Ammonium and nitrate sources and transformation mechanism in the Quaternary sediments of Jianghan Plain, China.

Excessive inorganic nitrogen (IN) compound content in groundwater is generally attributed to anthropogenic activities. Here, natural nitrogen sources in Quaternary sediments from aquifers and aquitards of Jianghan Plain (JHP), China were identified. Ammonium and nitrate content in groundwater samples collected from 129 well sites were determined through chemical analysis. Subsequent 4 boreholes were drilled at areas with high nitrogen concentration in the Quaternary aquifer. Indicators from hydrochemistry and soil geochemistry analysis, as well as optically stimulated luminescence dating and various of radioactive isotope δ14C-CO2 and stable isotopes including δ15N-NH4+, δ15N-total organic nitrogen (TON), δ15N-NO3-, δ18O-NO3-, δ18O-H2O, δD-H2O, and δ13C-total organic carbon (TOC) were used to identify high-concentration N compound sources and transformation mechanisms (NO3-: 0.02-770 mg L-1; NH4-N: 0-30.5 mg L-1) in the porous media. The thick clay layer protected the underlying media. Paleo-precipitation characteristics were preserved in the porewater; that is, it had not been affected by anthropogenic activities. The high nitrate concentration in the shallow oxidized aquifer was mostly attributed to manure and sewage (δ15N-NO3- was 14‰). The ammonium-N in the deep strata and part of ammonium-N in the shallow strata (aquifers and aquitards) were from natural sources, mainly from natural TON mineralization. Adsorption was an auxiliary factor for ammonium enrichment in the shallow strata, as were dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and low ammonia volatilization. Organic matter (OM) involved in mineralization was a mixture of lacustrine algae and terrigenous clastic sediments (from river upstream). The algae were traced to lake formation and frequent evolutionary changes in river environments, as indicated by alterations in sedimentary facies. The present findings may encourage researchers to consider natural IN sources' contribution to N contamination using quantitative models. They also serve as a valuable reference for understanding other pollutants' transformation mechanism in similar environments and provide research ideas for similar areas.