Quantifying the nutrient flux within a lowland karstic catchment

摘要: Nutrient contamination of surface and groundwaters is an issue growing importance as the risks associated with agricultural runoff escalate due to increasing demands on global food production. In this study, nutrient flux occurring within a lowland karst catchment in western Ireland was investigated aid alkalinity sampling hydrological model. Water samples were collected tested from variety rivers, lakes (or turloughs), boreholes springs at monthly intervals over three year period. Alkalinity used elucidate contrasting functioning between different turloughs. Such disparate further model which allowed for estimate allogenic autogenic derived loading into system. The also investigation mixing turloughs, comparing observed behaviours hypothetical conservative behaviour by Results indicated that system outlet sea, recharge had added approximately 35% total flow 85% N-load. Within some loads found reduce flooded period, even though turloughs (and model) suggested should not occur. As such, it determined loss processes Denitrification deemed be main process reducing nitrogen concentrations whereas phosphorus thought occur mostly diffuse/epikarst zone.