[Nitrate-Nitrogen Pollution Sources of an Underground River in Karst Agricultural Area Using 15N and 18O Isotope Technique].

The objectives of this study were to reveal the sources of nitrate and the ratio of karst in an agricultural basin based on a 15N and 18O isotope technique and quantitative calculation of the IsoSource model. From May to October 2017, six sampling points in the Qingmuguan river basin, Chongqing, were monitored every 24 d. Results showed that there was a great risk of nitrate pollution in the underground river system, because most NO3--N concentrations of the sampling points exceeded the threshold. Spatially, NO3--N concentrations in the underground river increased from upstream to downstream. Temporally, NO3--N concentrations of Fishpond and Yankou Ponor upstream and Jiangjia Spring downstream were impacted by agricultural fertilizer from May to June and fluctuated from June to September due to precipitation. With decreased agricultural activities, NO3--N concentrations gradually decreased after September. NO3--N concentrations were high in midstream soil water. Daluchi, in the middle and lower reaches, maintained relatively low NO3--N concentrations with stable fluctuations. Dual 15N and 18O isotopic compositions suggested that the upstream nitrates were derived from soil organic nitrogen and a mixture of manure and sewage. The midstream nitrates originated from soil organic nitrogen and NH4+ from fertilizer and rain. Nitrates in the middle and lower reaches were derived from the mixing of manure and sewage, soil organic nitrogen, and NH4+ from fertilizer and rain. Jiangjia Spring, the outlet of the underground river, was seriously polluted by nitrates. It is believed that soil organic nitrogen, NH4+ in fertilizer and rain, the mixing of manure and sewage, and NO3- in precipitation were the main nitrate sources in the outlet. Nitrate source contribution of the outlet was calculated with the IsoSource model. The calculation results showed that manure and sewage, soil organic nitrogen, NH4+ in fertilizer and rain, and NO3- in precipitation contributed 46.4%, 32.6%, 18.6%, and 2.4%, respectively.

[Geochemical Characteristics of Lateral Hyporheic Zone Between the River Water and Groundwater, a Case Study of Maanxi in Chongqing].

The hyporheic zone is a place where river water and groundwater mutually exchange and mix. It plays an important role in protecting the ecology and water quality of river water and groundwater. In order to study the geochemical characteristics of lateral hyporheic zone in river and ground water, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity were measured automatically at the hyporheic zone of Maanxi in Chongqing. The concentrations of ions in water and elements in sediment within the hyporheic zone were also analyzed. The results showed that the hydrochemical species of lateral hyporheic zone in Maanxi was HCO3-Ca·Mg. Affected by the infiltration of river water, the coefficient variations of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and electrical conductivity in the hyporheic zone were lower than those observed in the river under the buffer action. Along with the farther distance from the riverbank, an anoxia redox environment was formed in the hyporheic zone due to a physical, chemical and biological interactions. An acid and alkali environment was also formed with a decreasing pH trend near the riverbank and hyporheic zone. Under its influence, concentrations of K+, NH4+-N, NO3- and SO42- decreased. Mn, electrical conductivity, and the concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, Ba2+ and Sr2+ firstly increased and then decreased, while the concentrations of Fe, Al3+ were elevated. Affected by the long-time interaction of river water and groundwater, the elementary concentrations in the sediment were relatively high at the place of about 30 cm away from the riverbank. This consequently formed a hydrogeochemical gradient in the hyporheic zone. The boundary of the hyporheic zone was inferred at 30 to 50 cm away from the riverbank, whereas the boundary of shallow hyporheic zone was located at 10 cm away from the riverbank. In the process of river water recharging groudnwater, hyporheic zone of river and groundwater played an important role in the purification of water quality.

[Nitrate storage and transport within a typical karst aquifer system in the paralleled ridge-valley of east Sichuan].

In order to investigate the nitrate storage and transport in the karst aquifer system, the hydrochemical dynamics of Qingmuguan underground river system was monitored online by achieving high-resolution data during storm events and monthly data in normal weather. The principal component analysis was employed to analyze the karst water geochemistry. Results showed that nitrate in Jiangjia spring did not share the same source with soluble iron, manganese and aluminum, and exhibited different geochemical behaviors. Nitrate was derived from land surface and infiltrated together with soil water, which was mainly stored in fissure, pore and solution crack of karst unsaturated zone, whereas soluble iron, manganese and aluminum were derived from soil erosion and directly recharged the underground river through sinkholes and shafts. Nitrate transport in the karst aquifer system could be ideally divided into three phases, including input storage, fast output and re-inputting storage. Under similar external conditions, the karstification intensity of vadose zone was the key factor to determine the dynamics of nitrate concentrations in the groundwater during storm events. Nitrate stored in the karst vadose zone was easily released, which would impair the aquatic ecosystem and pose seriously threats to the local health. Thus, to strengthen the management of ecological system, changing the land-use patterns and scientifically applying fertilizer could effectively make a contribution to controlling mass nutrient input from the surface.