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Developing a nitrogen load apportionment tool: Theory and application

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  • De Girolamo, Anna Maria
  • Spanò, Marinella
  • D’Ambrosio, Ersilia
  • Ricci, Giovanni Francesco
  • Gentile, Francesco

Abstract

In this work, a new nitrogen load apportionment tool was developed to quantify the anthropogenic pressures from point sources and diffuse sources (DSs) on the water in a basin, and to identify the areas contributing most of the total nitrogen (TN). The model, which is an alternative approach to complex conceptual models, was tested in the Canale d’Aiedda Basin (SE Italy). It integrates the TN soil system budget (SSB), TN riverine export (NRE) and TN export coefficient modelling. The results of the SSB showed a TN surplus for productive land (∼60 kg ha−1 yr−1). Major TN inputs were derived from fertilisers (∼89 kg ha−1 yr−1, 77% of the total input) and animal manure (∼13 kg ha−1 yr−1, 11% of the total input). Crop uptake was the main output (∼39 kg ha−1 yr−1, 70% of the total output). NRE was estimated through the measurement of streamflow and TN concentrations in two stream sections. The average NRE per unit area of productive land was 5.22 kg ha−1 yr−1. Groundwater was the major receptor of the TN from DSs. The TN runoff export coefficients, estimated on the basis of environmental factors and calibrated with riverine load measurements, were lower than the TN leaching fractions. The results show that setting export coefficients based only on environmental factors, without any calibration, leads to an overestimation of TN load in runoff, and to an underestimation of TN load in leaching.

Suggested Citation

  • De Girolamo, Anna Maria & Spanò, Marinella & D’Ambrosio, Ersilia & Ricci, Giovanni Francesco & Gentile, Francesco, 2019. "Developing a nitrogen load apportionment tool: Theory and application," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 226(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:226:y:2019:i:c:s0378377419310571
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2019.105806
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. De Girolamo, Anna Maria & Barca, Emanuele & Pappagallo, Giuseppe & Lo Porto, Antonio, 2017. "Simulating ecologically relevant hydrological indicators in a temporary river system," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 180(PB), pages 194-204.
    2. Lam, Q.D. & Schmalz, B. & Fohrer, N., 2010. "Modelling point and diffuse source pollution of nitrate in a rural lowland catchment using the SWAT model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(2), pages 317-325, February.
    3. Lu, Jun & Gong, Dongqin & Shen, Yena & Liu, Mei & Chen, Dingjiang, 2013. "An inversed Bayesian modeling approach for estimating nitrogen export coefficients and uncertainty assessment in an agricultural watershed in eastern China," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 79-88.
    4. De Girolamo, Anna Maria & Balestrini, Raffaella & D’Ambrosio, Ersilia & Pappagallo, Giuseppe & Soana, Elisa & Lo Porto, Antonio, 2017. "Antropogenic input of nitrogen and riverine export from a Mediterranean catchment. The Celone, a temporary river case study," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 190-199.
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    1. Ricci, Giovanni Francesco & D’Ambrosio, Ersilia & De Girolamo, Anna Maria & Gentile, Francesco, 2022. "Efficiency and feasibility of Best Management Practices to reduce nutrient loads in an agricultural river basin," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).

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