Differences in stream water nitrate concentrations between a nitrogen-saturated upland forest and a downstream mixed land use River Basin

Nitrogen (N) saturation of upland forests has been assumed to be a substantial N source downstream. However, removal processes of N, including assimilation and denitrification in the downstream area, have not been clarified. To evaluate the N removal processes, nitrate (NO₃ ^-) and organic N concentrations, as well as nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) and oxygen isotope ratio (δ¹⁸O) of NO₃ ^- were measured along three rivers of Tatara River Basin, Japan where upland forests have already been N-saturated. Geographic information system (GIS) based topographical analysis was also conducted to evaluate the land use as urban area in relation to topography. In two of the three rivers, NO₃ ^- concentrations did not increase from upstream to downstream, despite the potential non-point N sources of urban areas. In another river, NO₃ ^- concentrations rather decreased. The values of δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O of NO₃ ^- and organic N concentrations suggested the presence of denitrification and assimilation over N pollutants in the river whose watersheds have a lower percentage of urban area. The lower percentage of urban area could be explained by the lower topographic index. This study concluded that the NO₃ ^- leaching from upland N-saturated forests was substantially assimilated or denitrified in the downstream area.