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Rainfall-Driven Nitrogen Dynamics in Catchment Ponds: Comparing Forest, Paddy Field, and Orchard Systems

Author

Listed:
  • Mengdie Jiang

    (Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China)

  • Yue Luo

    (College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Hengbin Xiao

    (School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China)

  • Peng Xu

    (Engineering Research Center of Ecology and Agricultural Use of Wetland, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China)

  • Ronggui Hu

    (College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China)

  • Ronglin Su

    (College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China)

Abstract

The event scale method, employed for assessing changes in nitrogen (N) dynamics pre- and post-rain, provides insights into its transport to surface water systems. However, the relationships between N discharge in catchments dominated by different land uses and water quality remain unclear. This study quantified variations in key N components in ponds across forest, paddy field, and orchard catchments before and after six rainfall events. The results showed that nitrate (NO 3 − -N) was the main N component in the ponds. Post-rainfall, N concentrations increased, with ammonium (NH 4 + -N) and particulate nitrogen (PN) exhibiting significant elevations in agricultural ponds. Orchard catchments contributed the highest N load to the ponds, while forest catchments contributed the lowest. Following a heavy rainstorm event, total nitrogen (TN) loads in the ponds within forest, paddy field, and orchard catchments reached 6.68, 20.93, and 34.62 kg/ha, respectively. These loads were approximately three times higher than those observed after heavy rain events. The partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) identified that rainfall amount and changes in water volume were the dominant factors influencing N dynamics. Furthermore, the greater slopes of forest and orchard catchments promoted more N loss to the ponds post-rain. In paddy field catchments, larger catchment areas were associated with decreased N flux into the ponds, while larger pond surface areas minimized the variability in N concentration after rainfall events. In orchard catchment ponds, pond area was positively correlated with N concentrations and loads. This study elucidates the effects of rainfall characteristics and catchment heterogeneity on N dynamics in surface waters, offering valuable insights for developing pollution management strategies to mitigate rainfall-induced alterations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mengdie Jiang & Yue Luo & Hengbin Xiao & Peng Xu & Ronggui Hu & Ronglin Su, 2025. "Rainfall-Driven Nitrogen Dynamics in Catchment Ponds: Comparing Forest, Paddy Field, and Orchard Systems," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-15, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:15:y:2025:i:14:p:1459-:d:1696872
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhang, Wangshou & Li, Hengpeng & Pueppke, Steven G & Diao, Yaqin & Nie, Xiaofei & Geng, Jianwei & Chen, Dongqiang & Pang, Jiaping, 2020. "Nutrient loss is sensitive to land cover changes and slope gradients of agricultural hillsides: Evidence from four contrasting pond systems in a hilly catchment," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    2. L. F. Schulte-Uebbing & A. H. W. Beusen & A. F. Bouwman & W. de Vries, 2022. "From planetary to regional boundaries for agricultural nitrogen pollution," Nature, Nature, vol. 610(7932), pages 507-512, October.
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