei Guo & Shafeeq Ur Rahman & Hongfei Lu & Cancan Ma & Zhenjie Du & Jiaxin Cui & Zhijie Liang, 2022. "Effects of Shallow Groundwater Depth and Nitrogen Application Level on Soil Water and Nitrate Content, Growth and Yield of Winter Wheat," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Mengru Wang & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Rhodé Rijneveld & Felicitas Beier & Mirjam P. Bak & Masooma Batool & Bram Droppers & Alexander Popp & Michelle T. H. Vliet & Maryna Strokal, 2024. "A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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